17 October 2022

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AAE endorses Mass. ballot initiative

Katherine E. Pfaff

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The American Association of Endodontists has endorsed "Yes on Question 2 in Massachusetts," a November ballot initiative that seeks to reform dental insurance Medical Loss Ratios (MLRs). 

The ballot initiative would require the Massachusetts Division of Insurance to set a reasonable MLR for dental plans and require insurance companies to refund any excess dollars to their customers. If the ballot initiative passes, dental carriers must also disclose other financial information each year. 

"Efforts such as the Massachusetts ballot initiative and MLR reform will help ensure patient dollars go to patient care," said Dr. Stefan Zweig, president of the American Association of Endodontists, in a news release. "This can serve as an impetus to improve dental Access to Care and health equity" in Massachusetts. 

At this point, MLRs apply to medical plans in the state, however, the referendum would expand MLRs to include dental plans. The effort would create an “83 percent threshold and require insurers to refund any excess premium to customers,” according to the Association, which represents more than 8,000 members worldwide.  

The initiative is also supported by the American Dental Association, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Massachusetts Dental Society and Massachusetts Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.