§771.1. Dentist fees; discount to an uninsured individual; effect on a dentist's contracted reimbursement amount

            A. Notwithstanding any state or federal provisions to the contrary, a contracted dentist licensed to practice dentistry by the board may offer a discount for dental care services rendered to an uninsured individual. Any such discount granted by a contracted dentist to an uninsured individual shall not reduce the contracted reimbursement amount between a dentist and a health or dental insurance issuer for dental care services rendered to the issuer's enrollees, insureds, and subscribers.

            B. For the purposes of this Section:

            (1) "Contracted dentist" means a dentist licensed to practice dentistry by the board who has executed a direct, specific contract with a health insurance issuer.

            (2) "Contracted reimbursement amount" means the quantity of remuneration a health or dental insurance issuer has agreed to pay a dentist for rendering dental care services in a direct, specific agreement between a dentist and a health or dental insurance issuer.

            (3) "Enrollee", "insured", or "subscriber" means an individual who is enrolled or insured by a health or dental insurance issuer or who is subscribed to a dental service contractor for dental insurance coverage or prepaid dental services.

            (4) "Health or dental insurance issuer" means any entity that offers health or dental insurance coverage through a policy, contract, dental benefit plan, or certificate of insurance subject to state law that regulates the business of insurance. For purposes of this Section, a "health or dental insurance issuer" shall include but not be limited to a dental service contractor as defined and certified pursuant to Subpart G of Part III of Chapter 4 of Title 22 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

            Acts 2006, No. 744, §1, eff. June 29, 2006; Acts 2008, No. 415, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2022, No. 271, §2.