Ensuring patient choice and access to care by prohibiting unfair and deceptive dental insurance practices.

 S-1819.1

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5351

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By Senate Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators King, Chapman, Cleveland, Muzzall, Orwall, Christian, Nobles, Harris, Salomon, Conway, Frame, Hasegawa, Holy, Shewmake, and Trudeau)

READ FIRST TIME 02/21/25.

AN ACT Relating to ensuring patient choice and access to care by prohibiting unfair and deceptive dental insurance practices; amending RCW 48.43.743 ; adding new sections to chapter 48.43 RCW; creating new sections; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 48.43 RCW to read as follows:

(1) A dental only plan offered by a carrier or limited health care service contractor, as defined in RCW 48.44.035 , may not deny coverage for procedures solely on the basis that the procedures were performed on the same day.