HF488

Purpose

• To require health plans to cover dental care that is medically necessary and directly caused by cancer treatment, ensuring patients receive needed dental services during cancer therapy.

Main Provisions

• All health plans defined in Minnesota Statutes section 62Q.01 must cover medically necessary dental procedures that are a direct result of cancer treatment.
• The cancer-treatment-related dental care must include coverage for:
  • Evaluations and examinations
  • Laboratory assessments
  • Medications
  • Treatments associated with the medically necessary dental procedures

Scope and Key Terms

• Coverage applies to dental procedures that are directly caused by cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, biotherapy, and radiation therapy.
• The new requirements apply to health plans operating under Minnesota Statutes chapter 62Q.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a mandate requiring health plans to cover dental procedures connected to cancer treatment, expanding or clarifying coverage for cancer patients’ dental care.
• Codifies this obligation as a new provision in Minnesota Statutes chapter 62Q (section 62Q.59).

Context/Status

• Introduced in the 94th Minnesota Legislature and referred to the Committee on Commerce Finance and Policy for consideration.

Practical Impact (in plain language)

• Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, biotherapy, or radiation therapy would have dental procedures and related services covered by their health plan, reducing out-of-pocket costs for essential dental care during treatment.

End of Summary

Relevant Terms

• health plans
• medically necessary
• dental procedures
• direct result of cancer treatment
• chemotherapy
• biotherapy
• radiation therapy
• evaluations and examinations
• laboratory assessments
• medications
• treatments
• Minnesota Statutes chapter 62Q
• 62Q.01
• 62Q.59