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NADP secured several favorable changes to Texas HB 1934, a network leasing and overpayment recovery bill. In addition to ensuring that carriers would be able to provide notices to providers electronically, language pertaining to leasing opt-out and notification requirements during the contract renewal process was removed.

On Jan. 14, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2022; Updates to State Innovation Waiver (Section 1332 Waiver) Implementing Regulations” (CMS-9914-F).

On Jan. 8, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized the rule “Securing Updated and Necessary Statutory Evaluations Timely” (SUNSET), which sets a 10-year review deadline for regulations created by HHS and its agencies. The rule would also require any regulation older than 10 years be reviewed within 5 years of the enactment of the final rule, an extension from the original proposed deadline of 2 years.

In a tweet on Jan. 7 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma announced that the proposed Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Rule (MFAR) would be removed from the Federal Register and not finalized. NADP commented in opposition to the rule, focusing on the potential expansion of the definition of “permissible class” of healthcare for the purposes of Medicaid related taxes to include dental benefits plans.

The 2021 state legislative session is in full swing in the majority of states; numerous bills impacting dental have already been introduced. The following are a few examples of the more than 60 bills on NADP’s radar screen.

The New Mexico Superintendent of Insurance (OSI) has announced its intention to promulgate rules establishing a minimum regulatory standards and sales practices relating to limited scope dental and vision plans.

Laying foundations for a successful 2021

Following Leadership Conference last month, NADP volunteer groups and staff are now laying strong foundations for a highly successful 2021. These behind-the-scenes efforts will produce the products and services that add value to our membership. As board chair, I am keenly aware of these endeavors and want to highlight some of our volunteer groups.

The Justice Department (DOJ) announced that the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2020 was signed into law on Jan. 13.

NADP continues to represent the dental benefits industry to key stakeholders. Following are highlights from this past month.

After an extensive campaign spanning the COVID-19 pandemic and widescale protests on racial justice, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. has been elected 46th President of the United States. As of publication of this article, approximately 78 million votes were cast for Biden and 73 million for Trump, the highest percentage turnout since 1964, when the voting age was 21.