In 2017, the Colorado legislature passed SB17 190, a bill that required dental plans to stop dictating fees for services they do not cover. This practice can disrupt patient choice of dental services and the patient-provider relationships. It also can also interfere in fair delivery of dental services for patients, creating cost shifting and barriers to care. SB17 190 prohibits dental plans from setting fees for services that are not ever covered by a patient’s specific plan. It does not change payment policies for covered services or for services that would be a covered service if the patient had not met a frequency limitation, a waiting period, an annual maximum, or similar covered service restrictions.
Determining what qualifies as a non-covered service can be confusing. Here is some additional information to help you navigate this insurance topic.
- Test Your Knowledge on Colorado’s Non-Covered Services Bill
Take this short quiz on eight common scenarios that could happen in your dental office.
- Read the April 2026 “Dear ADA” Column Addressing Non-Covered Services
Forty-four states have noncovered services laws prohibiting plans from dictating a provider’s fee for procedures that are not covered under the plan; however, if a service is covered but not paid because plan conditions were not met, you may still be bound to the contracted fee based on the definition of a covered service in your state. Many dentists assume “covered” means “paid.” In most state laws, however, a covered service is defined by benefit eligibility, not by whether a claim was ultimately paid. Read more.
