The ADA is advocating against pharmacy benefit managers’ wish for the government to broadly interpret a law that would stop states from regulating health care benefits, including dental.
The ADA commented on the House Judiciary Committee’s hearing, the Role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers, to share its perspective on the impact of preemption under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and what it could mean for state regulation of dental benefits.
“We believe that ensuring states retain their authority to regulate health care, including dental benefits, is essential for the fair treatment of patients and policyholders, and it promotes consistency in the state insurance marketplace,” the ADA said in a letter, signed by ADA President Linda J. Edgar, D.D.S., and Executive Director Raymond A. Cohlmia, D.D.S.
The letter goes on to say that preemption would be a “regulatory vacuum” in which states can no longer restrict the behavior of pharmacy benefit managers due to an overly broad notion of ERISA preemption.
Source: ADA advocates for states’ authority to regulate dental benefits / ADA News