1. A. Sufficiency Standards.

   1. (1) Using the zip code list on the Maryland Insurance Administration’s website, each provider panel of a carrier shall have within the geographic area served by the carrier’s network or networks, sufficient dentists, including specialty providers, and facilities to meet the maximum travel distance standards listed in the chart under §A(2) of this regulation for each type of geographic area measured from the enrollee’s place of residence.

   2. (2) Chart of Travel Distance Standards.

      	Urban Area Maximum Distance (miles)	Suburban Area Maximum Distance (miles)	Rural Area Maximum Distance (miles)
      Provider type:
      General dentist	15	30	60
      Endodontic	30	45	75
      Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics	30	45	75
      Oral and maxillofacial pathology	30	45	75
      Oral and maxillofacial radiology	30	45	75
      Oral and maxillofacial surgery	30	45	75
      Pediatric dentistry	30	45	75
      Periodontic	30	45	75
      Prosthodontics	30	45	75

2. B. Each provider panel of a carrier shall include at least 20 percent of the available essential community providers who provide dental services in each of the urban, rural, and suburban areas.

Authority: Insurance Article, §§2-109(a)(1) and 15-112(e), Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: Effective December 31, 2017 (44:25 Md. R. 1184)