1. A. Group coverage, including any form of self-insurance, offered, issued or renewed under the Health Care Purchasing Act that offers a dental plan shall provide for the direct payment of covered benefits to a provider, specified by the insured, regardless of the provider's network or contractual status with the dental plan.

2. B. A dental plan shall provide for the direct payment of covered benefits to a provider, specified by the insured, by including on its claim forms an:

   1. (1) option for the designation of payment from the insured to the provider; and
   2. (2) an attestation to be completed by the insured.

History: Laws 2023, ch. 169, § 2.

ANNOTATIONS

Effective dates. — Laws 2023, ch. 169 contained no effective date provision, but, pursuant to N.M. Const., art. IV, § 23, was effective June 16, 2023, 90 days after adjournment of the legislature.

Applicability. — Laws 2023, ch. 169, § 12 provided that the provisions of Laws 2023, ch. 169 apply to dental plans issued for delivery or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2024.