2026 -- S 3156

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LC006202

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, and DiPalma

     Date Introduced: March 27, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws entitled "Accident and Sickness Insurance

Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     27-18-96. Methods of payment.

     (a) No contract between a dental plan or other healthcare entity and a dentist for the

provision of services to beneficiaries shall require the dentist to accept payment exclusively by

means of any form of payment method that requires dentists to pay fees or charges to release

payment including virtual credit cards. A dental plan or other healthcare entity may initiate or

change to a payment methodology that requires dentists to pay fees or charges to release payment,

including virtual credit card payments, if the dental plan or healthcare entity:

     (1) Informs the dentist of all available methods of payment;

     (2) Provides clear and accessible instructions for the selection of an alternative method of

payment;

     (3) Ensures that the dentist may exercise such selection without restriction; and

     (4) The provider or a designee of the provider elects, through express acceptance, to accept

a payment of the claim using the credit card or electronic funds transfer payment method. Violation

of express acceptance nullifies any election on claim payment methodology until such time as

express agreement is executed.

     (b) Neither the dental plan, the healthcare entity, nor any affiliated healthcare payments

platform shall impose any fee or charge upon the dentist for access to payment or claims data; the

transmission or processing of payment; or the issuance or mailing of payment.

     (c) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings, unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

     (1) "Alternative payment method" means any form of payment other than virtual credit

cards such as electronic funds transfers ("EFT") or automated clearing house payment ("ACH") or

paper check.

     (2) "Dental plan" means a policy or program that provides a specified level of dental

benefits for procedures rendered by a dentist or hygienist, to a member or subscriber.

     (3) "Dentist" means a licensed individual under chapter 31.1 of title 5 ("dentists and dental

hygienists").

     (4) "Express acceptance" means a clear and direct agreement to the terms of payment

method, communicated explicitly by the dental plan to the dentist, in writing, signifying acceptance

of the payment method without any ambiguity or implied actions.

     (5) "Healthcare entity" means any for profit or nonprofit dental service corporation or any

for profit or nonprofit hospital service corporation providing dental plans or any other entity

providing dental plans and entering into provider contracts with dentists in the State of Rhode

Island.

     (6) "Healthcare payments platform" means any form of payment processor directly linked

to or under contract with a healthcare entity.

     (7) "Virtual credit card" means a form of electronic funds transfer utilizing a single-use

series of numbers and specific payment amount which the payee is required to process manually.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service

Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     27-19-88. Methods of payment.

     (a) No contract between a dental plan or other healthcare entity and a dentist for the

provision of services to beneficiaries shall require the dentist to accept payment exclusively by

means of any form of payment method that requires dentists to pay fees or charges to release

payment including virtual credit cards. A dental plan or other healthcare entity may initiate or

change to a payment methodology that requires dentists to pay fees or charges to release payment,

including virtual credit card payments, if the dental plan or healthcare entity:

     (1) Informs the dentist of all available methods of payment;

     (2) Provides clear and accessible instructions for the selection of an alternative method of

payment;

     (3) Ensures that the dentist may exercise such selection without restriction; and

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     (4) The provider or a designee of the provider elects, through express acceptance, to accept

a payment of the claim using the credit card or electronic funds transfer payment method. Violation

of express acceptance nullifies any election on claim payment methodology until such time as

express agreement is executed.

     (b) Neither the dental plan, the healthcare entity, nor any affiliated healthcare payments

platform shall impose any fee or charge upon the dentist for access to payment or claims data; the

transmission or processing of payment; or the issuance or mailing of payment.

     (c) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings, unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

     (1) "Alternative payment method" means any form of payment other than virtual credit

cards such as electronic funds transfers ("EFT") or automated clearing house payment ("ACH") or

paper check.

     (2) "Dental plan" means a policy or program that provides a specified level of dental

benefits for procedures rendered by a dentist or hygienist, to a member or subscriber.

     (3) "Dentist" means a licensed individual under chapter 31.1 of title 5 ("dentists and dental

hygienists").

     (4) "Express acceptance" means a clear and direct agreement to the terms of payment

method, communicated explicitly by the dental plan to the dentist, in writing, signifying acceptance

of the payment method without any ambiguity or implied actions.

     (5) "Healthcare entity" means any for profit or nonprofit dental service corporation or any

for profit or nonprofit hospital service corporation providing dental plans or any other entity

providing dental plans and entering into provider contracts with dentists in the State of Rhode

Island.

     (6) "Healthcare payments platform" means any form of payment processor directly linked

to or under contract with a healthcare entity.

     (7) "Virtual credit card" means a form of electronic funds transfer utilizing a single-use

series of numbers and specific payment amount which the payee is required to process manually.

     SECTION 3. Chapter 27-20 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service

Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     27-20-84. Methods of payment.

     (a) No contract between a dental plan or other healthcare entity and a dentist for the

provision of services to beneficiaries shall require the dentist to accept payment exclusively by

means of any form of payment method that requires dentists to pay fees or charges to release

payment including virtual credit cards. A dental plan or other healthcare entity may initiate or

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change to a payment methodology that requires dentists to pay fees or charges to release payment,

including virtual credit card payments, if the dental plan or healthcare entity:

     (1) Informs the dentist of all available methods of payment;

     (2) Provides clear and accessible instructions for the selection of an alternative method of

payment;

     (3) Ensures that the dentist may exercise such selection without restriction; and

     (4) The provider or a designee of the provider elects, through express acceptance, to accept

a payment of the claim using the credit card or electronic funds transfer payment method. Violation

of express acceptance nullifies any election on claim payment methodology until such time as

express agreement is executed.

     (b) Neither the dental plan, the healthcare entity, nor any affiliated healthcare payments

platform shall impose any fee or charge upon the dentist for access to payment or claims data; the

transmission or processing of payment; or the issuance or mailing of payment.

     (c) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings, unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

     (1) "Alternative payment method" means any form of payment other than virtual credit

cards such as electronic funds transfers ("EFT") or automated clearing house payment ("ACH") or

paper check.

     (2) "Dental plan" means a policy or program that provides a specified level of dental

benefits for procedures rendered by a dentist or hygienist, to a member or subscriber.

     (3) "Dentist" means a licensed individual under chapter 31.1 of title 5 ("dentists and dental

hygienists").

     (4) "Express acceptance" means a clear and direct agreement to the terms of payment

method, communicated explicitly by the dental plan to the dentist, in writing, signifying acceptance

of the payment method without any ambiguity or implied actions.

     (5) "Healthcare entity" means any for profit or nonprofit dental service corporation or any

for profit or nonprofit hospital service corporation providing dental plans or any other entity

providing dental plans and entering into provider contracts with dentists in the State of Rhode

Island.

     (6) "Healthcare payments platform" means any form of payment processor directly linked

to or under contract with a healthcare entity.

     (7) "Virtual credit card" means a form of electronic funds transfer utilizing a single-use

series of numbers and specific payment amount which the payee is required to process manually.

     SECTION 4. Chapter 27-41 of the General Laws entitled "Health Maintenance

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Organizations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     27-41-101. Methods of payment.

     (a) No contract between a dental plan or other healthcare entity and a dentist for the

provision of services to beneficiaries shall require the dentist to accept payment exclusively by

means of any form of payment method that requires dentists to pay fees or charges to release

payment including virtual credit cards. A dental plan or other healthcare entity may initiate or

change to a payment methodology that requires dentists to pay fees or charges to release payment,

including virtual credit card payments, if the dental plan or healthcare entity:

     (1) Informs the dentist of all available methods of payment;

     (2) Provides clear and accessible instructions for the selection of an alternative method of

payment;

     (3) Ensures that the dentist may exercise such selection without restriction; and

     (4) The provider or a designee of the provider elects, through express acceptance, to accept

a payment of the claim using the credit card or electronic funds transfer payment method. Violation

of express acceptance nullifies any election on claim payment methodology until such time as

express agreement is executed.

     (b) Neither the dental plan, the healthcare entity, nor any affiliated healthcare payments

platform shall impose any fee or charge upon the dentist for access to payment or claims data; the

transmission or processing of payment; or the issuance or mailing of payment.

     (c) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings, unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

     (1) "Alternative payment method" means any form of payment other than virtual credit

cards such as electronic funds transfers ("EFT") or automated clearing house payment ("ACH") or

paper check.

     (2) "Dental plan" means a policy or program that provides a specified level of dental

benefits for procedures rendered by a dentist or hygienist, to a member or subscriber.

     (3) "Dentist" means a licensed individual under chapter 31.1 of title 5 ("dentists and dental

hygienists").

     (4) "Express acceptance" means a clear and direct agreement to the terms of payment

method, communicated explicitly by the dental plan to the dentist, in writing, signifying acceptance

of the payment method without any ambiguity or implied actions.

     (5) "Healthcare entity" means any for profit or nonprofit dental service corporation or any

for profit or nonprofit hospital service corporation providing dental plans or any other entity

providing dental plans and entering into provider contracts with dentists in the State of Rhode

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Island.

     (6) "Healthcare payments platform" means any form of payment processor directly linked

to or under contract with a healthcare entity.

     (7) "Virtual credit card" means a form of electronic funds transfer utilizing a single-use

series of numbers and specific payment amount which the payee is required to process manually.

     SECTION 5. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

***

     This act would provide that no contract between a dental plan or other healthcare entity

and a dentist for the provision of services to beneficiaries would require the dentist to accept

payment exclusively by means of any form of payment method that requires dentists to pay fees or

charges to release payment including virtual credit cards.

     This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

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