ADA Grassroots Alert urges dentists to support ERISA reform  

The ADA is urging dentists to contact members of Congress in support of federal legislation aimed at closing what the Association describes as an “ERISA loophole” affecting dental insurance reform laws. 

In a May 19 Grassroots Alert sent to ADA advocates, the association called on members to ask their representatives to cosponsor the Improving Dental Administration Act, H.R. 7931. According to the ADA, the bipartisan bill would help ensure that state dental insurance laws apply consistently to self-funded dental benefit plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, or ERISA. 

The ADA said state dental associations have secured more than 360 dental insurance reform laws over the past decade. The Association also noted that eight new laws addressing issues such as virtual credit cards, network leasing and downcoding have been enacted so far in 2026. 

However, the ADA said some dental carriers and administrators continue to avoid compliance with certain state laws by citing ERISA preemption for self-funded plans. The Grassroots Alert emphasized that the Improving Dental Administration Act would extend state dental insurance consumer protections to patients covered under employer self-funded dental plans, in addition to fully insured plans. 

The ADA said this legislation would apply state laws involving prompt payment, noncovered services, virtual credit cards, network leasing, assignment of benefits and prior authorization continuity to self-funded dental coverage. 

The current system can result in varying protections for patients receiving the same dental care based solely on how their employer-sponsored dental plan is structured, according to the ADA, which can create administrative confusion, delays and additional costs for both dentists and patients. 

The ADA said passage of the bill would promote fairness, consistency and accountability in dental coverage administration. 

“Your patients deserve to be treated equally under the law when receiving dental care no matter how their dental benefit plan is designed. Congress can finally bring this needed consistency and accountability to federally regulated dental plans and ensure state dental insurance laws are adhered to,” the alert concluded. 

Members can ask their representative to cosponsor H.R. 7931 by taking action here.  

For additional information on ERISA and the IDA Act, visit ADA.org/ERISA.