PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · May 24, 2021
Dentist and Optometric Care Access Act of 2021 or the DOC Access Act of 2021
This bill prohibits private health insurance plans from setting rates for items and services, except for dental cleanings, provided by a doctor of optometry, of dental surgery, or of dental medicine for which the plan does not pay a substantial amount.
Additionally, an agreement between a plan and such a doctor for limited scope dental or vision benefits may last longer than two years only with the prior acceptance of the doctor for each term extension. Plans also may not restrict such a doctor's choice of laboratories or suppliers.
Such doctors may elect to waive the application of the payment amount and choice of laboratories provisions of this bill.
The bill establishes a private right of action for a person adversely affected by a violation of this bill.
The bill does not supersede state laws regarding health insurers and dental or vision benefit plans.
People & committees
Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV] · D–WV
Legislative record
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Apr 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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