(a) Definitions. — As used in this section:
(1) “Child with a severe disability” means a person under the age of 21 who, due to a significant mental or physical condition, illness, or disease, is likely to require specialized treatment or supports to secure effective access to dental care. The written certification of a child’s treating physician, advance practice nurse, or licensed psychologist shall be sufficient to qualify a person as a “child with a severe disability.”
(2) “Dental services” means the full range of diagnostic and treatment services within the scope of benefits available under the health insurance contract or policy.
(b) Application of section. — This section applies to every group or blanket health insurance contract, including each policy or contract issued by a health service corporation, which is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this State which provides coverage for dental services for a child.
(c) Payment authorization. — Every contract or policy described in subsection (b) of this section shall authorize payment to a licensed practitioner for dental services to a child with a severe disability irrespective of lack of contractual or network status. Unless otherwise negotiated with the practitioner in advance, such payment shall be in an amount at least equal to the insurer’s reasonable and customary compensation for the same or similar services in the same geographical area. A nonnetwork practitioner accepting payment under this section may not balance bill the insured.
(d) Preservation of contract limits. — Nothing in this section shall prevent the application of contract or policy provisions involving deductibles, coinsurance, maximum dollar limitations or coordination of benefits, provided that such limits shall be applied using in-network standards.
(e) Waiver. — The Commissioner may establish, by regulation, standards authorizing the issuance of a waiver to an insurer from application of this section. At a minimum, such waiver standards shall only permit a time-limited, renewable waiver upon submission of clear and convincing documentation of the numerical and geographical availability of in-network practitioners willing and able to effectively treat a child with a severe disability.
77 Del. Laws, c. 54, § 2.
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