A new study published in Health Services Research examines the early effects of Massachusetts’ dental loss ratio (DLR) ballot initiative on provider reimbursement rates.
This is the first rigorous, peer-reviewed analysis of the impact of DLR regulations in any state. Using novel methods, Health Policy Institute researchers find that the DLR requirement led to a stabilization in reimbursement rates in Massachusetts while reimbursement rates continued to decline within in a group of comparison states. T
he divergence of trends in Massachusetts relative to the “control group” of comparison states shows up statistically as a 5.2% net impact of the DLR reform. In other words, the DLR requirement led to a 5.2% increase in reimbursement rates in Massachusetts relative to comparison states.
The HPI team has been exploring ways to evaluate the impact of DLR regulations on monthly insurance premiums, insurer entry or exit, changes in plan benefit design, procedure mix, and out-of-pocket costs for patients. Limited access to data is severely limiting these research efforts. Link to journal article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1475-6773.70111
