Dental Patient Billing Right Laws in Michigan

Health care laws in the state of Michigan cover all aspects of patient care including trips to see the dentist. Michigan's Patient Bill of Rights grants a patient the power to request in-depth information about billing procedures and treatment plans as well as to file grievances with insurance companies that have denied coverage. These rights, coupled with existing federal regulations, allow a patient to be in full command of the treatment process from dental cleanings to life-threatening medical conditions.

Patient Medical Records

• Patient medical records (including dental records) are protected under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. This law confines what entities may view a patient's records for treatment and billing. An insurance company may only view medical records when it is approving coverage for payment. According to the Michigan Patient Bill of Rights, insurance companies and HMOs may no longer view medical records and request pre-approval for necessary procedures for dental or any other health issue.

Detailed Billing

• In the state of Michigan a patient has the right to request a detailed statement of his dental bill. This detailed bill should include a summary of treatment and enumerate each line of billing on the given statement. This right is afforded to patients to allow them to remain fully informed of the treatment process and to remove some of the mystery associated with dental billing.

Insurance Company Coverage

• Insurance companies and HMOs operating in the state of Michigan are required to tell a patient in "plain English" exactly what each policy covers and what is his responsibility. Additionally, a patient has a 90-day grievance process if he feels that he has been billed for a claim in error or if coverage has been denied. This allows a patient to stay in control of the billing process and his health care coverage, dental or otherwise.