The Florida Senate

627.4295  Dental procedures; anesthesia and hospitalization coverage.--For purposes of this section, dental treatment or surgery shall be considered necessary when the dental condition is likely to result in a medical condition if left untreated. Any individual health insurance policy issued or issued for delivery in this state which provides coverage for general anesthesia and hospitalization services to a covered person shall not preclude such coverage in assuring the safe delivery of necessary dental care provided to a covered person who:

(1)  Is under 8 years of age and is determined by a licensed dentist, and the child's physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459, to require necessary dental treatment in a hospital or ambulatory surgical center due to a significantly complex dental condition or a developmental disability in which patient management in the dental office has proved to be ineffective; or

(2)  Has one or more medical conditions that would create significant or undue medical risk for the individual in the course of delivery of any necessary dental treatment or surgery if not rendered in a hospital or ambulatory surgical center.

As provided herein, all terms and conditions of the covered person's health insurance policy shall apply to such services, and this section does not require coverage for the diagnosis or treatment of dental disease. An insurer may require prior authorization for general anesthesia and hospital services required under this section in the same manner the insurer requires prior authorization for hospitalization for other covered services. This section shall not apply to Medicare supplement, long-term care, disability, limited benefit, accident only, or specified disease policies.

History.--s. 1, ch. 98-312.