AAE Supports New York Legislation Expanding Access to Endodontic Care
The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) recently submitted a letter of support for New York Assembly Bill 11520 and Senate Bill 10607, legislation designed to improve patient access to medically necessary endodontic services through stronger insurance coverage protections.
The legislation would require dental plans that cover restorative dental services to provide coverage for medically necessary endodontic treatment, including diagnostic examinations, specialist consultations, radiographic imaging, root canal treatment, retreatment procedures, apicoectomies, emergency treatment, and related post-treatment care. The bills would also prohibit insurers from denying coverage solely because treatment is performed by a licensed endodontist rather than a general dentist.
The AAE supports the legislation because it recognizes the critical role endodontists play in diagnosing and treating dental pain, infection, and disease while helping patients preserve their natural teeth. Patients often face barriers to specialty dental care due to inadequate provider networks and restrictive coverage policies that can delay treatment and negatively impact oral health outcomes.
Importantly, the legislation includes network adequacy protections requiring insurers to provide coverage for services rendered by non-participating endodontists at in-network cost-sharing levels when adequate specialist networks are unavailable. The bills would also prevent insurers from imposing annual limitations, frequency limitations, or utilization review requirements for medically necessary endodontic services that are more restrictive than those applied to comparable restorative dental services.
The AAE joined efforts to advocate for these reforms because timely access to endodontic care is essential for preventing the progression of infection, relieving pain, preserving natural dentition, and improving overall health outcomes. By strengthening coverage requirements and expanding access to specialty care, the legislation would help ensure that treatment decisions are guided by clinical necessity rather than insurance barriers.
The AAE remains committed to advocating for policies that improve patient access to quality oral healthcare and support the specialty of endodontics at both the state and federal levels.