Colorado Enacts Dental Insurance Reform Targeting Network Leasing

Posted: May 12, 2026

Colorado Enacts Dental Insurance Reform Targeting Network Leasing

Edited by Dentaltown staff

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 26-1070 into law on April 13, 2026, establishing new requirements for how dental insurance carriers may lease their contracted provider networks to third parties. The law takes effect August 12.

The legislation creates an opt-in standard, requiring carriers to obtain affirmative consent from a dentist before leasing that dentist’s contracted services and negotiated discounts to a third-party payer. Dentists may withdraw consent at any time, and carriers cannot cancel or refuse to contract with a dentist who declines to opt in.

The law also requires carriers to provide regular updates identifying the leased networks and the third parties accessing them. Third-party payers using a leased network must follow the same contractual terms and conditions as the original carrier, and remittance advices sent to dentists must identify the source of any discount taken by a third party.

Limited exemptions apply for Medicaid-related provider networks and for arrangements among entities operating under the same brand licensee program, provided that program is publicly disclosed.

The new requirements apply when dental insurance contracts are entered into, renewed, extended, or materially modified to permit third-party access.

The bill was sponsored by Reps. Kyle Brown and Anthony Hartsook and Sens. Lisa Frizell and Iman Jodeh, and passed both chambers of the Colorado General Assembly before being signed by the governor. Advocacy was led by the Colorado Dental Association, with technical and policy support from the American Dental Association. The Colorado Dental Association has described the measure as one of the most comprehensive dental network leasing laws in the country.

ADA leadership has indicated the Colorado law will support broader federal efforts, including the proposed Improving Dental Administration (IDA) Act, which aims to extend similar protections to self-funded dental plans.

Sources:
Colorado General Assembly, HB26-1070 bill page: leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1070
Colorado General Assembly, HB26-1070 engrossed bill text (PDF): leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/112237/download
ADA News, “Colorado enacts dental insurance reform targeting network leasing practices” (April 29, 2026): adanews.ada.org
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