Legislative Advocacy

Creating Systemic Change for Patients and Providers

At the Patient Advocate Program, we believe that meaningful change doesn’t just happen in treatment rooms — it happens in hearing rooms, committee meetings, and legislative chambers. That’s why advocacy is at the heart of our mission.

We work alongside dental professionals, nonprofit leaders, policy advocates, and patients to drive legislative reform that protects access, transparency, and fairness in dental care.

Why Legislative Advocacy Matters

Many of the challenges patients face — like delayed care, lack of access, insurance denials, and out-of-pocket burdens — aren’t caused by providers or patients. They’re symptoms of gaps in the system.

Through legislative advocacy, we’re working to:

• Hold insurance companies accountable to higher standards

• Protect patients from being denied benefits or forced to pay 100% upfront

• Empower providers with better reimbursement systems and network transparency

• Advance Dental Loss Ratio (DLR) reform, ensuring premium dollars go toward patient care

• Support safe opt-out rights for providers being charged excessive fees (e.g., virtual credit cards)

Current Priorities We Support

AB 371 – Assignment of Benefits & Network Reform

• Requires dental plans to comply with patients’ assignment of benefit (AOB) requests

• Strengthens network adequacy standards so patients can access care within a reasonable distance and time

SB 386 – Virtual Credit Card Opt-Out Protection

• Allows dental providers to permanently opt out of costly VCC payment methods

• Ensures transparency around reimbursement processing fees

Dental Loss Ratio (DLR) Legislation

• Based on models like Massachusetts’ 83% rule

• Ensures a minimum percentage of dental premiums go toward patient care, not insurer profit

Advocacy in Action

As someone who’s worked across every side of the dental field — from clinical to billing, from family caregiver to nonprofit founder — I know firsthand how difficult it can be for patients to get the care they need. I’ve seen families delay urgent care. I’ve helped offices fight countless denied claims. And I’ve watched patients end up in the hospital because a plan’s network was too narrow or slow to respond.

This advocacy isn’t just professional. It’s personal. — Shelbey Arevalo, Founder

How You Can Get Involved

For Providers:

• Contact your legislators to support bills like AB 371 and SB 386

• Stay informed through your local dental association (CDA, ADA)

• Share your practice’s experience with AOB, network, or reimbursement challenges

For Patients & Families:

• Share your dental access story with us

• Join our email list for advocacy alerts

• Write or call your representatives — your voice matters