All Roll Calls
Yes: 63 • No: 0
NevadaSB26883rd Regular Session (2025)SenateWALLET
AN ACT relating to insurance; requiring certain health insurance to include coverage for certain dental services when provided by certain dental hygienists without the supervision of a dentist to the same extent as if provided by a dental hygienist under the supervision of a dentist; revising provisions governing the services that a dental hygienist with a special endorsement to practice public health dental hygiene may provide; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Sponsored By: Edgar Flores (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
BDR 57-329
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Insurance must cover hygienist services
Starting October 1, 2025, Nevada health and dental plans must cover certain dental services when a qualified dental hygienist does them without a dentist. This includes individual and group health plans, health benefit plans, HMOs, managed care plans, dental plans, dental service contracts, and societies’ benefit contracts. Coverage must be the same as when a dentist supervises. A qualified hygienist holds the Board’s public health endorsement and works for a nonprofit, providing care within that job. Plan terms that conflict with this rule are void.
Medicaid covers qualified hygienist services
Nevada Medicaid must pay for covered dental services when a qualified hygienist provides them without a dentist, the same as with dentist supervision, if federal funds are available. The state must apply for any needed federal waivers or State Plan changes and work with federal officials. Medicaid managed care plans must also follow these dental-hygienist coverage rules. This can expand where Medicaid members get covered dental care.
Public health hygienists can do more
Dental hygienists with the public health endorsement may perform more services without a dentist at Board‑approved places like schools and clinics. They must follow a Board‑approved treatment and referral plan. In Board‑approved programs, they can directly supervise dental assistants to place sealants, apply fluoride, take X‑rays, polish teeth, and teach oral health. This helps bring basic dental care to community settings.
Parity for out‑of‑state and group plans
Nevada’s Insurance Commissioner may require a Nevada insurer’s policy sold to someone in another state to meet Nevada standards, including the hygienist‑coverage rule, when that other state does not review the policy. Voluntary purchasing groups and their contracts must also follow Nevada’s small‑group standards and the hygienist‑coverage rule where those rules apply and do not conflict with specified statutes. This widens where the parity rules can protect consumers.
Public employee plans follow parity rules
Local government group coverage must follow the act’s named insurance rules, which include the new dental‑hygienist coverage requirements where they apply. If the Board of Dental Examiners runs a self‑insured health plan, it must meet the same coverage rules as licensed insurers. Local governments may exclude these act‑related extra costs from the usual budget limit in state law. For public workers and families, this helps align coverage with the new parity rules.
Stronger enforcement of HMO coverage
The Insurance Commissioner can suspend or revoke an HMO’s license for violating listed coverage laws, including the new hygienist‑coverage rule. This adds pressure on HMOs to follow required benefits. That helps protect people enrolled in HMO plans.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Edgar Flores
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/22/2025
Final Passage - Assembly (1st Reprint)
Yes: 42 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/22/2025
Final Passage - Senate (1st Reprint)
Yes: 21 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Approved by the Governor. Chapter 188.
5/31/2025legislatureEnrolled and delivered to Governor.
5/27/2025legislatureTo enrollment.
5/23/2025SenateIn Senate.
5/22/2025SenateRead third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 42, Nays: None.) To Senate.
5/22/2025HouseTaken from General File. Placed on General File for next legislative day.
5/21/2025HouseRead second time.
5/20/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass.
5/19/2025HouseRead first time. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor. To committee.
4/28/2025HouseIn Assembly.
4/28/2025HouseTo Assembly.
4/28/2025SenateFrom printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint.
4/25/2025SenateRead third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved, as amended. (Yeas: 21, Nays: None.) To printer.
4/22/2025SenateReprinting dispensed with.
4/21/2025SenateRead second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 189.)
4/21/2025SenatePlaced on Second Reading File.
4/21/2025SenateFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.
4/21/2025SenateFrom printer. To committee.
3/5/2025SenateRead first time. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor. To printer.
3/4/2025Senate
Bill Text
As Enrolled
As Introduced
Reprint 1
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