(215 ILCS 109/5)

Sec. 5. Purpose; dental care patient rights.

(a) The purpose of this Act is to provide fairness and choice to dental patients and dentists under managed care dental benefit plans.

(b) Dental care patients have the following rights:

(1) A patient has the right to care consistent with professional standards of practice to assure quality dental care, to choose the participating dentist responsible for providing his or her care, to receive information concerning his or her condition and proposed treatment, to refuse any treatment to the extent permitted by law, and to privacy and confidentiality of records except as otherwise provided by law.

(2) A patient has the right, regardless of source of payment, to examine and to receive a reasonable explanation of his or her total bill for services rendered by his or her dentist. A dentist shall be responsible only for a reasonable explanation of those specific dental care services provided by the dentist.

(3) A patient has the right to timely prior notice of the termination in the event a plan cancels or refuses to renew an enrollee's participation in the plan except when the termination is for non-payment of premium or termination of the plan by the group.

(4) A patient has the right to privacy and confidentiality. This right may be expressly waived in writing by the patient or the patient's guardian.

(5) A patient has the right to purchase any dental care services with that patient's own funds.

(Source: P.A. 91-355, eff. 1-1-00.)