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End of Session Legislative Report/March 2026

It was a quiet session for Wyoming’s dental offices. For the first time in many years, we did not have to oppose the Denturist Practice Act. Additionally, we were able to postpone an attempt by Delta Dental to seek an exemption from the Prior Authorization Legislation passed in 2024. And we were able to work with the Wyoming Primary Care Association’s desire to expand the Scope of Practice for the Dental Hygienists.

The 68th Legislature adjourned the 2026 Budget Session on Wednesday, March 11th. The 22-day session sent 114 bills to the Governor, including the Budget. The final budget, signed by the Governor, restored nearly all the cuts made by the Joint Appropriations Committee to the Governor’s initial recommendations.

The Legal and Legislative Committee has identified Insurance reform as the top priority for the interim session. Unfortunately, there was no interest from the Corporations Committee or the Labor and Health Committee in taking up dental insurance reform,
specifically downcoding and payment for non-covered services. Once we have a refined needs case outlining the fiscal impacts of the current practices, we can find a legislator willing to work with us on drafting legislation.

Prior Authorization
● Prior to the session, I met with Delta Dental’s lobbyist and Kerry to discuss the application of the Prior Authorization
legislation. Delta Dental, based on its internal policies for reviewing “determinations of benefits” requests, was subject
to the prior authorization legislation. This is one of several reasons Delta likely eliminated the “determination of
benefits” courtesy, effective January 1, 2026. Today, Delta is not subject to the law.

● The discussion identified several questions that appear to stem from independent meetings with the Department of
Insurance. The Delta lobbyist and I met with Curtiss Biggs on the Governor’s policy staff prior to the session and
requested their assistance in coordinating a joint meeting with the insurance commissioner in April. Dr. Kirvy will
attend. The goal of the meeting is to determine what issues identified by Delta can be addressed at the
executive/administrative level before opening the door to legislative activity.

Hygienists – Scope of Practice
● Prior to the session, the WYDA received outreach from the Wyoming Primary Care Association about dental
hygienists and their scope of practice in the state. They were concerned that the services they offer at their facilities in
Wyoming could run afoul of the law. It is my understanding that they have received a legal opinion confirming their
compliance and are in the process of confirming with the board of dental examiners.

● It is likely that the labor and health committee will look at expanding the scope of practice for dental hygienists during
the 2026 interim legislative session. This review was identified by Wyoming’s RHTP grant application as part of the
state’s plan to expand access to care.

● The Legislative Management Council meets on April 1 to review and assign interim study topics. It will be important to
have a constructive position and a clear message from the association if we want a seat at the table if the Dental Practice Act is opened. 

We want to inform you about the recent enactment of Senate File 158 (SF0158), titled “Virtual credit cards and network leasing–dental services,” which was recently signed into law by the Wyoming Legislature. This new law introduces important provisions that directly impact dental insurance payment practices and provider network arrangements. This law will go into effect on July 1, 2025.

Key Provisions of SF0158:

1. Virtual Credit Card Payments:
• Dental benefit plans or third-party administrators may not require dental providers to accept payments via virtual credit cards.
• Providers must be given alternative payment methods that do not impose additional fees or transaction costs on the provider.
2. Network Leasing Transparency:
• Contracts between dental providers and dental benefit plans must clearly disclose if the provider’s network may be leased to other third parties.
• Providers must be notified when their contracts are leased, ensuring greater transparency and enabling informed decisions about network participation.

What This Means for Your Practice:

• More Control Over Payment Methods: You now have the right to choose payment methods that work best for your practice—without being burdened by added fees from virtual credit card transactions.
• Greater Visibility into Network Participation: Clear disclosures and required notifications ensure you know who is accessing your contracted rates and services.

We encourage you to review the full text of SF0158 to fully understand its implications:
👉 View SF0158 Bill Text

If you have questions about how this law affects your practice or your contracts with insurers, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Wyoming Dental Association.

Have an Issue with an Insurance Company?

If you encounter any issues or have a complaint regarding an insurance company’s compliance with these new provisions, you can submit a formal complaint to the Wyoming Department of Insurance here:
👉 https://doi.wyo.gov/consumers