Delta Dental Lawsuit

There are two ongoing lawsuits against Delta Dental:

• ADA v. Delta Dental Plans Association: In 2019, the American Dental Association (ADA) filed a class action lawsuit against Delta Dental, alleging that the company violated federal antitrust laws by allocating territories of operation and dividing the national market in order to restrict competition and reduce reimbursement amounts to dentists. The lawsuit is still in the discovery phase, and a trial is not expected until late 2025 or early 2026.
• CDA v. Delta Dental of California: In December 2022, the California Dental Association (CDA) filed a lawsuit against Delta Dental of California, challenging the company’s 2023 adjustments to Premier and PPO provider agreements. The CDA alleges that the adjustments include significant fee reductions for many providers, increased administrative burdens, and diminished value of benefit plans. The CDA also alleges that the board of directors of Delta Dental, a nonprofit, tax-exempt company, violated its fiduciary duties by failing to conduct appropriate analysis of the need for and impact of the contract changes to Delta Dental’s provider network and patients.

Both of these lawsuits are significant because Delta Dental is the largest dental insurance provider in the United States. The outcome of these cases could have a major impact on the dental insurance industry and on the dentists and patients who rely on Delta Dental.

Current Status of the Lawsuits

The ADA lawsuit is still in the discovery phase, which means that the parties are exchanging information and gathering evidence. The CDA lawsuit is in its early stages, and the parties have not yet filed any motions for summary judgment or other key procedural steps.

It is too early to say when either of these lawsuits will be resolved. However, both cases are being closely watched by the dental industry and by consumer advocates.

Impact on Dentists and Patients

The outcome of these lawsuits could have a significant impact on dentists and patients. If the plaintiffs are successful, it could lead to higher reimbursements for dentists and lower costs for patients. However, if Delta Dental is successful, it could lead to lower reimbursements for dentists and higher costs for patients.

Dentists and patients should follow these lawsuits closely to stay informed about the latest developments and to understand how the outcome of the cases could impact them.

Sources

1. adanews.ada.org/ada-news/2023/march/court-amends-schedule-in-ada-class-action-lawsuit-against-delta-dental/#:~:text=In%202019%2C%20the%20ADA%20filed,ADA’s%20Division%20of%20Legal%20Affairs.
2. www.cda.org/Home/News-and-Information/Newsroom/Article-Details/cda-files-n