Abstract
This article discusses the legal implications of dental plan ratings for dentists. If a dental plan assigns a rating to dentists and publishes it to patients without providing specific information about the rating's basis or an opportunity for dentists to contest it, legal recourse may be limited. Currently, no statutory law regulates such ratings, leaving dentists potentially vulnerable to defamatory ratings. Under Michigan law, dentists could sue for defamation, but proving the rating's falseness and the resulting loss of patients may be challenging. Federal regulation is suggested to ensure fairness, transparency, and protection for dentists subjected to involuntary ratings.
Recommended Citation
Schulte, Dan JD
(2022)
"Dentistry and the Law: Can Dental Plan Ratings Be Defamatory?,"
The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association: Vol. 104:
No.
8, Article 7.
Available at:
https://commons.ada.org/journalmichigandentalassociation/vol104/iss8/7
Included in
Business Law, Public Responsibility, and Ethics Commons, Dental Public Health and Education Commons, Health and Medical Administration Commons, Health Law and Policy Commons, Health Policy Commons, Insurance Commons, Leadership Commons
Submit Article
