Julie McKone/OKFAHC Discusses Two Bills That Could Increase Prices at the Dentist Office for Oklahoma Families
- OKFAHC
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Oklahoma Families for Affordable Healthcare (OKFAHC) Executive Director Julie McKone was featured on Freedom’s First News (96.9 FM) to discuss concerns about two state bills that she says will likely raise consumer prices at the dentist office.
During the interview, McKone explained why OKFAHC opposes Senate Bill 1942 and its companion, House Bill 4329. While the bills are being promoted as “transparency” measures and a way to restore pricing authority to dentists, Julie outlined how they would actually remove key consumer protections that help keep dental care affordable.
Currently, when dentists join insurance networks, they voluntarily agree to contracted rates that cap what patients can be charged, even when services fall outside of coverage limits. These negotiated rates protect families from inflated retail pricing and provide predictability in out-of-pocket costs.
The bills would remove that pricing ceiling for certain services, allowing dentists to charge more than the negotiated rate. Julie emphasized that this change would likely increase out-of-pocket costs for families, at a time when nearly 40% of Oklahoma adults are already delaying dental care due to cost concerns.
She also addressed why the bill does not truly increase transparency. Patients cannot realistically “shop around” for dental procedures while sitting in a dental chair, often without advance knowledge of what treatment they will need. Removing pricing protections in that moment does not create transparency. Instead, she says, it shifts financial risk onto families.
Julie encouraged Oklahomans to stay engaged and ask lawmakers a simple question: Does this bill lower costs for patients, or does it raise them?
Watch the interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDgtPQWbBg8
Take Action: With one click, urge your legislators to oppose these bills: https://www.okfahc.com/opposedentalcosthikes
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