"Dental carrier" means an insurer, dental service corporation, insurance network leasing company, or any company that offers individual or group policies of accident and health insurance that provide coverage for dental services.
"Prior authorization" means any written communication that is verifiable, whether through issuance or letter, facsimile, email, or similar means, indicating that a specific procedure is, or multiple procedures are, covered under the patient's dental plan and reimbursable at a specific amount, subject to applicable coinsurance and deductibles, and issued in response to a request submitted by a dentist using a format prescribed by the dental carrier.
A dental carrier shall not recoup a claim solely due to a loss of coverage of a patient or ineligibility if, at the time of treatment, the dental carrier erroneously confirmed coverage and eligibility, but had sufficient information available to the dental carrier indicating that the patient was no longer covered or was ineligible for coverage.
215 ILCS 5/355d