A federal district court on Sept. 22 denied a motion by dentists to certify an antitrust lawsuit against Delta Dental as a class action. The lawsuit, first filed by the ADA in 2019 and later consolidated with other dentist complaints, alleges Delta Dental and its affiliates conspired to reduce reimbursements, fix prices and limit competition, harming about 240,000 providers. The court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to show that dental providers nationwide were uniformly affected, given Delta Dental’s varying market share and local patient choices. The decision does not affect the ability of individual dentists to pursue claims, and the case will proceed unless a stay is issued.
Separately, the California Court of Appeals upheld dismissal of the California Dental Association’s suit against Delta Dental of California, prompting the California Dental Association to form a workgroup exploring fairer, more sustainable dental plan models.
