Case Description
State sought damages and injunctive relief, alleging that Defendant, Washington Dental Service (WDS) maintained “Most Favored Nation Clauses” in its dentist agreements which require that a participating dentist’s fee for any given procedure used as a basis for payment of WDS claims shall not exceed the lowest fee which the dentist charges or offers to or receives from any person or dental plan. In order to resolve the dispute without further litigation, the parties entered a consent decree enjoining Defendant from maintaining any MFN or similar provision in member dentist agreements. Further, Defendant was enjoined from taking any other action to influence or attempt to influence any dentist to refrain from offering discount fees to any person or dental plan or to refrain from participating in any dental plan. Defendant was also required to pay $20,000 to the Office of the Attorney General for costs and fees.