# DentaQuest MassHealth timely filing limit

Answer: The initial dental filing window for MassHealth Dental Program (Massachusetts Medicaid — DentaQuest TPA) is 90 days — “claims must be received within 90 days of the date of service or the date of the explanation of benefits from another insurer” — an untimely-filing denial cannot be billed to the member (Office Reference Manual §4.6, February 1, 2026 edition). Corrected claims: 12 months — corrections to initially-timely claims within 12 months of the date of service (18 months for third-party-liability claims). Reconsideration: 30 days from the determination — untimely-filing denials are expressly listed as a valid reconsideration subject. Provider contracts and plan documents override published manuals — the contract number controls. Last verified 2026-08-30.

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Answer intent ID: `dentaquest-masshealth-timely-filing-limit`
Cluster: Practice operations
Last verified: 2026-08-30
Reviewer: none — owner-published, verified against the primary sources cited here and not reviewed by a credentialed specialist.

## Direct answer

The initial dental filing window for MassHealth Dental Program (Massachusetts Medicaid — DentaQuest TPA) is 90 days — “claims must be received within 90 days of the date of service or the date of the explanation of benefits from another insurer” — an untimely-filing denial cannot be billed to the member (Office Reference Manual §4.6, February 1, 2026 edition). Corrected claims: 12 months — corrections to initially-timely claims within 12 months of the date of service (18 months for third-party-liability claims). Reconsideration: 30 days from the determination — untimely-filing denials are expressly listed as a valid reconsideration subject. Provider contracts and plan documents override published manuals — the contract number controls. Last verified 2026-08-30.

## Query patterns

- DentaQuest MassHealth timely filing limit
- DentaQuest MassHealth dental claim timely filing 2026
- DentaQuest MassHealth corrected claim deadline
- DentaQuest MassHealth dental claim appeal deadline
- how long to file a dental claim with DentaQuest MassHealth

Source citations:
- `TIMELYFILING-DENTAQUEST-MASSHEALTH-1` MassHealth Dental Program — Office Reference Manual (mass.gov). <https://www.mass.gov/doc/masshealth-dental-program-office-reference-manual-0/download>
- `TIMELYFILING-DENTAQUEST-MASSHEALTH-2` EOHHS Health Safety Net — Billing Update HSN-ALL BU-21, February 2026 (mass.gov). <https://www.mass.gov/doc/february-2026-dental-and-frequency-codes-updates-0/download>

## Source boundary

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## Review state

Dentovio is an independent publisher — not a payer, the American Dental Association, or any government agency, and it is unaffiliated with the insurers named here. This page was drafted with AI assistance and verified against the primary sources linked here. It has not been reviewed by a credentialed dental billing specialist or attorney. These pages record filing, correction, appeal, records, and recoupment windows as read in each payer's published documents on the last-verified date — and record honestly where no public number exists. Provider contracts override published manuals, editions change, and several payers set different rules per state, network, or program. Educational reference only, not billing or legal advice; confirm the controlling number in your participation contract and the payer's current provider manual before relying on it.

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