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COVID-19 Resources

This page was last updated Monday, 5/11/2020.

Re-opening Your Dental Practice

As practices across the nation begin to reopen, please use this checklist as a guide to help prepare you to begin seeing patients safely again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I apply for available SBA funding?
For most practices that answer is YES. There are two available loans, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) available directly through SBA.gov and the Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) available through the bank that holds your business accounts (if they’re an approved SBA lender). For information click here.
Should I stop all PPC Advertising?

Look at search trends; if searches are decreasing or your office doesn’t have a way reach back out to inquiries in a timely manner, it may be worth pausing your PPC advertising and focusing on Display advertising to build brand awareness. You may also want to consider using some of your ad budget to boost Search Engine Optimization efforts. Read more about marketing.

Will insurance cover a teledentistry appointment?

On page 9 of the “ADA COVID Coding and Billing Guidance,” it lists reimbursement info by insurance company – most are reimbursing D0140- subject to frequency limitations. The actual teledentistry codes are predominantly not covered but used to indicate the service was performed outside of the dental office setting. Read more about billing.

Billing

Update to Delta Fee Reduction for Specialty Practices

Regarding the reduced Delta Dental fees that were scheduled to be effective 7/1/20. Delta has pushed this date out to be effective 1/1/2021 due to the financial strain offices are experiencing from COVID-19. Here is an article that goes into greater detail.

Quick Tips from Adams Dental Consulting

 

  • The ADA released “Statement on Third Party Payer Reimbursement for Costs Associated with Increased Standards for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)”

Stating that third party benefit programs should either:

  1. Adjust the maximum allowable fees for all procedures or
  2. Allow a standard fee per date of service per patient to accommodate the rising costs of PPE

     

    Dental offices should use CDT code “D1999-unspecified preventive procedure, by report” to document and report the use and cost of additional PPE. Dentists can use this code once per patient visit/claim to attempt to cover the cost of PPE.

  • United Concordia are a couple of the first Insurances Carriers to allow reimbursement to help cover the costs associated with purchasing masks, sterilization procedures, and other CDC requirements resulting from COVID-19. Full statement here.
  • View all Provider-related questions
  • The reimbursement is $10 per patient visit for dates of service from 5/1/2020 – 6/30/2020
  • The reimbursement is $7 per patient visit for dates of service from 5/1/20 – 12/31/2020
  • Your office may pass the cost of D1999 to the patient if the dental insurance does not reimburse. You should still submit the code on the claim form.

Management

Human
Resources

Send this resource by email now to employees and post it in your breakroom as soon as normal business resumes. Download FFCRA poster.

Dental Supplier
Loan Information

Download Patterson Dental Support Resource

Source: Live Oak Bank

Marketing

Stay connected through social media, email and personal calls (when appropriate) to patients. Right now, people are consuming online media more than ever. Harness your brand’s reputation to stay in touch with loyal patients and reach out to new patients by answering general questions and making yourself available during emergency situations.

Get a free, no-obligation consultation

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