During the Oct. 19 meeting, the ADA updated the teledentistry policy it adopted in 2015. The organization said teledentistry “has the capability to expand the reach of a dental home to provide needed dental care to a population within reasonable geographic distances and varied locations where the services are rendered.”
Five key requirements in the updated teledentistry policy:
- Teledentistry services “must be consistent with how they would be delivered in-person” and “based on the same level of information that would be available in an in-person environment.” The ADA said that dentists have a legal obligation to ensure all records they collect can sufficiently lead them to make an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
- Dentists who deliver, supervise or direct teledentistry services should be licensed in the state where the patient receives virtual care, barring certain authorizations from state dental boards.
- Patients should know the identity and qualifications of the dental professionals involved in all teledentistry services they receive.
- Patients should be aware of costs for which they are responsible before they receive teledentistry services and should be “actively involved in treatment decisions.”
- Public and private dental insurers should cover teledentistry services at the same level as they cover in-person dental services.
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