As dental offices reopen, costs may increase and unemployed patients may have lost the coverage they had when they were employed, according to the American Dental Association.
With increasing infection control standards, the ADA anticipates the cost of care will substantially increase for dental procedures, and dentists may need to readjust fee schedules.
Dentists individually negotiating fee increases with third-party payers should know the desired fee for each procedure code, costs associated with operating the business and the date fees were last revised, according to the ADA guide "Handling Contract Negotiations."
It is likely patients experienced recent changes in employment, according to another ADA guide, "Handling Eligibility Verification." It is essential that dental offices verify eligibility on the date of service. Patients should be asked during the visit if their dental coverage has changed since their last visit.