ADA probes dental insurer’s acquisition of a dental practice chain: 6 things to know

The American Dental Association is raising concerns about Delta Dental of Wisconsin’s recent acquisition of a dental practice chain, according to a July 2 news release from the ADA.

Here are six things to know:

1. Insurance company Delta Dental of Wisconsin acquired Cherry Tree Dental, a chain of dental practices.
2. The ADA is looking into any potential legal and regulatory implications of the acquisition. 
3. The organization expressed concerns about a potential conflict of interest with a dental insurer being both the healthcare provider and insurance payer. 
4. Due to the tendency for dental insurers to maximize profit, the ADA is concerned that patients may have limited treatment options to fit what is most cost-effective to the insurance company. 
5. The ADA has reached out to Delta Dental of Wisconsin to gain a better understanding of the scope of the transaction.
6. According to a LinkedIn post, Delta Dental of Wisconsin said that Cherry Tree Dental will operate as a separate company and the two organizations will have separate leadership structures.