WDA asks state to monitor Delta Dental of Wisconsin’s practice acquisitions

The Wisconsin Dental Association has sent a letter to the state Department of Justice, asking the department to closely watch over Delta Dental of Wisconsin’s acquisition of dental practices in the state, according to an Aug. 13 report from TMJ4. 

Here are six things to know:

1. Delta Dental of Wisconsin, a dental insurance company, recently purchased 25 dental practices across the state. 
2. There are concerns from the WDA about potential conflicts of interests that could impact patient care. 
3. The association’s letter from dentists cited that patient treatment options may be decided by what is more cost effective for Delta Dental of Wisconsin rather than by what is clinically best for the patient’s oral health. 
4. While Wisconsin is one of the states that does not require dental practices to be owned by licensed dentists, this is the first case in the state where a dental insurer would be both the payer and provider. 
5. The American Dental Association recently raised similar concerns with the acquisition.