The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) has sent letters to U.S. regulatory bodies and two major dental insurers opposing policies that restrict how dentists can be reimbursed.
The academy asked Aetna and Delta Dental of California to reverse their new payment policies. Aetna has eliminated paper check reimbursements to out-of-network dentists, and Delta Dental charges a $15 weekly administrative fee to dentists who choose to receive reimbursements by paper check.
Additionally, the AGD requested that the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the National Council of Insurance Legislators examine the issue and encourage state regulators to prohibit similar practices industrywide.
The AGD added that practices rely on paper checks due to established accounting procedures and the cost and complexity of electronic payment platforms.
