Most dentists are facing rising costs for personal protective equipment, and some have started charging patients to account for the new costs.
Below are four recent COVID-19 surcharge stories, as covered by Becker's:
1. Connecticut's attorney general has received at least 28 complaints from dental patients regarding COVID-19 surcharges. The disputed fees total almost $500, according to complaints obtained by The Middletown Press. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said the fees are illegal if a patient has insurance and pays a copayment.
2. Americans in 29 states have filed 510 complaints of coronavirus-related surcharges at dentist offices, senior living facilities, salons and restaurants, according to The Washington Post. Most reports have come from dental patients, according to the Post. Chad Gehani, DDS, immediate past president of the American Dental Association, said, "The American Dental Association strongly encourages dental offices to disclose any additional fees upfront to patients and to document these charges in the patient record. The ADA has recommended that dental benefit carriers should either adjust the maximum allowable fees for all procedures to cover the increased costs of PPE or allow an additional standard fee per date of service per patient."
3. Nearly a third of dentists raised fees over the past month to alleviate financial challenges, according to a Jan. 18 survey from the American Dental Association.
4. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey released a Dec. 21 advisory after receiving multiple concerns from dental patients about COVID-19 surcharges. Patients were often unaware of the dental surcharges — ranging from $10 to $35 — until after the services were provided. The advisory, sent to the Massachusetts Dental Society, reads, "We understand that many dental practices are facing increased financial burdens due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, consumers across our state are dealing with their own financial hardships and should not have to pay inappropriate or surprise charges."