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As usual, mouthing off about fees being levied on patients because of the COVID-19 pandemic: "âI am fundamentally opposed to passing on short-term fees to patients,â Bari told NBC News." https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/what-s-new-covid-fee-consumers-are-split-whether-pay-n1234238
A little more background: An $8 fee might not seem egregious, but as I mentioned, I don't think that extra fees should be levied on patients here. I confirmed that my PPO dental insurance was offering extra reimbursement for PPE, and the guidance from the ADA at the time.
I contacted my dentist's office in response to their email announcing the fee, asking if they would be charging all patients even if dental insurance covered PPE, and asking if the fees would be permanent. After many weeks, the doctor called me and wanted to have a conversation.
I appreciated the time that the doctor gave me, but it was clear they did not want to write down their answers. I was told that they would refund patients if dental insurance paid, but that certainly wasn't announced and wasn't a written policy.
I'm extremely sensitive to the increased costs all providers, and in particular, independent and small medical practices are experiencing. But pushing those costs down on patients, many of whom are losing insurance, losing their jobs, and struggling, is not ok.
Multiple financial programs were and are available for providers, including PPP, EIDL, and CARES provider relief funds. It's not as easy as it should be, but providers and their associations need to put pressure on states and the federal government to address this situation.
Specific to dentistry, I'm surprised that dentists weren't using better PPE to begin with. Even without COVID-19, many procedures are aerosol-generating. Generally, I've seen dental providers wear surgical masks and goggles, but recently, many are also wearing face shields.
The bottom line, as described in the article, is that all kinds of businesses are levying new COVID fees. As with other fees on consumers, once created, it's unlikely they will ever be removed. See the "security fee" that goes to the TSA: https://thepointsguy.com/news/passenger-fee-is-earning-tsa-billions/
I did go to another dentist's office, who was wonderful and did not charge an additional fee. The doctor who treated me waxed poetic about their face shield, saying that it made them feel much safer with or without COVID-19.
Finally, many dentists are only scheduling patients who can show a recetn negative coronavirus PCR test. With prices for âoptionalâ tests ranging from $100-$400, this is yet another de-facto fee levied on patients.
*recent...of course. Someday my phone will stop sabotaging me.
