You may have to pay extra at the dentist because of a coronavirus surcharge. Here’s why

If you’re heading to the dentist during the coronavirus pandemic, you may notice an extra charge on your bill.

That’s because some dentists have implemented a COVID-19 surcharge to help cover the cost of upgraded personal protective equipment (PPE) they say is essential for keeping employees safe during the pandemic.

How much are patients being charged?

When Doreen Chlumsky’s Illinois dentist office called to confirm her appointment, they told her they’d take her temperature then ask her a list of questions, WBBM reported.

Then, they added one more thing.

“There was going to be a $15 infectious disease fee to cover their COVID-19 expenses,” she told the outlet.

Chlumsky is still working during the pandemic, but her pay was cut by 10%, WBBM reported.

“I could not recover my 10%, and I don’t think (the charge) was right,” she told the outlet.

It’s been a similar story in Washington, where some dental patients have reported coronavirus-related fees between $10 and $150, KENS5 reported.

Reporter Michelle Li said her dentist was charging a one-time $10 fee and that she’d be reimbursed if her insurance covered it, according to the outlet.

Others have remarked that the fees are “uncalled for,” since dentists used PPE — including masks and gloves — before the pandemic, KENS5 reported.

What do dentists have to say?

Dentists say they require more PPE during the pandemic and that shortages have caused prices to skyrocket, KUSA reported.

“The additional PPE is definitely a significant expense,” Neil Uffner, owner of Borad Street Braces in Pennsylvania, told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “It’s something that we’ve never really had to consider.”

He said his office donated many of its gowns and masks to hospitals at the start of the pandemic, the Inquirer reported. Replacing them hasn’t been cheap.

A 50-count box of masks used to cost $5 but now runs for about $50, the Inquirer reported. Gowns that were once $1 a piece cost about $15, according to the newspaper. Still, Uffner says he won’t pass the cost along to his patients.

Staff at Barotz Dental office in Colorado have started wearing face shields, gowns and shoe coverings for any procedures requiring a drill, according to KUSA.

Dr. Charles Barotz, who owns the practice, said he’s not charging a PPE fee for his clients, but believes patients should pay for the more stringent safety measures if their dentist requests it, KUSA reported.

“I believe that as a dentist we need to protect ourselves, we need to protect our patients, our team,” Barotz told the outlet. “Some dentists charge for it, and that’s their prerogative. I do think that they are justified, if they do feel they must do that.”

Increases in PPE quantity and quality may not be covered by insurance companies or other third-party payers, causing the cost to fall on patients, KUSA reported.

Industry professionals hope the increases are only temporary.

“As time goes by, we think that the supply chains will recover and prices will come down,” Bracken Killpack, executive director of the Washington State Dental Association, told KENS5. “But this is just the reality that we’re living in right now.”

Should dentists cover increased PPE costs?

The American Dental Association said it’s unfair for the additional PPE costs to fall on dentists, according to a news release.

It has urged third-party payers to either raise the maximum fees allowed for procedures or cover a per-patient per-visit surcharge to account for the increased cost of PPE, the release said.

“Safety is of utmost importance and all dentists are taking steps to protect patients, staff and themselves,” Dr. Randall Markarian, chair of the ADA Council on Dental Benefit Programs, said in the release. “While necessary, new PPE requirements increase the overhead for every dental practice.”

Markarian added that the increase in overhead costs was not included in negotiated fees that were in place before the pandemic and that limited service and fewer patients could make it difficult for dental offices to recover post-coronavirus, according to the release.

“Together these factors create an environment that may be unsustainable for dental practices,” he said in the release. “We encourage both fully-insured third-party plans, as well as employers sponsoring self-insured plans, to pay attention to these consequences and support payment for PPE as we all strive to keep our patients and communities healthy.”

This story was originally published May 27, 2020 at 10:45 AM.