Dental News - Associations seek health care provider exemption from financial reform legislation

Fred Michmershuizen, DTA

Tue. 11 May 2010

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NEW YORK, NY / WASHINGTON, DC, USA: As lawmakers in the nation’s capital debate proposed financial services reform legislation, the nation’s leading dental associations are asking Congress to exempt health care providers from oversight by a proposed new federal agency.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) and other groups, the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency, which is part of the financial regulatory reform legislation currently under consideration in the Senate, would lead to unnecessary costs and increased administrative burdens for practitioners without any benefit to their patients.

The ADA, AGD and about 20 other associations recently sent a joint letter to key lawmakers who are working on the proposed legislation asking that they exclude their professions from the bill.

As currently written, the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 would subject health care providers who regularly charge interest on outstanding bills or allow patients to pay in installments to federal scrutiny.

The letter, which was sent to Sen. Christopher Dodd and Reps. Barney Frank, Spencer Bachus and Richard Shelby, reads, “Though the provisions are intended to clarify the limitations and exclusions of the bill, we believe they actually raise more questions as they may be interpreted as applying to health care practitioners who regularly charge interest and allow patients to pay in installments (subparagraph B). In addition, we remain concerned that the term ‘engaged significantly’ in subparagraph (C) is not defined and could lead rulemakers to include those providers who utilize those payment options for the benefit of their patients.”

The further states, “Given the scope and reach of the bill’s language, health care practitioners would, we believe, be covered by the legislation leading to unnecessary costs and increased administrative burdens for practitioners without any benefit for our patients.”

“While we recognize and thank you for including committee report language that speaks to this issue, specifically mentioning a health care provider group (dentists) as not intended to be covered; ultimately the report language falls short of ensuring that all health care providers will be exempt from the law,” the letter continues.

In addition to ADA and AGD, also signing the letter were the American Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Academy of Periodontology, the American Association of Endodontists, the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Association of Orthodontists, the American College of Prosthodontists, the American Medical Association and the Hispanic Dental Association.

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