$30 sanitization fee by the dentist

cbsp

Tue, Jul 21 2020, 3:34 pm

amother [ White ] wrote:

I work in a dentist's office; we are charging a fee in the range of $10. We had tremendous initial and ongoing expenses to be able to reopen and keep everyone safe, and there are many additional operating expenses beyond what we usually do to disinfect etc. The dentists, hygienists, and assistants are all wearing N95 masks, another mask, a face shield, and gown. Plastic covers are used more than usual. The room is disinfected between patients using a fogger with a special disinfectant (both needed to be purchased). Patients use an antiviral mouthrinse before the dentist starts working on them. And (probably the most expensive) additional staff time is needed for each patient to do COVID screening and disinfect the room (beyond the usual wipedown which was always done). I'm not saying a $30 fee is appropriate, but even some insurance companies are recognizing dentists' additional infection-control expenses and reimbursing for them.

Do you then reimburse the patient?

cbsp

Tue, Jul 21 2020, 3:36 pm

amother [ Babyblue ] wrote:

True, but it makes the dentist look like a money grabbing cheapo to charge $30 to sanitize. He can also charge for stamps at .45 per stamp twice a year. But if the dentist puts that on a separate line he'll look like a fool. So fine, include it in the cost of service. Same here. Dentists make lots more money than most of their patients. It's bad public relations to charge $30 to sanitize the room. If they feel they must charge then add it on to the total cost.

Am I the only one with an OB who would charge for every squirt of gel used for a sonogram (in addition to the actual charge for the sonogram)?

amother

Babyblue

Tue, Jul 21 2020, 4:14 pm

cbsp wrote:

Am I the only one with an OB who would charge for every squirt of gel used for a sonogram (in addition to the actual charge for the sonogram)?

Yeah, but is each squirt itemized on the bill? I doubt it. They night raise the price overall to include multiple squirts but it's tacky to read that you are being charged $50 for 2 squirts.

cbsp

Tue, Jul 21 2020, 4:48 pm

amother [ Babyblue ] wrote:

Yeah, but is each squirt itemized on the bill? I doubt it. They night raise the price overall to include multiple squirts but it's tacky to read that you are being charged $50 for 2 squirts.

Yes each squirt was itemized as a "DME" and even though I called the insurance company to ask why I was being charged a fee for the sonogram there was no one to talk to.

amother

White

Tue, Jul 21 2020, 6:39 pm

Quote:

Do you then reimburse the patient?

We only charge the patient if their insurance will not pay it (and if insurance allows). My point was that even the insurance companies recognize that dentists have higher expenses now.