ADA News
ADA issues statement on New York investigation
The American Dental Association Aug. 4 released a statement regarding New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s investigation into patient financing programs.
The American Dental Association issued the following statement from ADA President Ronald L. Tankersley:
"The American Dental Association shares the concern expressed in a letter it just received from the NY Attorney General's office about patient credit financing practices. We will review it and respond accordingly within the specified timeframe.
"First and foremost, dentists are health care professionals, and they want to help their patients receive the treatment they need and want. Patients may not have dental insurance or readily available funds to pay for their care at the time of treatment. Some patients may wish to budget their treatment costs over time. In these types of instances, third-party financing can be a useful option for patients to structure payment plans to cover necessary or elective dental care.
"The ADA fully supports patients' right to understand their treatment plans and the costs of treatment. Financing can greatly benefit patients when it comes to paying for their dental treatment, provided that patients fully understand their terms of the financing program."
The ADA continues to encourage dental office staff to advise patients to contact financing companies directly before signing an agreement if they do not fully understand how the program works.
