HIGHBusinessTier 1
ADA urges Aetna to reverse payment decision for out-of-network dentists
SourceBecker's Dental + DSO ReviewTier 1Hard News
By Ariana Portalatin
Originally at beckersdental.com
Summary & scoring by The Bell Brief (Dr. Jennifer Bell) using the Drill-Down Protocol (Drill-Down Score) — not the original publisher.
Why it matters for dental
Out-of-network dentists who receive paper checks from Aetna may face payment delays or compliance risk if the insurer's new policy conflicts with state prompt-payment or payment-choice statutes; practice owners and billing staff should verify local rules and Aetna contracts immediately.
Key points
- ADA announced July 22 it is working with state dental associations to challenge Aetna’s decision to cease mailing paper checks to out-of-network dentists.
- The policy may violate statutes in several states that preserve dentists’ right to select their preferred payment method.
- Affected dentists are advised to review their Aetna remittance statements and state insurance department guidance for recourse.
- DSOs and solo practices with significant out-of-network Aetna volume should model cash-flow impact if electronic-only payments are enforced.
Who should care
OwnerStaffDSO
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