This is the latest initiative implemented by the company to provide financial assistance to dental providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Delta Dental of California and its affiliates announced additional financial assistance initiatives that include reimbursements for dental providers to help cover the cost of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other expenses. 

“With six months left in the year, it’s impossible to predict how much lost dental care will be made up for as communities re-open, or how additional complexities created by COVID-19 may impact the industry,” said Mike Castro, president and CEO of Delta Dental of California, “We are committed to leading through this challenge and will continue to seek ways to support our 70,000 providers and the 36 million members who have chosen Delta Dental.”

As of June 22, Delta Dental started giving its providers an increased reimbursement which will be temporarily added to evaluation and consultation procedure codes to help offset PPE and other expenses. 

The company’s other initiatives aimed at assisting providers during the pandemic include: 

  • A $200 million loan program through a partnership with Lendeavor that offers contracted Delta Dental network providers various forms of economic assistance including business loan refinancing and working capital, interest subsidies, and principal deferment
  • A supplemental reimbursement program that temporarily gives Delta Dental contracted network providers funding to use flexibly toward additional expenses for PPE and other needs associated with safely reopening their practices
  • Delaying the implementation of previously announced fee structure adjustments for certain specialty providers from July 1, 2020 to January 1, 2021.