
Loan application form
Fillable [.pdf] application/loan agreement form and program guidelines for the DDSD Loan Assistance Program
DDSD offers two financial support programs to help our participating dentists through the unprecedented disruption in providing dental care. Six exam fee codes have also increased to offset PPE needs, and certain teledentistry services are now being covered. Select the tab below for more information.
Details of the Reimbursement Advance Program and application form were issued on Tues., March 31, 2020. Details of the Loan Assistance program were issued Fri., April 17. Information about exam fee increases were issued Mon., May 4.
Recognizing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Delta Dental of South Dakota (DDSD) has increased reimbursement for six different exam codes by an average of 6% to help offset offices' new added PPE costs. The exam codes are:
The fee increase is effective May 1 ,2020.
Billing for infection control
Costs for infection control and OSHA compliance are included in the DDSD fees for the dental services provided and will continue to be so. As noted in the General Policies section of the 2020 Dentist Handbook, a separate fee for infection control is not billable to the patient by a DDSD participating dentist.
The Loan Assistance Program offers interest-free, forgivable loans to dental practices that don't have a sufficiently strong financial position to sustain the practice through the recommended COVID-19 practice restrictions. The DDSD Board of Directors has approved up to $1 million to be made available for the loan program. The program is voluntary, and all interested practices will need to apply by May 5, 2020.
Overview
Application and payment timeline
Loan forgiveness criteria
Loan forgiveness verification
Qualifications
How to apply
Applying is easy in 2 simple steps. DDSD will notify practices of application approval using the email listed on the application.
Step 1
Complete the application form in its entirety, and sign it.
Fillable [.pdf] application/loan agreement form and program guidelines for the DDSD Loan Assistance Program
Step 2
Submit the signed, completed application using one of the following methods:
Fax
605-494-2566
Delta Dental of SD
Attn: Loan Assistance Application
PO Box 1157
Pierre, SD 57501
The Reimbursement Advance Program is intended to provide dental practices a cash flow to help cover the operating expenses of the practice. This program is voluntary, and all interested practices will need to apply.
Overview
Application and payment timeline
Recovery process
Qualifications
How to apply
Applying is easy in 2 simple steps. DDSD will notify practices of application approval using the email listed on the application.
Step 1
Complete the 1-page application form in its entirety, and sign it.
Fillable [.pdf] application form and program guidelines for the DDSD Reimbursement Advance Program
Step 2
Submit the signed, completed application using one of the following methods:
Fax
605-494-2566
Delta Dental of SD
Attn: Reimbursement Advance Application
PO Box 1157
Pierre, SD 57501
March 24, 2020
Dear DDSD Participating Dentists,
First and foremost, we hope that you, your families, your staff, and your patients are staying healthy during this time of uncertainty and change. COVID-19 is impacting nearly every aspect of our lives, and we understand that the ADA recommendation to limit services to emergency treatment will likely result in significant financial strain, especially for the next two months.
With that in mind, the DDSD Board of Directors approved two programs to provide financial support to DDSD participating dentists’ practices. Dentists’ practices may participate in both programs.
Advance amounts will equal $10,000 per month for solo practices and $20,000 per month for practices with more than one dentist. The monthly advances will be in addition to any ongoing reimbursement payments, such as claim payments for emergency care. Total advances will be up to $20,000 for solo practices or $40,000 for practices with more than one dentist. The advances will be recovered by DDSD in twenty equal payments starting with the June 10 check run and continue through December 20, 2020. Any unrecovered payments at that time will be subject to a final settlement on December 31, 2020.
Additional details on the Reimbursement Advance Program, including how to apply and the timeline for April and May payments will be provided no later than Tuesday, March 31.
This program will provide zero interest loans of up to $20,000 per practice, repayable by July 1, 2021, with the opportunity to have a portion of the loan forgiven for maintaining or increasing access to care for Medicaid recipients.
Additional details on the Loan Assistance Program, including program guidelines and application process, will be available by April 20, 2020, with loan distribution available in May.
Updated information will be provided to you as soon as possible in future communications by email and on this special financial support webpage.
We have had to adjust our operations because of the pandemic, and ask your patience as we develop these programs. Our contact center will not yet have additional detail to provide, but immediate questions can be emailed to financialsupport@deltadentalsd.com.
All of us at Delta Dental of South Dakota are committed to be your partners to achieve our mission of better oral health for all South Dakotans.
Sincerely,
Scott Jones
President and CEO
Delta Dental of South Dakota
Teledentistry guidance
Overview
Teledentistry is the delivery of dental care while the patient and the dentist are in different locations.
At its regular meeting on January 10, 2020, the S.D. Board of Dentistry discussed the current statutory framework pertaining to teledentistry. Current regulations, which went into effect in 2015, specifically outline that dentistry provided via teledentistry is the practice of dentistry. Licensees and registrants must meet the applicable standard of care for all dental services that are provided, including those provided via teledentistry.
In response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the practice of dentistry, Delta Dental of South Dakota (DDSD) is providing this initial guidance regarding the use of teledentistry in the delivery of limited, problem-focused examinations. DDSD expects to expand this guidance on teledentistry in the future.
Services covered
This guidance is effective beginning Monday, March 16, 2020. DDSD reserves the right to update this guidance as needed and will communicate any modifications to this guidance (e.g. addition of codes covered) by email and on our DDSD website.
DDSD will cover claims for services conducted using teledentistry for the following diagnostic services:
The services must be of sufficient audio and visual fidelity and clarity to be functionally equivalent to a face-to-face encounter. Reimbursement for teledentistry is equal to reimbursement for face-to-face encounters.
Billing
When reporting a service completed via teledentistry, providers are certifying the services rendered to the patient were functionally equivalent to a face-to-face encounter.
Providers should include the following codes on claims for services completed using teledentistry:
These codes are reported in addition to other procedures delivered on the date of service. Fees for teledentistry are considered to be part of the service completed and will not be reimbursed separately. Fees for teledentistry codes are not billable to the patient.
As always, regardless of reimbursement, include your usual and customary charge for the code on your claim.
Documentation
DDSD will treat claims for services completed by teledentistry the same as a face-to-face encounter of the same code.
While DDSD does not require any specific teledentistry documentation, providers must document services completed by teledentistry in the same manner as those conducted in a face-to-face encounter. This includes documentation of details about the date and time, mode of service delivery, service provided, diagnoses, etc. in the patient’s clinical notes.
Pandemic financial support is provided only through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). It's available free to Delta Dental participating dentists. Enrolling is possible by either paper or electronic form.