The American Dental Affiliation (ADA) has expressed sturdy opposition to Delta Dental of California’s new proposal to introduce an extra $15 charge for dentists preferring to obtain their checks by way of mail.¹
Formally deemed a “separate administrative cost,” the coverage change was introduced in Delta Dental’s latest publication and would have an effect on practices in California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Washington, DC.
To place this into perspective, clinicians who obtain paper checks will rack up almost $800 in further charges inside a single yr. If all 112,000 dentists collaborating in Delta Dental’s PPO community have been topic to this coverage and every operated a follow that continued receiving paper checks, the executive charges would convey in additional than $87 million yearly for Delta Dental.³
How this coverage impacts sufferers
Dentists preferring paper checks aren’t the one ones impacted by this coverage. In response to the ADA, the additional charges concerned in sending paper checks can enhance health-care prices for sufferers. The executive burdens that may end result from switching to EFTs may also take time away from affected person care.
Chair of the ADA Council on Dental Profit Applications, Dr. Shelley Olson, warns clinicians that EFTs aren’t the frictionless, “free” options to modernize cost they could initially appear to be. “Charging for paper checks will increase the prices for sufferers to obtain well being care and for suppliers to manage it,” she mentioned within the ADA’s press launch. “Whereas as an Affiliation we assist administrative simplification, mandates by payers aren’t the answer.”
Delta Dental’s PPO community consists of greater than 112,000 collaborating dentists practising in additional than 278,000 areas nationwide.2 As one of many largest dental insurance coverage networks within the US, Delta has the flexibility to affect each affected person care and cost choices, which is a stage of market affect the ADA has been publicly outspoken in opposition to up to now.
In 2025, the ADA famous that such a big entity monopolizing dental insurance coverage and care will result in revenue maximization. In consequence, offering sufferers with choices which might be advantageous to their oral well being could get placed on the backburner.
How one can incite change
The ADA ardently believes in dentists’ capacity to decide on their most popular cost technique with out incurring additional prices and that they need to obtain the total worth of reimbursement owed. The group urged the Nationwide Affiliation of Insurance coverage Commissioners to face by their aspect in a July 8 letter.
On this letter, ADA President Dr. Richard Rosato and Govt Director Dr. Nader Nadershahi mentioned, “Most dental practices function as small companies, so will increase in administrative prices and calls for on employees labor have a extra acute impression. Supporting alternative for suppliers, who’re finest outfitted to grasp the wants of the practices the place they work, ensures that these practices stay viable in all settings, each city and rural, and sustaining alternative helps broad entry for shoppers.”
For dentists who additionally assist regulatory oversight, the ADA recommends three actionable steps:1
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Contact Delta Dental of California to precise their considerations.
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Attain out to their state insurance coverage commissioner concerning cost practices that will restrict supplier alternative or impose charges on suppliers receiving declare funds.
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Evaluate and advocate for state-specific cost laws.
In the end, many oral well being leaders are cautious that Delta’s new coverage will turn into a headache for practices, which may trickle right down to sufferers and negatively impression the affected person expertise.
With Delta’s widespread affect throughout the dental business, the coverage will both price clinicians who proceed receiving paper checks more cash or create administrative disruptions as practices transition to an EFT mannequin. Whether or not this coverage stays remoted or serves as a mannequin for future payer insurance policies will possible decide its long-term impression on each dental practices and the sufferers they serve.
References
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Versaci MB. ADA opposes insurance coverage corporations charging for paper checks. July 9, 2026. ADA Information. https://adanews.ada.org/ada-news/2026/july/ada-opposes-insurance-companies-charging-for-paper-checks/
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Understanding PPO dental profit plans. Delta Dental. https://www.deltadental.com/protect-my-smile/dental-insurance-101/ppo-dental-insurance/
