It’s apparent that the coronavirus isn’t going away quietly or any time soon, for that matter. Our dental practice consultants feel confident that dentists, hygienists, and dental assistants don’t want to return to how life was in the spring when many practices shuttered their doors entirely. During the shutdowns, it became evident that dentists and the care that their team provides are essential. Patients simply cannot put off elective dental care, or even preventive care, for long. In a previous blog, we shared how the American Dental Association notified the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, urging the government agency to recognize dental practices as official COVID-19 testing sites. And we provided reasons to consider becoming a COVID testing site for the benefit of you, your staff, and your patients. But today on the blog, we are offering tips on how to implement COVID-19 testing into your practice.
Surveys conducted back in April revealed that more than 1,000 dental practices felt that offering COVID-19 testing is necessary for several reasons.
- It offers security for staff and patients.
- It increases testing for COVID-19.
- Testing before procedures helps keep practices up and running.
- Preappointment testing would be available to all patients and staff.
Now, according to the ADA, dentists are eligible to offer rapid COVID-19 tests in their practice, so long as they obtain a Certificate of Waiver from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
How can my practice apply for testing?
Understand that the application requires a small fee of $150. You cannot become a certified COVID-19 testing site without paying the required fee. The first step is to complete an application (Form CMS-116 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services). The application is quite lengthy, but we did some digging, and Dentistry IQ recommends that you complete Section IV under “Waived Test to be Performed” as “Point of Care COVID-19 testing using a test kit that has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA for use in patient care settings with a CLIA Certificate of Waiver.” You will be asked to estimate the annual test volume. It may be difficult to calculate this number, so a reasonable answer could be, the testing volume will be offered in a capacity that fulfills your practice’s needs for patients within your community. While rapid COVID-19 tests may not be available right now, you may consider offering an antibody or fast serology tests so that you can at least find out if a patient has been exposed to the virus.
Should my practice offer COVID-19 tests?
The outcome of this decision will vary for each practice. Our top-rated dental consultants always want to present helpful information for owner-dentists. It’s important to note that it is recommended that you seek legal counsel before making absolute decisions on whether you should offer COVID-19 tests to your patients. If you aren’t sure who to speak with or have questions about offering COVID-19 tests, please reach out to one of our dental practice consultants directly or call Bryant Consultants at (877) 768-4799. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, our consultants are available for consultations, training, and coaching and will continue to post relevant updates regarding the coronavirus pandemic. To ensure that you receive the latest updates, please follow us on Facebook and Instagram. If you’re ready to begin an application for COVID-19 testing, please click here.
