Delta Dental offers $6.5 million for state dental practices in ‘financial stress’

Benefits provider Delta Dental of Arkansas has pledged $6.5 million in emergency financial assistance to dental practices in Arkansas.

The Delta Dental of Arkansas Advance Receipts Program will provide financial support to dental practices that are limited to providing only emergency services during the COVID-19 outbreak.

In addition, the Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation, the organization’s charitable giving arm, will offer $500,000 in grants to community organizations for projects directly related to COVID-19.

“We have worked closely with dentists in our state to improve the oral health of all Arkansans for almost 40 years,” Delta Dental of Arkansas President and CEO Ed Choate said in a statement. “These two initiatives are a way for us to provide financial support to dental providers during a time when their practices are under significant financial stress and to non-profit organizations who need financial assistance to continue to be the safety net that many people rely upon.”

The program is available to Arkansas dental practices that participate in any of Delta Dental of Arkansas’ networks. Practices are eligible to receive up to five weekly advances, each equal to 40% of the average weekly Delta Dental of Arkansas clinical reimbursement payments made to the practice’s Tax Identification Number (TIN) during 2019.  The maximum advance amount is $40,000.

Practices receiving aid will be required to repay the advances, with no interest, 20 equal payments starting July 2020.

More information is at DeltaDentalAR.com.