Important survey on pro bono care

The most important survey dentists can take
Input on pro bono care critical to advocacy

The survey on pro bono care can easily be accessed at cda.org/probono. The survey deadline is April 15.

CDA urges all California dentists to take a few minutes to complete a timely and critical online survey about no cost care provided to patients in 2007. Verifiable information from the survey will be substantial as CDA continues discussions with legislators regarding funding for oral health programs and the larger discussion on health care reform.

More than 700 dentists have already responded to the survey, which was e-mailed to CDA members last month. CDA is seeking input from all licensed dentists in California and asking them to report any dental service provided for which no compensation was collected. This does not include payments that insurance companies failed to issue for services provided or the difference in reimbursement between a low-cost insurance program, such as Denti-Cal, and your UCR.

Gayle Mathe, CDA policy development manager, said CDA is aware that dentists and allied dental professionals are exceptionally generous in giving their time and professional care to the uninsured and underserved. However, there has been no firm documentation of these statistics and such information is often requested by legislators, community leaders and the media.

“For CDA to have the ability to consistently provide this type of information to those interested will be of great benefit to the dental profession,” Mathe said.

All responses to the survey are confidential, and results will only be reported in aggregate form. Dentists will not be asked to buy or do anything as a result of participation in this survey.