A dentist may separate from practice for one of many reasons. A dentist may retire, leave a group to go into solo practice (or vice versa), sell the practice, or relocate. Likewise, a dentist’s family may close or sell a practice because the dentist has died or become permanently disabled. Use this checklist as a guide. This list offers general information and does not take the place of legal advice. This list is not exhaustive, and each item may not be applicable to every situation. 

Professional Advisors 

• Consult your accountant, attorney, and other professional advisors before and during the transition. These professionals can assist, for example, in valuing the practice and its contents, prepare estate planning documents, inform you of tax and other legal responsibilities, draft agreements to ensure confidentiality of information during buy/sell negotiations, and help overall to ensure a smooth transition. 
• Notify local dental society. 
• Notify mutual aid organization, if applicable. 

Collections and Dental Benefit Plans 

• Review your contracts and provider handbooks for information on what you need to do to withdraw from participation in dental benefits plans and government benefit programs. Many contracts require 30 - to 90- days to terminate. Each plan has its own requirements. 
• Review the dental plan participating provider agreement or plan provider handbook to learn when you must notify the plan regarding the practice sale or closure. Most dental plans require the contracted dentist to notify the plan of the sale/closure within 30 days from the close/date of the sale. This applies whether the selling dentist plans to continue working in the practice or exit the practice entirely.  
• Ensure that the buying dentist has obtained their own National Provider Identification (NPI) and Tax Identification Number (TIN) in which to bill to the dental plans. It is critical that the new practice owner lists their NPI as the “Billing Entity” in field 49 on the ADA claim form once they take ownership of the dental practice. NOTE: Continuing to use the selling dentist’s NPI and TIN as the “Billing Entity”, or the selling dentist’s license number as the treating dentist, after the sale of the practice, could be a violation of the dental benefit plan contract. These practices may place the selling dentist at financial and clinical liability.   
• Ensure the buying dentist lists the correct “Treating Entity” under field 54 of the ADA claim form once the sale is final. If the selling dentist continues to work in the practice after the sale, the “Treating Entity” should be the selling dentist for patients they continue to treat.  
• To ensure compliance, the following information should be entered on the ADA claim form:  
• Billing dentist or entity information:   
• Name of the person, partnership, corporation, or business.   
• Billing address.   
• Tax identification number registered with the IRS for the person, partnership, corporation, or business; plans will use this number for IRS income reporting purposes.   
• Type 2 NPI for a corporation or group.   
• Treating dentist and treatment location information:   
• Name of the treating provider.   
• The license number of the treating provider.   
• Type 1 NPI of the individual treating provider.   
• Address of the treating location.   
• Inform plans of your new mailing address to ensure you receive important tax documents. 
• Be sure the last day of practice coincides with the last day of plan participants in order to minimize claims-related issues. 
• Dental plan participating provider agreements are non-transferable to a new practice owner. Once the purchase agreement has been finalized, the buying dentist should contact all plans with which they wish to contract and begin the credentialing process. The dental plan participation agreement is a contract with the individual dentist at a specific practice location.  
• Contracts are non-transferable to a new practice owner. 
• Review accounts receivable and moves to collect from or provide refunds to patients (or plans). 
• If an associate is brought into the practice for purposes of transitioning ownership, notify plans of addition. Please refer to “Considerations When Hiring an Associate Checklist.”  

Notifying Patients  

To avoid patient claims of abandonment, a dentist who is separating from practice (or the family or estate of a deceased or permanently disabled dentist) has the responsibility of notifying patients in writing of the separation and giving them a reasonable amount of time to find another dentist. 

• In the time before closing a practice, only begin treatment that can be completed before the practice closes. It is not practical or prudent to leave practice with patients in the middle of treatment. Doing so opens possibilities for criticism, accusations, and malpractice suits. 
• Identify all patients who need to be notified of the change. All active patients seen within the last two years should be told of your withdrawal from practice. 
• Provide written notice to patients of your departure from the practice in a time adequate to allow for completion of treatment or for patients to find another dentist to provide continuing care. 60 days' notice to patients is recommended. 
• In cases involving the unexpected death or permanent disability of a dentist, when 60 days notice is not possible patients can be seen in the office by a temporary replacement for up to one year as long as specific requirements are met. Please refer to “The Unexpected Death of a Dentist” checklist. 

The written notice should fulfill the following objectives: 

• Advise patients of the importance of continued care, especially in instances of treatment in the temporary or provisional stages. 
• Assist patients in finding alternative care by referring them to at least two dentists and/or the local dental society for a referral. Phone numbers should be given. In the case of a sale, the buyer should review the notification letter for compliance with the terms of their sales contract. If the buyer is the one to notify patients, you should ensure you are to provide written approval of the letter before it is disseminated. 
• State the dentist’s termination date – the last day he or she will be available for emergency care. 
• Give the name, address, and phone number where copies of dental records can be obtained after the termination date. 
• Include a separate authorization form (“Patient Request to Access Records Form and Q&A”) for the patient to have a copy of his or her records released to another dentist (including the new practice owner, if there is one). 
• A copy of the letter should be placed in each patient’s chart. 
• As a second notification, but not in place of the personal letter, you can also add notices to invoices and post signs in the office. To reach all other patients, put an ad in the local newspaper for at least two consecutive weeks. Include information about how and where patients can obtain copies of their dental records. 

Practice Closure and Patient Records 

Records of adult patients should be retained for seven (7) years after a practice closes. Records of minor patients must be kept at least one year after the minor has reached the age of 18 years but no less than seven years.  

Set aside for destruction and disposal the paper records and radiographs of those patients not seen for 7 years or more. Radiographs must be separated from paper and managed as potentially hazardous waste (silver). Xray film recyclers can be identified through an internet search. If dental practice is a HIPAA covered entity, it must have business associate agreements with any vendor that handles patient information. 

Ensure the privacy and security of stored records as state and federal privacy laws remain applicable to you even after you retire. After the retention period has passed, destroy the records so the information contained therein is unreadable.  

If electronic health records were used, determine when to end use of the software. Consider that patient records must still be available to you after practice closure in case of malpractice claims. Discuss with the software company their recommendations for securing an archival copy of the software and all documentation. For more information, see “Transition Issues” from The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. 

Practice Sale and Patient Records, Retreatment, and Disputes 

Although the HIPAA Privacy Rule allows the use and transfer of patient information to relevant parties who need that information for health care operations, which includes practice sales, state law does not include the same provision. In the transfer, sale, merger, or consolidation of a dental practice, it is therefore prudent for the selling dentist to obtain written patient authorization prior to allowing a potential buyer or partner to view charts. The absent provision in state law also means that a new practice owner should stay on the safe side of the state’s privacy laws and obtain written patient authorization before using a patient record. If a patient sets an appointment to be seen by the new owner, this action is viewed as an implied authorization that allows the dentist to view the record before the patient presents. 

If electronic records were used, work with new owner on transfer of the software license. 

In the transfer, sale, merger, or consolidation of a dental practice, the new owner may agree to have custody of patient records (the alternative is that the former owner retains the records). As the custodian of records, the owner is legally responsible for ensuring the contents are secure and, if the records are to be destroyed, ensuring the contents are unreadable. 

The original and new owners of the practice should come to an agreement regarding the disposition of inactive patient records. They should agree on terms for providing the original owner access to the records if there arises a patient claim or dispute regarding treatment. Also, they should agree upon terms relative to the retreatment of patients treated by the original owner. The original owner should retain a list of patients whose charts are acquired by the new owner, but shall not utilize the list for any purpose in violation of the sales agreement. 

Employees and Employee Records 

Provide employees with a firm date for when you will separate from practice. How much notice to give employees depends on circumstances—whether closure occurs in phases or right away or if the practice will transition to a new owner. 

Practice Closure. 

If closure is to occur in phases, expect that some employees may leave before you are ready to let them go. 

Practice Sale. 

Even if the practice buyer plans to retain employees, you are responsible for finalizing employee termination, final pay requirements, submitting final forms and tax payments to the state Employment Development Department (EDD) and to the IRS. See “Termination Checklist and Final Pay Explained.” for timing and documentation requirements. 

Submit final forms and tax payments to the state Employment Development Department (EDD) within 10 days of separating from practice. See this EDD website for more information. Federal taxes also must be paid. Consult the IRS checklist for closing a business. 

Employee Medical Records. 

Employee medical records must be retained for 30 years per Cal/OSHA requirements. After that period, destroy the records so the information contained therein is unreadable. 

Employee Records. 

Certain employee records must be retained for a period of time, dependent on the type of records. Review “Records and Documents Retention Guidelines” for specific timelines. 

Permits, Registrations, and Licenses 

Air Compressor Tank Permit. 

Notify Cal/OSHA Pressure Vessel Unit of practice closure or change in practice ownership. 

Business License. 

In most jurisdictions, the sale of a business requires the new owner to obtain a new business license. Contact the appropriate city or county business license office for specific local requirements. 

Dental Board License and Permits. 

Notify the Dental Board within one month of selling or closing the practice. You must inform the board of all places of practice or that you have no place of practice within 30 days of the change. Dental Board-issued permits, such as fictitious name permits, are not transferable to the new owner. Return any Dental Board-issued permits with a completed Cancellation of Permit form. If you intend to use the permits at a new location, notify the Dental Board. The Dental Board may require a new application and evaluation, depending on the type of permit. 

A dentist who has practiced dentistry in California for 20 or more years and has reached the age of retirement under the federal Social Security Act, is eligible for the board’s reduced fee program. If qualified, a dentist can apply for “retired active” or “retired inactive status.” Retired active status allows a dentist to continue to practice dentistry but only for free or for a nominal charge; continuing education units are still required. Retired inactive status does not require continuing education and the dentist may not practice unless they reactivate the license. For more information and applications, visit the board website. 

Formally notify the board if there is no intent to ever practice dentistry again. 

Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) registration. 

DEA registration numbers cannot be transferred. Notify the DEA of practice closure or of new practice addresses. Send written notification of practice closure, the DEA Certificate of Registration, and any unused Official Order Forms (DEA Form-222) to the nearest DEA field office.  

Employer Identification Number (EIN). 

Once assigned, an EIN cannot be canceled or transferred. If a business closes, or never gets off the ground, the IRS can close the business account associated with the EIN. If you are merely relocating a practice, a new EIN may not be necessary. See this IRS website for additional information and consult with your accountant. 

EPA Identification Number and hazardous waste. 

Properly dispose of any hazardous waste. Notify the state Department of Toxic Substances Control of discontinued use of California EPA ID number. The EPA ID number is site-specific. 

Fictitious Business Name. 

Complete and file a “Letter of Disassociation for a Fictitious Name Permit” form, available on the Dental Board website. Also, file a statement of abandonment of the fictitious name with the county clerk and publish the statement in a local newspaper. A dentist who separates from a general partnership using a fictitious name must file a letter of disassociation with the Dental Board and file a notice with the county clerk. 

Medical Waste. 

Properly dispose of any medical waste. Notify the local enforcement agency or California Department of Public Health of practice closure or change of ownership. 

National Provider Identification. 

Notification of dental benefit plans and government benefit programs of your withdrawal from practice is sufficient. If you intend to continue practicing dentistry as an employee or volunteer, you should retain your individual NPI number. 

Radiation Machine Registration. 

Notify the Department of Public Health Radiologic Health Branch of the practice ownership change and disposition of X-ray machines. 

Sellers Permit/Use Tax Registration. 

Notify the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration of practice sale or closure by using the Update Registration Information/ Notice of Business Change form. 

Amalgam Separator/Wastewater Discharge Permit. 

Notify the local sanitation district in writing of the practice’s sale or closure. 

Practice Management Software. 

Notify practice management software to have license transferred to buyer’s name. 

Controlled Substances & Secured Prescription Forms 

Use an authorized “reverse distributor” to dispose of controlled substances; the drugs may not be transferred to another practitioner. Contact the local office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency to obtain a list of reverse distributors. Maintain documentation of the transfer/disposal of the controlled substances. 

Destroy unused secured prescription pads. The Department of Justice will automatically end a dentist’s access to CURES once it has been notified by the Dental Board of the dentist’s status. 

Contracts, Services, Insurance 

Review all existing contracts with service providers, equipment lease agreements, and others to initiate termination clause or transfer. If you are selling the practice, confer with the buyer on those contracts that can be transferred. An exhibit to the sales agreement should list all of the contracts that the buyer will assume pursuant to the purchase of the practice. 

Notify utility companies of the effective date of closure or ownership change and where to send final bills. If you are selling the practice, ensure that there is no interruption to utility services. 

Notify landlord or tenants as applicable and per terms of any agreement. 

Notify malpractice, business, and other insurance companies where you have coverage. Retiring dentists should consider maintaining malpractice coverage or obtaining a tail policy providing coverage for all prior acts, which may be a requirement of the purchase agreement. 

Notify suppliers and service providers (dental labs, bookkeepers, janitorial, waste haulers, etc.). 

Equipment and Property 

Equipment and Furniture. 

A list of equipment and furniture should be included in the sale or transfer documents. Equipment maintenance records are beneficial to the new owner. Supplies at a customary level of thirty (30) days for the practice should also be included in the sales agreement. Any excluded items should be included in an exhibit to the sales agreement. 

Hazardous and Medical Waste. 

Ensure proper disposal of the waste. Notify local enforcement agencies of practice closure or sale.