Delta Dental announced it will implement multi-factor authentication and that providers will need to complete MFA enrollment before Oct. 20 to continue using the Delta Dental Provider Portal.
MFA is a security mechanism that requires more than one method of verification to confirm a user’s identity. The most common authentication factors include passwords, PINs, security tokens, push notifications to a mobile device, fingerprints and facial recognition.
Dental plan portals house sensitive patient HIPAA information and need to safeguard it from unauthorized access. MFA helps protect patient information because it makes logins more secure.
Delta Dental’s MFA enrollment period is Sept. 18-Oct. 19. Dentists who have not set up MFA by Oct. 20 will no longer have access to the portal and will need to contact Delta Dental for assistance.
Step-by-step instructions and FAQ are available through Delta Dental’s website.
Considerations when setting up MFA for dental plan portals
- Use an office phone as the second authentication factor instead of having dental team members use their personal device as the second authentication factor.
- Authentication requests can be sent to a second device multiple times a day. Therefore, be aware that using the doctor’s personal cell phone as the second device may impact patient care and create additional stress in the office.
- Some MFA networks allow phone calls to be placed to a designated number instead of to a cell phone via texted code. If using an office telephone number as the second device, understand that someone will need to answer the call and provide authentication.
- If MFA allows an email address, ensure that you use a general office mailbox that all team members can access. If an email address is assigned to a specific employee and that employee resigns or is terminated, the office will have trouble completing authentication.
Confirm correct contact information for dental plan portals
CDA encourages its members to verify that their contact information is correct and current for all dental plan portals their practice uses. Contact the dental plan immediately to correct any information to help prevent it from being sent to unauthorized users.
CDA’s member-only resource, Why Multi-Factor Authentication Is a Must for Your Practice, explains more about how MFA works, why it matters in dental practices and how it even helps with HIPAA compliance.
Visit Delta Dental’s provider portal between Sept. 18 and Oct. 19 to complete your multi-factor authentication to continue to use your provider portal starting October 20.