In a press release this afternoon, Delta Dental of Iowa and the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation announced two relief programs to aid Iowa dentists and nonprofits affected by COVID-19.

The Advance Claims Payment Program will provide financial assistance for Iowa dentists who have been affected by COVID-19 disruptions and address their immediate cash flow needs. $10 million has been allocated for Iowa dentists through this program, which will provide dentists with 50% of their average claims payment for four weeks. In addition, the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation has committed $500,000 for the COVID-19 Nonprofit Emergency Operating Relief Fund, which will provide operating grants up to $10,000 to Iowa nonprofit organizations focused on providing health and wellness services or addressing food insecurity needs during this crisis.

The CDC continues to ask for the delay of elective and non-emergent dental treatments. Many dentists are following these recommendations. It is critical that local dentist offices treat dental emergencies to avoid those patients accessing hospital emergency rooms or being sent to the University of Iowa dental clinic.

Fellow IDA Members,

 

I and other dentists have been contacted by local hospitals because they do not have the PPE they need to protect patients and healthcare providers. I like many of you are only seeing emergency patients, decreasing my use of masks, gloves, etc. substantially. I am asking you to consider joining me in donating PPE to healthcare facilities.

 

I am not asking that you give all of your existing supply of masks, gloves, gowns, etc. I am asking you to review your inventory and if you have more than a four (4) week supply of these items, consider donating them. Also, be aware the CDC has now released  guidelines for properly reusing dental/surgical masks as part of the crisis capacity strategy. As a nation and state, we are at the crisis stage. 

 

IDA has created an  online system for dentists to record the amount of supplies they are able to donate. Once that information is received, IDA staff will relay that information to the appropriate district representative to work with you to collect the donations and distribute where needed, most likely in your district.

 

Iowans help each other. Right now, our fellow healthcare practitioners need our help. If you can donate, please do.

 

Thank you,

 

Ryan Stuntz, DDS

IDA President

Sue McFadden with McFadden Insurance Services, Inc., has received calls from dentists insured by McFadden Insurance Services, Inc. regarding malpractice renewal application requests having been sent from another carrier.

There is no need for McFadden Insurance Services, Inc. insured dentists to complete any other carrier’s requests. Any communication sent to those who are McFadden Insurance Services, Inc. insured will be addressed from McFadden Insurance Services, Inc. or from the national program administrator, Professional Protector Plan® for Dentists. 

Please contact Sue McFadden at 515.266.4570 with questions.

The on-demand webinar from ADA/Organization for Safety, Asepsis, and Prevention (OSAP) is now available to be viewed.

Interested individuals are encouraged to register as a willing and able volunteer through the Iowa Statewide Emergency Registry of Volunteers (i-SERV) – the Iowa Department of Public Health's secure online registry for individuals wishing to volunteer in the event of a large-scale disaster or public health emergency. Volunteers maintain the option to accept or decline any opportunity. Due to the Governor’s Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration, individuals who volunteer to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic are granted liability immunity for their service. Volunteering for this disaster response will not impact unemployment benefits for those who are receiving them as a result of their clinic temporarily shutting down. 

Governor Kim Reynolds announced last week that she will be conducting daily press conferences at 2:30 PM. Those press conferences may be viewed live on Facebook.