State legislation protects dentists from predatory virtual credit card processes
A new law in Florida mandates that dental plans cover services that have received prior authorization and provides protection for dentists from predatory virtual credit card payment processes.
The law targets the current practice where dental offices often receive payments through virtual credit cards by default. These cards, issued by third-party companies in contract with dental plans, come with a 3-5% service fee, in addition to transaction fees charged by credit card terminals. This practice forces dentists either to opt-out repeatedly or to accept these costly payments to avoid delays, adding significant overhead to their operations.
“This predatory practice requires dentists to actively opt-out of virtual credit card payments, often multiple times, which creates an administrative strain on dentists and their staff,” said Dr. Beatriz E. Terry, president of the Florida Dental Association. “Or they are forced to make the choice to accept the virtual credit card payment with the high fees to avoid payment delays and keep the practice running most efficiently. Many dental offices are small businesses, and these additional fees and overhead costs add up, creating an unnecessary and costly burden.”
Read more: Florida Dental Association
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