While COVID-19 has severely disrupted the dental care industry, a report from CareQuest Institute for Oral Health explores opportunities to innovate, improve financial sustainability and create greater access to care.
Based on survey responses from thousands of dental providers throughout the country, the report reveals that while patient volumes have decreased, dental providers who serve low-income and vulnerable populations continue to leverage telehealth to improve access for their patients and are increasingly interested in alternate payment models (APMs) to enhance their financial sustainability.
Some key findings from the report:
- In June 2020, about 90% of dental providers said their patient volume was reduced on average by half.
- Most dental offices had reopened by August 2020 and nearly a quarter (23%) of dental providers are seeing some patients via telehealth platforms.
- APMs can offer financial stability and the turbulence resulting from COVID-19 has strengthened provider interest in these models.
While dentistry is rapidly changing during the pandemic, the Institute has taken a lead role in reshaping the industry. A Three Domain Framework to Innovating Oral Health Care outlines a roadmap for future care that will be cost-effective, efficient, and more equitable.
You may also be interested in other provider surveys and reports on topics related to how COVID-19 has created opportunities for the oral health care industry to create more sustainable financial models, accessibility to care and much more:
- A Difficult Path to COVID-19 Recovery, a report that explores the ways COVID-19 has changed how dentists will practice going forward.
- Alternative Payment Models in Dentistry offers provider perspective on value-based care and more.
- Teledentistry Use Gains Traction During COVID-19 highlights the continued value of telehealth and its opportunity to provide additional revenue while enhancing dental care access for current and new patients.
