American Dental Association, Other Health Groups Say Financial Services Reform Bill Could Hurt Practices

WASHINGTON, May 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Dental Association and 22 other health care provider groups recently asked Senate backers of financial services reform legislation to exclude their professions from oversight by the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency, which is part of the financial regulatory reform legislation currently under consideration in the Senate.

In a letter to lawmakers, the groups asked that the bill include language that clearly excludes health care practitioners who regularly charge interest on outstanding bills or allow patients to pay in installments from the legislation. Failing to explicitly exclude small health care practices could, the groups said, lead to unnecessary costs and increased administrative burdens for practitioners without any benefit to their patients.

The joint letter to the senators is available upon request.

About the American Dental Association

The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing more than 157,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. The monthly Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) is the ADA's flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit the Association's Web site at www.ada.org

SOURCE American Dental Association