Here we are—August! It’s hard to believe that summer is already entering its final month. For many, the new school year has already begun, while in my neck of the woods, kids still have one more month of freedom to enjoy.
I hope everyone has been able to soak up the warm weather and longer days. Personally, I’ve been making the most of my backyard, enjoying BBQs, and indulging in all the fresh summer fruits and veggies.
With conference season just around the corner, I’m looking forward to reconnecting with everyone in about a month. Until then, I plan to squeeze in every last bit of summer fun. Wishing you all a joyful and relaxing August!
My AR Friends—let’s talk Collections:
Many of you handle the Accounts Receivable aspect of your dental offices and we need to have a conversation regarding new rules that have come into effect for some of us.
A recent U.S. District Court decision has significant implications for dental practices regarding the reporting of patients’ overdue balances to credit reporting agencies.
Earlier in 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a rule that would have banned medical debt—including overdue dental balances—from being reported on consumer credit reports or used by creditors in making credit decisions. The purpose of this rule was to protect consumers whose inability to pay medical bills (including dental) might harm their creditworthiness.
However, as of July 2025, a federal judge in Texas vacated this CFPB rule. The court determined that the CFPB had overstepped its authority because the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) explicitly allows credit reporting agencies (CRAs) to include medical debt (with some coding restrictions) in consumer credit reports, and allows creditors to use this information in credit decisions. As a result, the federal protection was eliminated, and the prior administration’s ban on reporting medical debt was overturned.
Key takeaways as of August 6, 2025:
Federal rule removed: There’s no longer a nationwide ban on reporting overdue patient balances to credit bureaus—dental practices may resume reporting.
Use of medical debt data: Creditors (including dental offices) can factor properly coded medical-debt information into credit decisions, provided no specific provider or service is disclosed.
State-level exceptions: Fourteen states outright prohibit or severely restrict medical-debt reporting. Five states impose conditions, such as requiring other collection efforts first or confirmation that financial-assistance options were exhausted. For example, New York’s Fair Medical Debt Reporting Act bars all health-care providers—including dental offices—from reporting any medical debt to consumer credit agencies.
Immediate actions for your practice:
Check your state’s rules. Confirm whether your jurisdiction bans or limits medical-debt reporting.
Consult experts. Talk to legal counsel or your state dental association to ensure compliance with both federal and any more protective state laws.
Stay informed. This area of law is changing rapidly—build a routine for periodic review of regulations before sending any balances to credit agencies.
But don’t stop reading now. There’s quite a bit happening in the insurance aspect of the dental field.
Careington and Aetna Changes
Beginning September 1, 2025, Aetna will no longer access Care Platinum PPO network providers through the Careington network. If your office wants to remain in-network, you’ll need to secure a direct contract with Aetna.
Aetna Updates
Aetna has also announced that paper checks and EOBs are being phased out. Moving forward, offices will need to enroll in EFT payments or VCC. EOBs will be available through AetnaDental.com.
It is still possible to request a paper check, but keep in mind this will delay your payment.
MetLife Update
In response to a letter from the ADA, MetLife has agreed to change its recoupment policy. Previously, MetLife had been reducing or offsetting payments owed to dentists in order to recover overpayments allegedly made to other, unaffiliated dentists.
This practice created accounting nightmares for many insurance coordinators over the years. Thanks to advocacy efforts, that process is now being revised.
You can read the full article here:
MetLife agrees to change recoupment policy following ADA letter
Closing Thought
Enjoy what’s left of your summer—I look forward to catching up and learning with everyone this fall.
