COVID-19 Practice Resources

COVID-19 & Lab Testing Requirements Toolkit

From applying for federal certification to reporting requirements, get guidance on how to provide point-of-care COVID-19 testing at your practice.

Download the COVID-19 Testing Guide

Providing Names of COVID-19 Positive Patients

A public health official or someone in law enforcement may ask you to give the name of a patient who is COVID-19 positive.

Get HIPAA guidance

Diagnostic Testing Options for Sars-CoV-2

Learn about different types of diagnostic testing available for Sars-CoV-2 that have been issued Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA.

Download testing options guide

When a Patient Tests Positive for COVID-19

Learn the steps high- and low-exposure staff should take if a patient reports a positive COVID-19 test after their dental appointment.

How to handle a positive test result

When Staff or Household Members Test Positive for COVID-19

This resource includes a flowchart, risk assessment and strategies for self-quarantine and returning to work if a staff member or someone in their household tests positive for COVID-19.

Download positive test protocols
(ADA member login required)

Testing Employees for Antibodies & Antigens

Requiring employees to get tested for COVID-19 antibodies or antigens raises some legal issues.

Learn the rules on testing

A Positive COVID-19 Test Result on Your Staff

A step-by-step guide for what to do if you or a member of your team has tested positive for COVID-19.

Learn how to stop the spread

Contact Tracing: Stemming the Spread of COVID-19

Contact tracing is the process of notifying people that they may have come into contact with an infected individual.

Understand contact tracing

Contact Tracing and HIPAA Disclosures

Dentists may be asked to give public health authorities a patient’s name and other information to help with COVID-19 contact tracing.

Learn what’s allowed under HIPAA

HIPAA Guidance on Community Based Testing Sites

What dentists who are supporting efforts to provide COVID-19 testing services should be aware of in the Office for Civil Rights’ enforcement discretion for good faith participation.

Read Q&A

Return to Work Interim Guidance Toolkit

This interim guidance from the ADA’s Advisory Task Force on Dental Practice Recovery will help you, your staff and your patients return more safely to non-emergency dental appointments.

Get the return to work toolkit

COVID-19 Hazard Assessment

This guide + checklist are modeled after OSHA’s Hazard Identification and Assessment and walk you through an assessment of potential COVID-19 hazards.

Get the hazard assessment
(ADA member login required)

Equity in Patient Screening & Treatment

ADA recommends screening all dental patients – including frontline/essential workers – prior to treatment, regardless of the patient’s occupation.

Read about equitable treatment

Summary of ADA COVID-19 Interim Guidance

An overview document about how this virus impacts dentistry and the resources available from the ADA.

Download the summary

State Mandates and Recommendations on COVID-19

View the latest state-by-state updates on procedure requirements and/or restrictions for dentists.

Find your state (MAP)

Emergency Procedures — Dentists

A guide to which procedures are considered emergencies and non-emergencies.

Download the dentist's guide

The ADA Code of Ethics and COVID-19

As a result of the pandemic, ethical principles may require different steps than dentists are used to taking. Here’s how the ADA Code of Ethics applies during these extreme circumstances.

Download the ethics guide

Flu Vaccines for Dental Workers

The CDC recommends that healthcare workers, including dentists and staff, get a flu vaccine each year. This is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read CDC vaccine guidance

Paying Staff Who Are on Leave Due to COVID-19

The Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA) requires employers to pay staff members if they’re unable to work due to COVID-19 infection or exposure.

Understand employers’ obligations
(ADA member login required)

Employment Agreements

This is an uncertain time for many employees, including dentists. Here’s a breakdown of the common terms in dentists’ employment agreements that may apply now.

Download the agreements guide

Video Teleconferencing and Security

Learn more about security threats to video teleconferencing platforms and how to keep your calls private.

Protect your calls

Be Alert for Cybercrime Scams

Cybercriminals try to take advantage of people and businesses during uncertain times.

What to watch for

HIPAA, Family Members and COVID-19 Status

Can your practice contact the spouse or family member of a COVID-19 positive patient to reschedule an appointment because they came into contact with the infected person?

Learn how HIPAA applies

Tips for Handling Mask Non-Compliance

This guide walks you step-by-step through how to handle conversations with patients who refuse to wear a face mask as required in your practice.

Get mask non-compliance guide
(ADA member login required)

When a Patient Says They Can’t Wear a Mask due to Disability

Some individuals may cite a disability when refusing to wear face masks in the dental practice, raising issues regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Get guide on masks and disabilities
(ADA member login required)

Tips for Complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act

Offering patients with disabilities reasonable modifications to your practice’s COVID-19 policies can help manage legal risk under disabilities laws.

Learn how to modify your policies
(ADA member login required)

Checklist: Reasonable Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities

Use this checklist to evaluate how your practice’s COVID-19 policies could be impacted by requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Get ADA checklist
(ADA member login required)

Legal Obligation to Provide Interpreter & Translator Services

Health entities covered by certain federal civil rights laws are still required to provide interpreter and translator services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Know your obligations

Emergency Procedures — Patients

Help patients understand when they should — or shouldn’t — make a dental appointment.

Download the patient’s guide

Letter to Patients

This template is designed to help you communicate changes to your practice due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Download patient letter (WORD)

Dental FAQs on the Provider Relief Fund

Read answers to the most common HHS Provider Relief Funds.

Get answers on HHS funds

ADA Foundation Assistance Program

The ADA Foundation offers grants to help dentists and their dependents and their dependents cover emergencies and expenses.

Learn more about grants

Financial Assistance from Third Party Payers

Some third party payer are offering financial assistance to independent dental practices impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read about assistance programs

Small Business Administration Loans

These resources can help you learn about how to apply for Paycheck Protection Act loans, loan forgiveness and more.

Visit SBA Loans page

CMS: New Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage Form

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has expanded the deadline for use of the renewed ABM, form CMS-R-131.

Get the new forms

COVID-19 Coding and Billing Guidance: PPE

This guide outlines what to do if you choose to document and bill for the increased PPE costs associated with your practice’s COVID-19 infection control protocols.

Download PPE coding guidance

Dental Benefit Eligibility Verification

Use this guide to protect your practice from recoupment requests due to changes in a patient’s benefit eligibility status.

Access the benefit eligibility guide

Handling Contract Negotiations

To accommodate recent guidance on PPE and infection control, you may need to readjust your fee schedule.

Get the negotiation guide

Statement on Reimbursement for PPE

The ADA urges third party payers to alter their fees to account for the increasing cost of PPE.

Read PPE Reimbursement Statement

Statement on Reimbursement for Temporary Procedures

The ADA advocates for third party payers to not bundle fee for temporary procedures during the pandemic with payment for the permanent procedure.

Download Temporary Procedures Statement

Stark Law Blanket Waivers

These waivers boost health care access for patients enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP.

Read the waivers

COVID-19 Coding and Billing Guidance: Virtual Visits

You may see some patients via teledentistry during the COVID-19 outbreak. This quick guide outlines different billing codes your practice may need to use.

Download the coding guide

Handling Vendor Payment Disputes

This guide helps dentists understand how to handle payment disputes with vendors and difficulties accessing patient data.

Download the dispute guide

Renegotiating Existing Contracts

The COVID-19 pandemic may impact your obligations under existing contracts. This guide will help you when renegotiating payment terms.

Download the renegotiation guide

Contract Obligations during COVID-19

Understand “force majeure” contractual provisions and how events related to the COVID-19 pandemic may apply to your contract obligations.

Download force majeure guide