(St. Paul, MN) – Dentists providing services to patients on Medical Assistance (MA) are floundering as they balance quality care and the costs of mandated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). In response, the Minnesota Senate passed Senate File 106, which appropriates $5 million of federal Covid aid to dentists who continue to serve patients utilizing MA.

“Dentists, like other medical providers, lost significant revenue during the executive order delaying elective procedures,” said Senator Michelle Benson (R-Ham Lake). Now that dentists and dental hygienists are again providing care, they are facing an increased need for PPE, which is now sold at a higher cost. Grants from the coronavirus relief fund will help these providers just as COVID funds have helped hospitals and long-term care facilities purchase PPE.”

Costs to provide dental care have drastically increased. Not only are the more common pieces of PPE necessary (N95 masks, surgical masks, face shields, etc.), but isolation systems, air purifiers, filters, and more are adding to expenditures. These increases have made it impossible for many offices to break even financially, which puts their practices at risk.

This legislation will provide around $10 per encounter with patients during the time period of October to April of last year, making the aid retroactive.