LITTLE ROCK, Ark., March 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Dental of
Arkansas and the Delta Dental of
Arkansas Foundation are providing some much-needed assistance to
dental clinics and non-profit organizations that are helping
communities during the COVID-19 outbreak. Delta Dental of
Arkansas has committed a total of
$6.5 million in emergency financial
assistance to dental practices in Arkansas. The new program – the Delta Dental
of Arkansas Advance Receipts Program – will provide financial
support to dental practices, who are limited to providing only
emergency services during the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, the
Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation, which is the organization's
charitable giving arm, will offer a total of $500,000 in grants to community organizations for
projects directly related to COVID-19.
"We have worked closely with dentists in our state to improve
the oral health of all Arkansans for almost 40 years," said Delta
Dental of Arkansas President and CEO Ed
Choate. "These two initiatives are a way for us to provide
financial support to dental providers during a time when their
practices are under significant financial stress and to non-profit
organizations who need financial assistance to continue to be the
safety net that many people rely upon."
Delta Dental of Arkansas Advance Receipts Program
The
Advance Receipts Program is available to Arkansas dental practices that participate in
any of Delta Dental of Arkansas'
networks. Practices applying for support from the program are
eligible to receive up to five weekly advances, each equal to 40%
of the average weekly Delta Dental of Arkansas clinical reimbursement payments made
to the practice's Tax Identification Number (TIN) during 2019. The
maximum advance amount to any one TIN will not exceed $40,000.
Dentists can apply online starting Wednesday, April 1, at www.DeltaDentalAR.com.
Delta Dental will approve eligible providers' applications within
five business days, and distributions, in the form of five weekly
payments, will begin within 7 days of approval. Practices receiving
advances will be required to repay the advances, with no interest,
to Delta Dental in 20 equal payments starting July
2020.
"Dentists are a critical part of our healthcare system and many
are independent small business owners, employing thousands of
hygienists, dental assistants, and office staff statewide. We need
those practices to survive this economic downturn and be ready to
provide much needed care to their patients when this is over," said
Choate. "Dental offices will have access to other means of
financial support including the recently passed federal government
stimulus package. Our program is an alternative that will provide
much needed funding to practices quickly and is interest free."
Dental practices can begin applying on April 1, 2020. More information about the Delta
Dental of Arkansas Advance Receipts program and application
instructions can be found at www.DeltaDentalAR.com.
Community Grants to Non-Profits
The Delta Dental of
Arkansas Foundation is offering a total of up to $500,000 to Arkansas non-profits that are providing
assistance or services that address immediate needs resulting from
COVID-19. The limit is $10,000 per
organization, and eligible non-profits can begin applying on
April 1, 2020, by visiting
www.DeltaDentalAR.com/Covid19EmergencyFund. Organizations
requesting a grant will be notified of approval within one week
from the submission of their application. Grant funds will then be
paid within five business days from application approval.
"We are very focused on helping the communities we serve; it's
at the heart of everything the Foundation does," said Chrissy Chatham, executive director of the Delta
Dental of Arkansas Foundation. "These grants are designed to help
those organizations that are providing emergency services to those
who need it most right now."
To be considered for a grant, the following criteria must be
met:
- Organization must be located in Arkansas and serve Arkansans.
- Organization must have an active 501(c)(3) IRS status.
- Grants are available to qualifying Arkansas non-profit,
government or educational organizations addressing immediate
COVID-19 needs.
- Funds can be used to cover fixed operational expenses such as
salaries for medical providers, volunteer coordinators, medical
workforce, rent, utilities, internet, insurance, phone, medical
supplies, etc.
More information about the emergency grant program and how to
apply can be found www.DeltaDentalAR.com/Covid19EmergencyFund.
About Delta Dental of Arkansas
Delta Dental of
Arkansas is the largest dental
benefits provider in the state, helping more than 800,000 Arkansans
keep their smiles healthy through commercial and Medicaid coverage.
As a not-for-profit company, Delta Dental is committed to improving
the oral health of Arkansans through the philanthropic efforts of
its Foundation, which donated more than $3
million to support oral health education initiatives in the
last three years. For more information,
visit deltadentalar.com.
About Delta Dental of Arkansas
Foundation
The Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation is
committed to fulfilling Delta Dental's mission to improve the oral
health of all Arkansans. Since 2015, the Foundation has contributed
an average of $1 million per year to
local communities to support oral health education, prevention and
treatment programs. For more oral health news and information,
visit DeltaDentalAR.com and follow us on Twitter and Facebook at
@DeltaDentalAR.
Media Contact: Dave Hawsey
Vice President, Marketing
(501) 213-8315
dhawsey@deltadentalar.com
www.deltadentalar.com
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SOURCE Delta Dental of Arkansas