The Growing Use of Locums Tenens Dentists

Integration and Billing Prior to the temporary dentist’s arrival, the locum tenens agency will forward the practice or FQHC information about the dentist, including his or her resume, clinical capabilities, and references. A pre-assignment phone conference then is arranged between the temporary dentist, a staffing agency representative and the practice. It is important for the temporary dentist to understand the types of procedures performed at the practice. The practice should determine whether the dentist is proficient in these procedures and the time it takes for him or her to complete them. The expectation is that the practice or FQHC will inform the locum tenens dentist of its standards of care and that the locum tenens dentist will accommodate himself or herself to these standards. The practice or FQHC also should forward the patient schedule during the assignment period to the locum tenens dentist and ensure that the dentist can handle what has been scheduled. Patients should be informed that their regular dentist is out for the day or week, but that he or she will be seen by a dentist handpicked by their regular dentist. This may be more convenient for patients than referring them to another dentist at a practice with which they are unfamiliar. Generally, services provided by a locum tenens dentist must be billed for under a separate Medicaid or other provider number. Obtaining a new number typically takes about four weeks to three months. Usually, the locum tenens dentist is in place, seeing patients, while the new provider number is being obtained. The practice can in some situations “back bill” for work done by the locum tenens dentist when the new provider number is received.

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