What do doctors and dentists have in common with Wall Street lenders? It may be more than you think. Health professionals worry that they鈥檙e getting unfairly lumped in with bankers in , currently pending in Congress.
A provision of the bill would give broad oversight to a new regulatory agency 鈥� the Consumer Financial Protection Agency 鈥� to police lending practices to make sure banks and other financial institutions don鈥檛 extend credit inappropriately. Too-easy credit was the main contributing factor to the economic meltdown.
Because doctors, dentists and other health care providers sometimes technically act as lenders by allowing their patients to pay for care in monthly installments 鈥� such as allowing a patient to pay for $5,000 worth of braces over a year 鈥撀爏ome are increasingly worried that their practices might be subjected to the new agency鈥檚 regulatory requirements.
Physicians and dentists envision lots of paperwork, reporting requirements and related staff time. Michael Graham, managing director of government affairs for the , says that while they 鈥渉ave no idea鈥� what those requirements would be, because the regulations aren鈥檛 written yet, they鈥檙e sure about one thing: it鈥檒l cost money.
As currently drafted, the bill would exempt sellers of nonfinancial goods and those not 鈥渆ngaged significantly鈥� in lending. The measure鈥檚 supporters say the bill does not apply to health care practitioners. But, organizations like the ADA and the maintain that, because the legislation does not contain a definition of 鈥渟ignificantly,鈥� they could eventually find themselves under CFPA鈥檚 watchful eye.
A letter from 23 health care trade groups . One big worry is that,聽since the committee report language expressly exempts聽dentists,聽all聽other health care professionals are then would be included by default. The American College of Emergency Physicians, the American College of Surgeons and the American Physical Therapy Association were among the letters other signers. Meanwhile, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce includes this issue 聳 as it might affect small businesses 鈥� on a website, . The groups also have the support of Rep. Nydia Velazquez, chairwoman of the House Committee on Small Business, who sent .
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd said last week that claims by the Chamber that dentists and orthodontists would fall under the purview of the agency are wrong. 鈥淎n orthodontist is not a significant financial player. If your orthodontist, or doctor, or dentist lets you pay your bill over a series of months, they鈥檙e not covered. If your local grocer or butcher keeps a tab and bills you at the end of the month, they鈥檙e not covered,鈥� Dodd .
A聽separate measure, known as the 鈥渞ed flag rule,鈥澛爃ighlights exactly why dentists and doctors are leery of聽CFPA鈥檚 unintended consequences.聽Under the red flag聽action, doctors may soon be required to start assisting government investigators to help stop identity theft. The rule, which is scheduled to take effect June 1,聽was designed with聽financial institutions and other creditors in mind. But doctors will likely have to adhere to the regulation, too.
Once again, the reason is that medical professionals extend credit to patients and allow them to pay in monthly installments. The Federal Trade Commission has, so far, by health providers鈥� arguments for an exemption. Legislation聽to achieve this fix聽passed the House but is awaiting Senate action, said Graham, of the American Dental Association.
Graham and others are working with Dodd to clarify聽the language in the financial overhaul bill. 鈥淲e know Sen. Dodd meant it for financial institutions,鈥� Graham said. 鈥淕od bless him, but we don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 clear enough.鈥�
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