Volume 7 • 2020 • Issue 4

3. protecting staff and patients in the dental office, including PPE requirements; and 4. contamination and disinfection protocols. With the assistance of the CDA Committee on Clinical and Scientific Affairs, theWorking Group continues to research credible, science-based information in all four areas. Claims for Extra Charges for PPE CDA approved new codes to the 2020 edition of the USC&LS for additional costs related to enhanced PPE requirements: 99900 Provision of additional personal protective equipment required by the COVID-19 pandemic, per appointment •  99901 Non-aerosol generating procedures •  99902 Aerosol generating procedures Codes 99901 and 99902 include the provision of PPE, but not the time required for donning and doffing PPE, or any fallow time between the use of an operatory. These new codes are available for inclusion in provincial fee guides and should start to appear in claims in the near future. Insurance companies advised that these fee-for-service codes are the most likely to be covered by insurance plans, but reimbursement decisions will be made on a plan-by-plan basis. Reminder: Before charging any additional fees to cover the cost of PPE, be sure it is done in a manner aligned with the expectations of your provincial dental regulatory authority. Privacy and Electronic Communications CDA worked closely with a privacy lawyer to develop a general guidance document for dentists regarding privacy requirements when they communicate with patients using electronic means. This document, Patient Privacy and the Use of Teledentistry Communication Tools During Covid-19 Pandemic , was given to Corporate Member PDAs to adapt for use in their jurisdictions, as they deem appropriate. Phishing Warnings • to give up personal bank or government login credentials to access federal funds as part of Canada's COVID-19 Federal Economic Response Plan. CDA published Tips to Spot Phishing Emails on its website to remind dentists to be vigilant when opening or responding to emails. CDA Oasis CDA Oasis ( oasisdiscussions.ca/category/covid-19 ) continues to be CDA’s primary channel of communication for delivering urgent information to the dental community during the COVID-19 pandemic. CDA Oasis has produced a series of video interviews with members of the CDA COVID-19 team and other relevant subject matter experts. CDA Oasis has also helped Corporate Member PDAs host and conduct webinars for its members, on an as-requested basis. Mental Health and Wellness: CDA is actively promoting available mental health and wellness support through CDSPI’s Members’ Assistance Program (MAP) via social media, its Help Desk service, and on its website. MAP can be accessed by calling 1-844-578‑4040 or visiting workhealthlife.com . Additionally, wellness posts are being featured on a regular basis on CDA Oasis. COVID-19 Repository CDA continues to serve as a COVID-19 Repository for Corporate Member PDAs by collecting advice and available COVID-19 resources from external organizations and any sources that PDAs wish to share. New information is placed in the Repository on a weekly basis and is exclusively available for use by the PDAs, for onward transmission to their respective dentist members, as deemed appropriate. CDA also produces a ‘COVID-19 Email Update’ on a weekly basis, compiling updates on CDA activities along with any relevant developments that occurred that week. This email is sent to representatives of the Corporate Member PDAs, who can choose to distribute pertinent information from the email to its members. There continues to be a range of COVID-19-related phishing scams going out to dental offices. These scams tempt users: • to buy face masks and other PPE; • with phony medical cures; and/or 10 | 2020 | Issue 4