Patient Resources

Guide to Patient Services

This introduction to our services offers an overview and welcome to our clinics. This guide explains how to become a patient, as well as policies, processes, and rights. 

Guide to Patient Services   Guia de Servicios para Paciente 

Questions

If you have questions about your care at the teaching clinics, please call 212-305-6100

Insurance and Billing

The College of Dental Medicine's teaching clinics are Article 28 contracted providers for dental services covered by the State of New York Medicaid program and as such accept payment directly from Medicaid. We accept straight Medicaid and most mainstream Medicaid Managed Care plans. We also accept patients with Health First, Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus.

Patients who have dental insurance accepted at the teaching clinics should bring their insurance card and photo identification to every appointment. If a patient’s insurance coverage is not active on the date of the appointment, the teaching clinics will not disrupt or delay urgent or necessary care; however, the patient’s student or resident dentist may ask the patient to reschedule the appointment. If a patient’s insurance does not cover a treatment, the patient must pay for the treatment at the time of the appointment.

We welcome patients with other dental insurance plans but do not file and manage dental claims. Patients are therefore responsible to pay for treatment at the time services are provided and obtain reimbursement from their dental insurance company. As a courtesy, we will provide you with a standard dental claim form listing the treatments that were provided and the payment received. You can submit the dental claim form to your insurance carrier and payment will be directly sent to you.

It is each patient’s responsibility to know his/ her dental insurance benefits. Please check with your employer or insurance plan with questions about coverage.

Payment Policy

Patients are expected to pay in full at the time services are provided. Acceptable payment methods include cash, checks, all major credit cards, debit cards, money orders, New York State Medicaid (with a valid Medicaid card), and Medicaid Managed Care plans. We also accept Health First, and Family Health Plus/Child Health Plus.

A receipt indicating payment will be provided at the time of service.

Please note we do not have a sliding fee schedule or provide free care.

Because of our focus on education, we are able to offer our services at fees which are lower than the cost of comparable procedures at most private practices.

Patient Forms

Please arrive fifteen minutes before your appointment time to complete necessary paperwork or print out and complete the following forms at home and bring them with you.

• Patient Registration Form (Formulario de Registro del Paciente) 
• Medical History Form (Historical Medico) 

Dental Records

Copies of your records and radiographs will be provided to you or forwarded to another practitioner upon your signed written request. There is a nominal fee charged for the duplication of radiographs which must be paid prior to the copies being released.

To obtain copies of your records, please contact the Dental Records Department.

212-305-6100
Press option 6 for Dental Records

Patient Relations

Patients have the right to express concerns or complaints without fear of reprisal and with the assurance that the presentation of a complaint will not compromise the quality of their care or future access to care.

Patients who have concerns about any aspect of the dental care or treatment they have received at the College of Dental Medicine should discuss their concerns with the practice manager or faculty of the program where dental care was rendered. Patients may also register that concern either in person, by telephone, or in writing to the Office of Patient Services.

Office of Patient Services
Columbia University
College of Dental Medicine
630 W. 168th Street
New York, NY 10032
212-305-8624

You may also contact the Commission on Dental Accreditation at the American Dental Association:

Commission on Dental Accreditation
American Dental Association
211 East Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611-2678
800-621-8099 x 4653

You may also contact the New York State Department of Health:

New York State Department of Health
Centralized Hospital Intake Program
Mailstop: CA/DCS
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12237
800-804-5447
hospinfo@health.state.ny.us