Should a dental practice surcharge credit cards?

The rules to check

• Card-network surcharge rules, including caps and registration requirements
• Your state's surcharge laws — some restrict or prohibit it
• Debit and prepaid cards, which generally can't be surcharged
• Disclosure at the entrance, point of sale and on the receipt
• Payer contracts that may limit fees charged to patients

Run the real math

Compare the fees you'd recover against patients who switch payment methods, front-desk time explaining the fee and any patient loss. Know your effective rate first — reducing it may achieve the goal without a surcharge.

Alternatives

Interchange-plus pricing, more card-present transactions, ACH for large balances and cash-discount programs (with their own rules) are all options to evaluate.

Common questions