Dental Code D9987: Cancelled Appointment

Dental Code D9987 refers to the administrative code used by dentists and dental practices to record and process cancelled appointments. This code is an essential part of the dental billing and record-keeping process, providing important information about patient scheduling and attendance.

Dental Code D9987 is specifically used when a patient cancels an appointment with a dentist or dental practice. This code is then entered into the patient's record and the dental practice's billing system to document the cancelled appointment. The use of this code is important for several reasons:

• It allows the dental practice to keep accurate records of patient attendance and scheduling.
• It helps the practice to manage their appointment schedule and availability more effectively.
• It may be used to inform the patient's insurance provider about the cancelled appointment, which can impact any coverage or reimbursement for the scheduled treatment.

The documentation of the cancelled appointment is an important step in the process. This information is not only necessary for the dental practice's own records, but it may also be required by the patient's insurance provider. The dental practice will typically record the following details:
 

• Date of the Cancelled Appointment: This is the date and time that the patient was originally scheduled to be seen.
• Date of the Cancellation: This is the date and time that the patient notified the practice of the cancellation.
• Reason for Cancellation: The patient's reason for cancelling the appointment, such as a scheduling conflict, illness, or emergency.
• Dental Code D9987: The specific code used to indicate that the appointment was cancelled.
• Any Rescheduled Appointment: If the patient is able to reschedule the appointment, the new date and time will also be documented.

Some dental practices may also have policies in place regarding cancellation fees. These fees are typically charged to the patient if they cancel an appointment with less than 24 hours' notice. The purpose of these fees is to help cover the practice's expenses, as well as to encourage patients to provide adequate notice when they need to cancel an appointment.
The amount of the cancellation fee can vary, but it is typically a set dollar amount or a percentage of the cost of the scheduled treatment. Patients should be made aware of the practice's cancellation fee policy when they schedule an appointment, so they are aware of the potential charges.

Cancelled appointments can have a significant impact on both the dental practice and the patient. It is important for patients to understand the importance of providing adequate notice when they need to cancel an appointment.

Some key considerations for patients include:

• Scheduling Availability: When a patient cancels an appointment, it can make it difficult for the dental practice to fill that time slot, which can impact the availability of appointments for other patients.
• Treatment Continuity: Cancelled appointments can disrupt the continuity of a patient's dental treatment, which can potentially lead to delays in the completion of their care.
• Insurance Coverage: Depending on the patient's insurance plan, a cancelled appointment may not be covered, or it may result in the patient being responsible for a higher percentage of the cost of the scheduled treatment.

To avoid these issues, patients should make every effort to provide as much notice as possible when they need to cancel an appointment. This can help the dental practice to reschedule the appointment and minimize the impact on other patients and the practice's operations.

Dental Code D9987 is an important administrative code used by dentists and dental practices to document cancelled appointments. This code allows the practice to maintain accurate records, manage their scheduling, and inform the patient's insurance provider about the cancellation. Dr. BestPrice helps you to compare prices for dental health care. 

The cancellation process typically involves the patient contacting the practice to provide notice of the cancellation, and the practice then updating the patient's record with the relevant details, including Dental Code D9987. Some practices may also have policies in place regarding cancellation fees, which are intended to help cover the practice's expenses and encourage patients to provide adequate notice.

It is important for patients to understand the importance of providing adequate notice when they need to cancel an appointment, as cancelled appointments can have a significant impact on the dental practice and the patient's own dental care.