Dental Practices Shifting to EFT Claim Payments but Lag Behind Doctors
The trend among dentists toward electronic claim payments continues, according to new research.
The 2025 CAQH Index Report shows 309 million claim payments were made by electronic funds transfer (EFT) in 2024, an 11.2% increase over the prior year.
“What’s particularly impressive is that the gain comes even as the total number of dental claim payments rose less than a full percent,” said Brad Smith, Nacha Senior Director, Industry Engagement and Advocacy.
According to the report, issued in February 2026, if dental practices switched completely to EFTs for claim payments, the dental industry could potentially save $246 million.
“Lower administrative spend means fewer resources diverted from patient care and less financial strain on providers,” the Index said.
Progress is being made, as dental adoption of EFT claim payments rose year-over-year from 30% to 33%, more than double what it was in the 2021 CAQH Index.
Yet it still lags far behind medical practices, where the latest report shows a 78% adoption rate. That’s up 1.7% from a year earlier, while at the same time, there were 50 million fewer medical claim payments.
“One thing that’s particularly encouraging is that the use of paper checks for medical claim payments fell more than 8%,” said Smith. “No business should be waiting on checks in the mail today, and it’s a lesson that dental practices need to learn. Even in smaller dental offices, EFT is much easier—not to mention safer—than checks.”
Smith also encouraged healthcare providers to reject virtual credit cards, or VCCs, in favor of EFT claim payments. “No one should have to pay to get paid, and that’s exactly what happens with VCCs,” said Smith. “Dental and medical providers are well within their rights to decline VCCs and insist on EFT.”
In January, Nacha reported 2025 healthcare claim payment volume of 548 million, up 7.3% from 2024.
