New dentist wants me to bring dd's birth certificate

[NotSoObvious]

To our first appointment.

 

Is this weird?? I've never heard of that.

 

It's a huge pedodontist's office.

[PRTGSw2K]

Sounds strange, to me. I would not bring it with me unless they explained their reasoning and I agreed.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Sounds weird to me. I would not bring it.

[Orthodox6]

I'm more extreme. I would go to a different dentist.

[Annie]

You're trying to get a tooth cleaning not a passport. I'd tell them to shove off.

[SunnyDays]

Yeah... never had that request. I don't think our doctor's office even ever asked for it. I would decline.... and possibly find someone else.

[Jean in Newcastle]

I did some quick googling and found that some insurances require a birth certificate to show proof of relationship for minor dependents. But if you already have insurance, I don't see why the dental office itself would need this.

[FeFe]

Never heard of that. I wouldn't do it.

[OH_Homeschooler]

I would just ask them why and if you don't like the answer, look elsewhere.

[NotSoObvious]

But what answer would they give that I wouldn't like? What would be a wrong reason? What should I be asking?

 

It's a pain to bring the certificate, but what is the downside to them having a copy?

 

I'm seriously asking, not disagreeing. Walk me through this. It caught me off guard. My mom is a hygienist and she said it is probably for insurance reasons, but that she has never seen it done.

[itsheresomewhere]

I would say no way. But I don't give SS numbers to doctors offices either. If they don't like it, I find another doctor.

 

Identity theft for children is on the rise. Identity theft happens in doctors offices and hospitals, too.

[NotSoObvious]

They also asked me if I was their "natural mother" which was offensive because I'm their adoptive mother, but I'm their mother!

 

I get the impression they see a ton of Medicaid patients, which is actually why we are going, so we can use their Medicaid (from being in foste care) for some expensive x-rays. We'll go back to our regular dentist after this.

[Liz CA]

I never heard of this. I would ask them point blank what they need it for. Are they afraid you have stolen a child for whom you are now providing dental care??? :glare:

[Kathryn]

Probably to somehow prove she's your daughter and you're not committing fraud by getting other kids' teeth cleaned.

[NotSoObvious]

I would say no way. But I don't give SS numbers to doctors offices either. If they don't like it, I find another doctor.

 

Identity theft for children is on the rise. Identity theft happens in doctors offices and hospitals, too.

 

 

Ahhhh, see, I didn't know this.

[redsquirrel]

I would call my insurance company and see if they require it for dental insurance. If the company says no then there is no reason for the dentist to need it.

[NotSoObvious]

Probably to somehow prove she's your daughter and you're not committing fraud by getting other kids' teeth cleaned.

 

 

But, why would a birth certificate prove that? It doesn't have their picture. I could just take any girl that looks the right age, right?

[itsheresomewhere]

They also asked me if I was their "natural mother" which was offensive because I'm their adoptive mother, but I'm their mother!

 

I get the impression they see a ton of Medicaid patients, which is actually why we are going, so we can use their Medicaid (from being in foste care) for some expensive x-rays. We'll go back to our regular dentist after this.

 

 

I would find whoever is in charge of that office and tell them what an offensive way to ask that. There are more appropriate ways to ask this.

[NotSoObvious]

I would call my insurance company and see if they require it for dental insurance. If the company says no then there is no reason for the dentist to need it.

 

 

That's a good idea. I'll do that now.

[OH_Homeschooler]

But what answer would they give that I wouldn't like? What would be a wrong reason? What should I be asking?

 

It's a pain to bring the certificate, but what is the downside to them having a copy?

 

I'm seriously asking, not disagreeing. Walk me through this. It caught me off guard. My mom is a hygienist and she said it is probably for insurance reasons, but that she has never seen it done.

 

 

I don't know, you can say you're not really sure where the certificate is at the moment, so is it really necessary or do you have to go to all the trouble of finding it. It would catch me off guard too, but I generally just comply because my understanding of HIPAA laws makes me feel secure sharing that kind of information when asked. Therefore, I don't know what kind of reason or answer they would give that you wouldn't like, because that would be a personal thing. I just think if you're concerned enough to ask here then you're probably concerned about it for some reason.

 

One strange thought occurred to me...does your dentist have a minimum age they treat? Ours won't see anyone before age 3, but I can't imagine they're extremely strict about this and they never required us to show proof of age when we did start taking them.

[NotSoObvious]

Yeah, I just complied, but then it started bothering me because it seemed like such a bizarre request.

[NotSoObvious]

I don't know about the minimum age, but my kids are 10 so it wouldn't matter.

[redsquirrel]

They also asked me if I was their "natural mother" which was offensive because I'm their adoptive mother, but I'm their mother!

 

I get the impression they see a ton of Medicaid patients, which is actually why we are going, so we can use their Medicaid (from being in foste care) for some expensive x-rays. We'll go back to our regular dentist after this.

 

 

That is inappropriate for them to ask. It doesn't matter how she became your daughter, she is your daughter. I am guessing they are trying to figure out if you are a foster parent (due to all the Medicaid) or if you have legal custody. But all they have to do is ask if you are the custodial parent.

 

There might be a state mandate regarding the birth certificate and Medicaid. But they should tell you that upfront.

[NotSoObvious]

I called Medicaid. They said it's not required and they've never heard of it!

[Jean in Newcastle]

I called Medicaid. They said it's not required and they've never heard of it!

 

 

Then I would tell the dentist's office that. What is important is that you've satisfied Medicaid and that the dentist's office will get reimbursed.

[lynn]

I did some quick googling and found that some insurances require a birth certificate to show proof of relationship for minor dependents. But if you already have insurance, I don't see why the dental office itself would need this.

 

 

DH did have to bring all our birth certificates to HR a couple of years ago for verification for insurance purposes but never have I been asked at the doctors office.

[NotSoObvious]

They also use "natural parent" on their website. I'll have to think of a tactful way to point out their error.

[GailV]

I would say no way. But I don't give SS numbers to doctors offices either. If they don't like it, I find another doctor.

 

Identity theft for children is on the rise. Identity theft happens in doctors offices and hospitals, too.

 

 

 

We think alike!

[Guest luvpossum]

I took my son to an ENT on a referral from his pediatrician this morning. My son is adopted and I stated on the health questionnaire that I had no medical history from the biological mother. I have done this on EVERY medical history questionnaire since he was placed with me. I have never been questioned about it. The nurse called me to the window and said that since he is adopted I would have to show her the adoption papers. I told her that I did not have them and she said that he couldn't be seen without them. I had a copy of his amended birth certificate with my name on it and gave it to her. She wanted a copy of it AND a copy of my drivers license. I refused. How many mothers go in there and have to show a birth certificate to PROVE they are the mother of the child? I talked to the office manager and she also wanted to copy both items. I did not comply and went to another doctor. The other doctor never questioned that I am his mother. Medicaid also confirmd that there is no reason for me to have to prove that I am his mother. We have been to many doctors, specialists, dentists and hospitals and I have NEVER had to PROVE that I am his mother.

[TravelingChris]

I am not an adoptive mother and we do not have Medicaid. We have Tricare, the military insurance, so it is government paid but administered by private insurance. We go to doctors very often and even to dentists more often than most people since we have lots of medical issues and some of us have had dental problems too. I have never been asked for a Birth Certificate or any other kind of document that isn't readily carried in a wallet. Some ask for my DL/ All ask to see and copy our Military ID/ Beyond that. nothing. Oh, and dh and I do not share a last name and the our kids (we are both the parents) have my last name for theirs while their father's is their second middle name. Still no one ever asks and has ever asked. I think it is bizarre and if someone asked me for that, I would change doctors or dentists. But I don't have medicaid and have such limited providers --- I think only one of my doctor's even takes medicaid, and I am not even sure about that. MOst take Medicare but that pays a lot better. I know that when we had a foster daughter about 25 years ago, she had medicai. the California version of MEdicaid and we had a very hard time finding doctors who would see her.

[DarlaS]

That is weird. I've never had anyone request that except for the driving school.

[Ameena]

I've heard of it for medicaid - it's to prove that you aren't bringing in another child who doesn't have medicaid.

 

here sometimes they want a photo id for THE CHILD - really how many kids under 7 are walking around with photo id's?

[Lanny]

I realize this is an old thread, but it has become active again. IMHO, a Birth Certificate issued by a U.S. entity (city, county, state, or in our case, the U.S. Embassy) is a very delicate item. Birth certificates contain valuable and confidential information and generally, I do not believe all of the information on them is publicly available. That would depend upon which agency issued the certificate.

 

A U.S. Passport is a very valuable item. I would not show my daughters U.S. birth certificate, or, her U.S. Passport, to anyone, except the personnel in the U.S. Embassy or U.S. officials at Ports of Entry in the USA.

 

Birth certificates do not have a photo on them, and even if they did, the appearance of a child, changes greatly over the years. For this reason, when we went to apply for a new U.S. Passport for our DD, about 6 weeks ago, we brought a series of photos, showing her “progression†over the years. The Consul studied those photos, for 2 or 3 minutes as I recall. Looking at the photos and then at our DD and comparing them.

 

In this case, the Dentist would need to prove to me that he/she had the authority to request a copy of the Birth Certificate of the child involved. Documents like that should be held in secure places. Preferably, only the parents should have those documents and if in the USA, they should be kept in a safety deposit box in a bank.

 

I can see that a public school, when enrolling a child in kindergarten, might have a need to see the birth certificate and possibly request a photocopy or a certified copy, for their files, but that is considerably different than a dental office.

 

Here in Colombia (and probably in most of the world) people carry a national identity card. The number on that card is used, everywhere. It is on my bank accounts, for the house, I’m sure the utility companies know what it is, etc. If someone wants a copy of my “Cedula†(national identity card) and I think they have a need for it, I will gladly provide it. Every time I enter a raffle in the supermarket, I put that number on my entry.

 

Children here, I believe at the age of 7, need an identity card. So, if the photo of my DD was taken when she was 7, and she is now 12 ½, there is a normal change, because of her progression and old photos of children are not of much help and someone looking at her identity document today would see a photo of a 7 year old girl. At the age of 18 here, people need to apply for their “Cedula†(national identity card).

 

It is very common for children not to be cared for by their natural parents. Many children are adopted. Many children are in foster homes. Many children are cared for by their grandparents. The personnel in the office of that dentist should be more tactful about how they phrase things, so adoptive parents or foster parents or others with legal custody are not offended.

[Tap]

This is an old thread but I will still offer a bit of input.

 

The doctors office can ask for proof of birth, guardianship, or adoption. They may not do it in any/every case, but they do have a right to ask. If a person has identified themselves as someone other than the bio-parent, they are going to face more sscrutiny One reason they do this is to make sure that the person requesting services, has the legal right to do so. DD6's bio parents put her in my care voluntarily. They are still legally her 'parents' on her birth certificate, but will never have in her their custody again (our guardianship is permanent). In my court paperwork, it is sspecificallylaid out that my husband and myself can make any and all medical decisions for her. Her parents only have a right to a visitation and pictures,and that is all. I vvoluntarilygave the doctors office a copy of the guardianship letter ( but not the full packet of court documents) so the office has a legal record of this...but also what her bio-parents are NOT allowed to request. I do not want them going to the office with her birth certificate, identifying hthemselvesas the birth parents and asking for information. (My niece is a trouble maker and lies to stir up trouble for other people so this is a real possibility)

 

I know my situation is not a common one, but it is not uncommon either.. Offices who have experiences with trouble makers, are going to be more particular with these requests. Not all people who claim to have legally adopted a child have done so. A lack of amended birth certificate (or court papers) would show that.