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To the editor:

We, the board of directors and executive director of the Northwest Colorado Dental Coalition, would like to respond to and clarify several points made in the recent letter regarding prices charged at the Northwest Colorado Dental Coalition. We find it extremely concerning that a letter can be published without the information in that letter being checked for validity and truthfulness.

NWCDC does not receive any federal funding. NWCDC does receive funding from private sources including foundations, United Way and individual donors, which assist us in providing affordable care to the residents of our community. In addition to grants and donations, NWCDC must rely upon patient fees to help pay for the cost of services. The board of directors believes there is value and responsibility in having patients contribute financially to their dental or medical health.

The Usual and Customary Fees charged by NWCDC are obtained from dental practice providers within the valley. The sliding fee is then discounted from UCF, which can be discounted 20 to 70 percent. NWCDC is able to place a family on the sliding fee schedule, which is based on Federal Poverty Levels that are released every January.

The documentation required at NWCDC is similar, if not the same, as that used by other community-based clinics. Because we accept a small number of privacy pay clients, it is unreasonable to assume we would be the "cheapest" dental clinic in the valley, as it is not our intent to compete with local private.

We believe it is important to note that what patients pay is in accordance with their family income. The sliding fee discount policy is applied equally to all patients and is based upon ability to pay and family need.

NWCDC provides services to families who otherwise would go without dental care and has done so with honesty and integrity since the clinic opened in 2005.

Northwest Colorado Dental Coalition board of directors