MDA News – June-July 2010
MDA Dentists Named New Board Members for Blue Cross Blue Shield Caring Foundation of Montana
Participants in the Healthy Montana Kids (CHIP) program in need of dental care can count on help from two MDA members who are newly appointed members of the Board of Directors of The Caring Foundation. MDA President Dr. Andrew Hyams and Helena dentist Dr. Gary Mihelish were recently appointed to the Foundation Board. Administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana (BCBSMT), The Caring Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) organization that supports the state-operated Healthy Montana Kids (HMK) dental program.
This announcement of new Caring Foundation Board Members came just prior to The Caring Foundation's major annual fundraising event, the Governor's Cup of Montana held in Helena on June 12. Several thousand participants and donors in support of the Caring Foundation's mission to help Montana children get access to quality dental care took part in the event. Registration fees and donations were being matched $4 to $1 as a result of a matching grant partnership with the Centers for Medicaid Services (CMS), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Earlier this year, a $150,000 donation from The Caring Foundation, matched by the $4 to $1 grant, allowed HMK to expand its dental benefit from $350 to $1,000 per year, a move that is helping thousands of Montana children and teenagers get access to the dental care they need.
"We are honored to have Dr. Hyams and Dr. Mihelish join us in support of the very important new mission of the Caring Foundation – expanding access to quality dental care for Montana's children and teenagers," said Sherry Cladouhos, CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, which created the Caring Foundation and has administrated it for more than 35 years. "They are dedicated to making Montana a better place now and for our future generations. Their experience and wise counsel, along with the generosity of Montanans, will ensure our ability to fulfill our mission to give children and teenagers the dental care they need."
The Caring Foundation of Montana is exclusively dedicated to providing Montana children with access to health care benefits. Founded by BCBSMT in 1992, the Foundation has provided a gateway to essential health care services for thousands of uninsured Montana children. The Governor's Cup in Helena, the Governor's Cup Marathon in Billings, the Caring Classic Golf Tournament in Helena, and other fundraising events and initiatives provide the basis for the Caring Foundation of Montana's resources.
Dr. Ingrid MeLellan Chosen New Dentist Representative
Helena dentist Dr. Ingrid McLellan was recently selected by the MDA Board of Directors to serve on the Board for a one-year term as the representative on MDA's new dentists. She received her DMD from Oregon Health Sciences University in 2008 and practices with Dr. Roger Kiesling and Dr. David Kiesling. Dr. McLellan earned her BS degree from Montana State University in 2003. She is a member of the Capital City Study Club and has served the Fifth District as the New Dentist chair for two years. She also is a member of AGD and an alumnus of the Pankey Institute.
In applying to represent MDA's newest members Dr. McLellan commented, "The dental profession is undergoing a shift in how we practice dentistry. It's being shaped by the political and economic forces of our communities, state, and nation. As a new dentist with hopefully many years to practice, I want to be able to guide and define the direction our profession is going to take. Being involved with the MDA is an avenue that can help achieve this."
MDA Works to Promote Head Start Dental Home Initiative
by Dr. Kevin Rencher, Helena pediatric dentist
The Montana Dental Association and the Montana Chapter of the America Academy of Pediatric Dentistry are joining forces to ensure that every child enrolled in Head Start has a dental home. To "kick-off" the partnership, there will be a joint meeting between dentists and statewide Head Start leaders in Helena on September 10th. This meeting is open to all members of the Montana Dental Association. Continuing education credit will be available for this course.
Oral Health is integral to the healthy physical, social-emotional, and intellectual development of every child. Unfortunately, many children in America suffer from poor oral health and a lack of access to oral health care. The 2000 Surgeon General's Report, "Oral Health in America," noted that not only is dental caries the most common chronic disease of childhood, but that low-income children suffer from twice as much tooth decay as more affluent children. Current statistics indicate that 28% of all preschoolers between the ages of 2 and 5 suffer from tooth decay, but in Head Start programs, decay rates often range from 30%-40% in 3-year-olds and 50%-60% in 4-year-olds. Head Start leadership, staff, and parents have identified poor oral health as the single most important health issue facing Head Start programs nationwide. The emphasis placed on oral health reflects an understanding that oral health education, prevention, and early diagnosis and treatment are key to healthy development for Head Start children.
The federal Office of Head Start (OHS) has awarded a five-year contract to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) to help create dental homes for Head Start children throughout the U.S. A dental home is a source of comprehensive, continuously accessible, coordinated and family-centered oral health care provided by dentists.
Although the initiative will not directly fund dental services, AAPD's efforts will help Head Start (HS) children access oral health care through the development of a national network of pediatric and general dentists who will provide quality dental homes for HS children.
Head Start is unique in that it provides comprehensive services to enrolled children and families enrolled in HS. These services, which focus on parents, include case management, support services, parent education, and opportunities for parent involvement. Head Start Performance Standards require that HS children receive an initial dental exam and have a dental home. Comprehensive services reinforce performance standards and can assist parents in overcoming some of the barriers to good oral health.
Dr. Kevin Rencher, President of the Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, states: "This program will allow dentists in Montana to provide a much needed service to a very high risk population. On September 10th, we are going to get everyone together and discuss how we can make certain that every child enrolled in Head Start has a dental home."
Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists Plans to Prohibit Tooth Whitening by Non-Dentists
The Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists, which regulates the practice of cosmetology, esthetics, and manicuring, has proposed a rule to prohibit their licensees from offering or performing tooth whitening services in salons. They join a number of other state regulators who have moved to ban this practice after the recent appearance of tooth-bleaching businesses in non-dental settings. The public will now be notified of the Board’s intent to adopt this rule and will be offered an opportunity to comment.
The Montana Dental Association supports the Board’s decision to adopt this rule. Current tooth bleaching materials are based primarily on either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Both may change the inherent color of teeth, but have different considerations for safety. Bleaching may result in an adverse effect on hard tissue, soft tissue, and dental restorative materials. The American Dental Association advises patients to consult with their dentists prior to whitening treatment. A dental exam will elicit a health and dental history, examination for oral cancer, abscesses, periodontal disease, and other pathology that may be affected by bleaching. A dental exam would also elicit information about tooth sensitivity and dental restorations.
Non-dental personnel lack the knowledge, resources (such as radiographs), education, and license necessary to provide dental exams. Their facilities generally lack effective infection control capabilities and protocols that exist in the dental office and personnel are not trained in standard infection control precautions and may not be prepared to provide emergency care for allergic reactions. If a patient chooses to pursue tooth bleaching, the dental team can consider and recommend appropriate materials, techniques, and delivery systems to best suit the patient’s particular oral health needs.
MDA Urges Members to Join Treasure State Dental Plan
MDA's Board of Directors has endorsed a Direct Reimbursement plan called "Treasure State Dental" which includes direct assignment as a way to promote the program to dental patients. MDA leadership is committed to expanding the DR model of payment for dental services across Montana. The Treasure State Dental plan was designed by MDA's insurance consultants at Mountain West Benefit Solutions, who market the Direct Reimbursement program.
What is the Treasure State Dental Plan?
- A dental benefit plan in which patients are reimbursed a percentage of their expenses based on the dollars spent rather than a class of procedure codes.
- The employer determines the percentage of reimbursement and maximum benefit per year.
- All procedures, except cosmetic, are eligible expenses.
- There is no insurance company involved. Insurance is unnecessary due to the predictability of claims, low utilization and plan maximums. What are the advantages for the employer?
- Employers can design a plan that fits their budget and the needs of their employees.
- None of the dollars spent by the employer are going to an insurance company for risk, retention, premium tax, and profit. This means more dollars are available to pay employee dental benefits.
- The employer is able to control costs through plan design and adjusting the annual maximum.
- The simplicity of Treasure State Dental makes the program ideal for employer self‑administration or a third party administrator. Using either approach results in rapid claim payment and happy employees.
- Employees have the freedom to choose any licensed dentist. There is no provider network and no need to switch dentists when the plan changes from one insurance company to another.
- Employees generally do not have restrictions on the types of procedures covered or frequencies of needed treatment.
- Pre‑authorization is not required so treatment is not delayed.
- Employees have the freedom to plan the appropriate treatment for their dental needs with no outside interference.
- Employees may spend the dollars in their benefit plan as they choose.
To learn more, contact MDA at 1‑800‑257‑4988
or
Treasure State Dental
1 N. Last Chance Gulch, Suite 3
Helena, MT 59601
Fax (406) 442‑1913
sharne@mwbs‑insurance.com
MDA Offers Mentorship Program
Under MDA's mentorship program, MDA dentists who have been in practice for a few years will be asked to offer advice and guidance to the association's newest members. The new dentist members of MDA have expressed a strong desire to learn more about the business side of running a dental practice. Through mentoring, experienced members will draw upon their personal and professional lives, to answer the multitude of questions new dentists face at the prospect of practice management.
If you have been in dental practice several years and are willing to act as a wise and trusted counselor to a young dentist, please contact the MDA at 1‑800‑257‑4988 or mda@mt.net to ask about becoming a mentor. You will be asked to complete a brief form that will be used to make the best match between you and a new dentist. MDA also will offer you tools and information to get you started as a mentor and will act as a valuable resource as you develop this important relationship.
Handling Dental Amalgam Waste
Dental amalgam can be recycled to help prevent the release of mercury to the environment. The ADA has developed Best Management Practices for Amalgam Waste. To obtain a copy of the BMPs, link to www.ada.org/prof/resources/topics/topics_amalgamwaste.pdf.
Members of MDA are encouraged to follow the steps suggested by ADA for recycling amalgam waste. The ADA has prepared a directory of amalgam recyclers that is available on the ADA website at www.ada.org/prof/resources/topics/topics_amalrecyclers.pdf. Also, to further assist its members, MDA offers the following information about several companies that manage amalgam waste. This information is offered for informational purposes and should not be used as a substitute for a dentist's own evaluation of a prospective amalgam recycler.
1. Safety‑Kleen Systems (serves western Montana)
9516 E. Montgomery, #19
Spokane, WA 99206
Telephone: 509‑928‑8353
www.safety‑kleen.com
Safety‑Kleen Systems (serves eastern Montana)
3704 Saratoga Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58503
Telephone: 701‑222‑8262
www.safety‑kleen.com
Safety‑Kleen offers a pick‑up service for dental amalgam waste, contact and non‑ contact. Waste amalgam, along with waste from chairside traps and vacuum filters, is collected and placed in DOT‑EPA‑approved storage containers and necessary labeling is provided. When the container is full a service representative will remove and replace the container. This pickup service is offered in most Montana cities and towns. Safety‑Kleen also offers a pick‑up service for photo fixer/developer and waste lead and lead foil. They offer a mail‑back service for biohazard sharps. A company representative will come to your office to explain their recycling program.
2. Maguire & Stickland
1290 81st Avenue NE
Minneapolis, MN 55432
Telephone: 800‑486‑2858
http://www.maguireref.com/
Strickland supplies a prepaid amalgam waste package. They accept contact and non‑contact dental amalgam, soft and hard plastic amalgam traps, and teeth with amalgam. When the container is filled, you call UPS for pick‑up. Strickland prepays for shipping charges. Amalgam need not be sterilized.
3. Mercury Waste Solutions, Inc.
21211 Durand Avenue
Union Grove, WI 53182
Telephone: 800‑741‑3343
Mercury Waste Solutions, Inc. accepts contact and non‑contact amalgam. Contact amalgam must be disinfected.
4. Amalgaway
3672 East Raymond Street
Indianapolis, IN 46203
Telephone: 800‑267‑1467
They accept contact and non‑contact amalgam. It need not be sterilized.
5. Sure‑Way picks up amalgam in small amounts
In an effort to meet the needs of their customers, Sure‑Way has worked with the State of Montana to develop program to pick‑up amalgam waste in quantities as small as 1 cup. This new service will be coordinated with the company's medical waste services. The waste will be separately manifested to demonstrate that the dental office is properly disposing of mercury amalgam waste. There will be no additional pick‑up charge so long as medical waste is picked up at the same time. For information about the service, contact the company at email address: garywayyn@aol.com.
6. Garfield Refining Company
810 E. Cayuga Street
Philadelphia, PA 19124 USA
Phone: 800‑523‑0968
Fax: 215‑533‑5902
Montana Dental Association
17 ½ S. Last Chance Gulch
P.O. Box 1154
Helena, Montana 59624
E-Mail: mda@mt.net
800-257-4988 (In Montana only)
406-443-2061 (in the Helena area)
Fax: 406-443-1546