Committee on Dental Benefits s1

Committee on Dental Benefits November, 9, 2011 Conference call

Present Absent Dr. Tad Glossner (5) Chair Dr. Gino Pagano (10) Dr. John L. Alonge (9) Staff Dr. David Fox (2) Marisa Swarney, Dr. Donald Wells (7) director government relations Dr. D. Scott Aldinger (3) Trustee Liaison Ivan Orlovic, Dr. Lauri Passeri (2) ADA Consultant government relations coordinator Dr. Jon Johnston (8) ADA Consultant

Call to Order Dr. Glossner called the meeting to order at 7:20 p.m.

Welcome New Members Dr. Glossner introduced and welcomed new members to the committee. He congratulated Dr. Fox on his new appointment representing the state of Pennsylvania in the Academy of Periodontology.

Dr. Glossner stated the minutes from the previous meeting on March 17, 2011, have been approved electronically.

CE Coding Course Update Staff reported that the insurance coding course will be held in Harrisburg, PA at the Holiday Inn West on May 11, 2011, in conjunction with a course on radiology. The morning course is titled “Radiology Facts- What You May Have Forgotten Over Time”. That course will be taught by Kathleen M. Schlotthauer and will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The afternoon course is titled “Optimize Your Practice: Understanding the Code” and will be taught by Dr. Andrew Vorrasi. That course will be taught from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Marketing will entail mailing out brochures to members and non-members in districts four, five and six. The course will be advertised in all issues of the Pennsylvania Dental Journal and Transitions leading up to the event. PDA will also market these courses on website postings and in eNEWs blasts to members.

Insurance Liaison Program Staff explained the Insurance Liaison Program, in which committee members volunteer to serve as liaisons to an insurance company to help resolve any complaints members have about the company. The committee agreed to the following list of liaisons for the major dental insurers operating in Pennsylvania: Dr. Glossner: United Concordia Dr. Wells: Cigna Dr. Pagano: Delta Dental Dr. Alonge: Aetna and UPMC Advantage Dr. Aldinger: Medical Assistance Dr. Fox: all smaller Insurance companies. Legislative Update (NCS and Others). Staff provided an update on the non-covered services legislation. The bill has been introduced in both bodies of the legislature but PDA expects it to gain the most traction in the Senate. PDA hoped that the bill would move sooner but the primary sponsor, Sen. Kim Ward, must request of Senate leaders that they support the bill. Staff also explained the new amendments that were being offered by Delta Dental and the Insurance Federation, which would change the definition of covered dental services and allow insurers several more exemptions in order to cap more services. PDA is opposed to all of these amendments and will continue lobbying the legislature throughout this legislative session.

Monthly Article Topics and Submissions. Staff briefed the committee on topics for future articles by Dr. Fox and Dr. Alonge and asked the committee to brainstorm additional topics for posting on PDA’s website and publications. Staff stated that those new members, who join the committee in April, 2012 will be assigned dates and article topics and submission deadlines.

CHIP update: UCCI administration. Dr. Glossner briefed the committee on changes to de-participating with the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). He stated if dentists participate with a carrier such as United Concordia and it runs the CHIP program in their area, they cannot de-participate from CHIP and remain with United Concordia. This also applies to other insurers throughout the state.

Elections for Next Year’s DBC Dr. Glossner explained that during the next conference call the committee would have an election to vote on chair and vice-chair. Dr. Glossner stated he would prefer to step down as chair but will remain on the committee for his fifth year of his five year term if someone else was able to assume the chairmanship. If no one can assume the role, he will maintain the chairmanship position for the fifth year.

The committee will meet again via conference call on January 11, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

Adjournment The conference call adjourned at 8:22 p.m.