December 2013
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DECEMBER 2013 Health Care Reform Future of Dental Care Financing Journal Evolution of Dental Group Practices Understanding the Dental Benefits Marketplace WALTER G. WEBER, DDS You are not a policy number. And at The Dentists Insurance Company, we won’t treat you like one because we are not like other insurance companies. We were started by, and only protect, dentists. A singular focus that leads to an unparalleled knowledge of your profession and how to best protect you. It also means that TDIC is in your corner, because with us, you’re never a policy number. You are a dentist. Protecting dentists. It’s all we do.® 800.733.0633 | tdicsolutions.com | CA Insurance Lic. #0652783 December 2013 cda journal, vol 41, nº 12 departments 865 The Editor/Stages and Stageism 868 Lett er to the Editor 871 Impressions 905 Tech Trends 907 Practice Support/Doing Business in the Current Dental Benefi ts Marketplace 909 Continuing Education Listing 923 Article Index 931 Classifi eds 944 Advertiser Index 946 Dr. Bob/Geezer 871 features 880 UNDERSTANDING THE DENTAL BENEFITS MARKETPLACE An introduction to the issue. Walter G. Weber, DDS 883 HEALTH CARE REFORM AND DENTISTRY The trends that the ACA seeks to push are changes that are occurring in health care regardless of the ACA — they would continue even if the ACA were repealed tomorrow. This article discusses the author’s top 10 trends. Michael S. Sparer, PhD, JD 887 POTENTIAL FUTURE ELEMENTS OF DENTAL CARE FINANCING — A THIRD-PARTY PAYER’S PERSPECTIVE Innovation must take place to find a way to best meet the needs, values and goals of all of the stakeholders involved in dental benefits. This article centers on some of that innovation and change, from a third-party payer’s perspective. Paul A. Manos, DDS, and James B. Bramson, DDS 895 HOW EMPLOYERS SELECT DENTAL PLANS IN THE NEW ERA OF HEALTH LAW REFORM This paper describes the landscape of players in the selection of dental insurance plans and what dentists need to be aware of in this new environment. Vincent Catalano, MBA 899 THE EVOLUTION OF DENTAL GROUP PRACTICE This article discusses the evolution of dental group practices and the potential advantages and disadvantages dentists have by joining them. The article concludes with a prediction about the future heterogeneity of the dental care system. Albert Henry Guay, DMD december 2013 863 cda journal, vol 41, nº 12 CDA Journal Volume 41, Number 12 cda.org/journal Journal december 2013 Submitting Stay Connected a manuscript Visit cda.org Journal of the California Reader Guide: to the Journal? Dental Association Advertising Corey Gerhard Upcoming Topics Manuscript Submissions There’s a site published by the advertising manager january: Dental/Medical www.editorialmanager.com/ California Dental Collaboration jcaldentassoc for that. Association Jenaé Gruchow february: Controversies 1201 K St., 14th Floor project/traffic in Dentistry Subscriptions administrator Sacramento, CA 95814 march: General Topics Subscriptions are available only to active members of 800.232.7645 Erin Jernigan Classifi ed Advertising the Association. The cda.org assistant coordinator cda.org/classifi eds subscription rate is $18 and is included in membership Management/Editorial Production Display Advertising dues. Nonmembers can Kerry K. Carney, DDS, CDE Val B. Mina Corey Gerhard view the publication online editor-in-chief senior graphic advertising manager at cda.org/journal. [email protected] designer [email protected] 916.554.5304 Change of Address Ruchi K. Sahota, DDS, CDE Randi Taylor Manage your subscription associate editor senior graphic Lett ers to the Editor online: go to cda.org, log in designer www.editorialmanager.com/ and update any changes to Brian K. Shue, DDS, CDE jcaldentassoc your mailing information. associate editor California Dental Email questions or other Association Permission and Reprints changes to membership@ In fact, from letters to the Peter A. DuBois James D. Stephens, DDS Andrea LaMatt ina cda.org. executive director editor to reviews, the new president publications specialist [email protected] Andrea.LaMatt [email protected] Jennifer George 916.554.5950 site is now the only way chief marketing officer Walter G. Weber, DDS president-elect to submit anything to the Cathy Mudge [email protected] Journal of the California vice president, community affairs Kenneth G. Wallis, DDS Journal of the California Dental Association (issn Dental Association vice president 1043-2256) is published monthly by the California Dental . Alicia Malaby [email protected] Association, 1201 K St., 14th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814, communications 916.554.5950. Periodicals postage paid at Sacramento, Upload your content, director Clelan G. Ehrler, DDS Calif. Postmaster: Send address changes to Journal secretary receive automatic status Andrea LaMatt ina of the California Dental Association, P.O. Box 13749, [email protected] Sacramento, CA 95853. updates, even track publications specialist Kevin M. Keating, DDS, MS The Journal of the California Dental Association is Robert E. Horseman, DDS treasurer published under the supervision of CDA’s editorial staff . progress anytime day or contributing editor [email protected] Neither the editorial staff , the editor, nor the association are responsible for any expression of opinion or statement of night. See for yourself at Walter G. Weber, DDS Alan L. Felsenfeld, DDS fact, all of which are published solely on the authority of the guest editor editorialmanager.com/jcaldentassoc speaker of the house author whose name is indicated. The association reserves [email protected] Blake Ellington the right to illustrate, reduce, revise or reject any manuscript tech trends editor submitt ed. Articles are considered for publication on Lindsey A. Robinson, DDS condition that they are contributed solely to the Journal. immediate past Courtney Grant president Copyright 2013 by the California Dental Association. communications [email protected] specialist Jack F. Conley, DDS editor emeritus 864 december 2013 Editor cda journal, vol 41, nº 12 Stages and Stageism kerry k. carney, dds, cde fter an association member survey a number of years The classic career path that was the ago, it became clear that A members’ needs tended basis of the Stages model grows less to sort out easily into four stages according to where they relevant with each passing year. were in their career development. It was an easy concept to grasp. It provided a convenient framework upon which to design member plan for the transition into retirement. Th e Aff ordable Care Act innovations services. These services could be (Some of us discovered Stage V after the and requirements may prove a fertile tailored to coordinate with particular economic recession hit and retirement environment for the further growth of developmental periods in a classic seemed to recede out of sight. But that is large group practices and professional career in dentistry. This demographic a diff erent subject.) service networks. How do we wrap our approach has been helpful. It has Th e demographic model has served us minds around all these changes and fi gure given us a reference point, a landscape well. It has been a useful, easily grasped out how best to serve our members’ needs? upon which to base decisions. concept and tool. But I am tired of stages Th is is why I am tired of stages. Why Th e four career divisions were and the stageism that seems to have should one’s needs be confi ned to boxes identifi ed as Stage I: Beginning Your crept into the concept. Technology and labeled Stage I through IV? I am tired Career (those dentists practicing for zero changes in the business climate make of a stageism that prejudges needs or to fi ve years); Stage II: Starting a Practice these demographic categories seem behavior based on a career lifecycle. Th ere (those practicing six to 10 years); Stage III: increasingly less defi ned or separate. Th e are better measures for one’s needs than Enriching Your Career (those practicing classic career path that was the basis of the number of years one has been out of 11 to 25 years) and Stage IV: Preparing the Stages model grows less relevant with dental school. for Retirement (those practicing 20-plus each passing year. It is time to break out of constricting, years). Th ese stages have allowed us to New dentists have an array of demographic boxes. Th e new Membership focus on the needs of groups of dentists. possibilities before them and a load of Development Plan is based on the Th e CDA Practice Support Center debt to work through. Steady income following goals. has numerous resources available to from employment with large group ■ It is time to respond to internal help Stage I dentists make informed practices seems to be tipping the scales and external pressures and trends. decisions about how to begin their careers for some recent graduates. How relevant ■ Eff orts need to be aligned with in dentistry by joining an established is Stage I to them? other organizational business plans. practice as an associate. Increasingly burdensome government ■ Membership will need to target Dentists in Stage II and Stage III are regulation and the constant downward eff orts toward the most signifi cant establishing and growing their practices. pressure on reimbursement by third- growth opportunities. Th ey can make use of resources aimed party payers have made alternative ■ And fi nally, we must continue to at helping minimize the friction of forms of the dental enterprise more build meaningful relationships with our government regulation and improve the compelling. Dental service organizations members. marketing and managing of growing or (DSOs) are growing around the nation. Th is is not your grandfather’s world established practices. Why spend one’s time researching and or your grandfather’s dental association.