R·A·S·K·A ASSOCIATION 3120 "0" Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68510
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R·A·S·K·A ASSOCIATION 3120 "0" Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68510 VOLUME 94, Issue 4 AprWMay 1994 Contract Analysis Voice Mall at NDA The ADA's Contract Analysis Service has reviewed a few Your ever efficient and dedicated NDA staff tries more agreements that dentists in Nebraska have received to answer every phone call. Occasionally the calls out over the past several months. They have reviewed DNoA number the staff and after 3 rings the caller gets Select, Guardian, Insurance Dentists of America, Country connected to our Voice Mail. Please leave a message wide Dental Program & Direct Dental Services, Inc. Several and we'll call you back ASAP. The mention of treats months ago, we had the ADA review the PPO Agreement for the NDA staff usually puts your call at the top of from BC/BS of Nebraska and the referral service agreement the list. Threats to our job security also get our from Precision Dental Associates (PDA). attention but the caller should know there are still a If NDA members are interested in receiving a copy of any few committee assignments left to be filled. of these analysis, we need your request in writing. Just send us a note asking for one or all of the documents - NDA, 3120 "0" Street, Lincoln, NE 68510.......... 1500 Posters From Regarding the above information, we would like to thank those members who have sent us samples of insurance and 100 Schools referral contracts and assorted agreements. Here's a note that accompanied one such packet: The 5th annual Dental Health Poster Contest for 5th Dear Tom, graders throughout Nebraska was another big success. Themes Just thought I'd send you some different plans asking me for this year's contest were, "A healthy smile is a treasure" to work for free or less money, so they can make money on and "Mouthguards save smiles." my education, time, and money spent to become a dentist. Here's a list of the top 3 place winners. I was gone from the office for 2 days and when I returned 1st - Bernida Byrd - Egging, Kimball, West Elementary I was surprised to find 4 of these. Please mention these new 2nd - Mike Nielson, Elmwood-Murdock plans in the next newsletter because I'm sure other dentists 3rd - Brycen McMullen, Anselmo - Merna have been solicited but count me out. Thanks to all the NDA members and their staff who helped judge posters at the district level. At the state level, we had help in the judging process from representatives of Advance Notice * Dues Pre-Payment the Assistants' and Hygienists' Associations, State Health For those who prefer the installment plan, the NDA/ADA Department and the Alliance to the NDA. has a deal for you. Sign-up for the Dues Pre-Payment Plan and from July through November make 5 "easy installments" and viola (or is it violin?) you're paid up for 1995. In a few weeks you'll be receiving your notice to enroll in this program. Last year 200 NDA members took advantage of this method of dues payment. You write 5 checks and the NDA does the bookwork. Hey - it's a heckuva deal! ODDS/NDA Membership .. Time to recnlit NDA Director OSHA Inspections Via the phone! Tom Bassett Dental Provider Contracts How to evaluate one congratulates Mike Nielson of NDA Annual Session A photo collage Elmwood Murdock school PLUS a list of members who and his teacher, didn 'tforget to join Mrs. Renee ADPAc/NEDPAC Kovar. A NEWSLETTER SERVING THE DENTISTS ()F NEBRASKA 2 NEBRASKA DENTAL ASSOCIATION A Message From the President Ed Vigna, DD.5. President Nebraska Dental Association I would like to take this opportunity, the first of my President's messages, to share with you some of the thoughts I gave to the House of Delegates at the Annual Session in Omaha. Times are rapidly changing in dentistry. With the advent of PPO, EPA, OSHA, and a host of other acronyms, and health system reform, the playing field is different. For a time, it seemed as though things flowed along, and our decisions and choices were of a personal nature as they affected our individual practices. Today, however, circumstances are vastly different. Not only are we faced with the same practice choices, but with far greater situations that may threaten our profession as a whole and certainly the way each and every one of us delivers care to our patients. No matter how resistant we are, and we all are, change in some fashion is upon us. As my personal situation has changed recently, I can assure you, we all have a comfort zone which we are reluctant to move away from. We all know what works and what doesn't; what our capabilities and limitations are and what Dr. Etl Vigna outcomes to predict. As we all think of our professional lives, many changes have occurred. Most have been technological improvements that we have all readily accepted without third pal1y or government intervention. But now, government and husinesses are proposing possible changes that are so radical to our way of thinking that we must guard against feeling panicked and ovelwhelmed. Change is inevitable. To succeed, we must lean to not just resist change, but more importantly, to direct and manage change. If we are to control our destiny, we must work to prepare ourselves to meet the challenges in today's marketplace. We dare not do any less, for if we don't someone will do it for us, or to us. Unfortunately, business as usual is over. As we continue to watch the gradual erosion of many of the principles and freedoms of our profession, and the increase in cOnLrol and regulation, the time may come when we must stand up and be firm in our beliefs and resolve. A strong and unified voice is critical to our future. We have been fortunate thus far but this next year may bring several issues on a state level that will require us to stand together as a profession. Where do we draw the line? We must all work to recruit our non-member colleagues. W'e must work to keep our dental team unified. We can not fractionalize our profession with interprofession squabbling. We all have a charge to make a difference. There are 3 kinds of dentists. Those that make things happen (active members of organized dentistry), those that watch things happen (inactive members of organized dentistly), and those that wonder what happened (both members and non-members). The choice is ours. Thank you for entrusting me with the leadership of the NDA. 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The Medical Protective Company has specialized in defending doctors since 1899. Our legal and claims management experience is unmatched by any other insurer in the U.S. FOR MORE INFORMATION on how we can protect your professional reputation and your personal assets, call your local Medical Protective General Agent at 1-800-344-1899. Professiona.l :Protection GxclusiveZy since /899 A+ (Superior) A. M. Best AA (Excellent) Standard and Poor's How To Evaluate ADental Provider Contract ------ Micbele H. Tbome, ID., DireCior 3. Make sure that you have the entire agreement. Before ADA ()/ztraet AnaZJlsis Sel7Jice signing, obtain and review all attachments, schedules, exhibits and Diuisi()/1 q/L 'gal iV/airs mahuals referenced in the contract. Generally, items referenced in Aillerican Dental Association the contract are binding on the parties and are considered to be part Docs it seem like you receive a new dental provider contract of the agreement. Also. if you and the DBa have clarified certain almost every day' Is your "iN" box filled with contracts that you are important points over the telephone or in a separate writing, make considering signing' In order to help you better evaluate those sure that your attorney actually includes those points in the final contracts, the ADA's Contract Analysis Service offers you the follow agreement that you sign. Oral or written understandings outside the ing six "tips": actual agreement that you have with the DBa might not be enforce Please note: This information is not intended as legal advice, able. nor can it serve as a substitute for consultation with one's own 4. Understand what happens if things go wrong. Is there a attorney. requirement that you idemnify and hold harmless the DBa in certain 1. Read the contract. If, after reading the contract, you are situations? Do you agree to be "solely responsible" for all dental seriously considering signing, contact your state dental society to advice and treatment? Do you release the DBa from liability for obtain a copy of "What Every Dentist Should Kno'vv Before Signing certain acts or omissions' If the DBa becomes insolvent, are you a Dentall'rovider Contract" ;lIld to inquire as to whether the society prevented from collecting from patients the amounts you are still has in its files a contract analysis prepared by the ADA's Contract owed? Analysis Service.