July 2013 TDA Today

Page 1

JULY 2013

CONTENTS • Medicaid Managed Care Update • TDA Perks

- Perks Inaugurates Educational, Networking Program for Staff

• TDA Smiles Foundation - Texarkana TMOM - Abilene TMOM - Join The 100 Club TODAY! • TDA Member Spotlight

- Dr Joseph Torres, El Paso

• EDitorial • President’s Statement • TSBDE Rule Update

July Texas Dental Journal Dental Implants

Around the State August 2-3 Dentists Who Care Conference South Padre Island August 9-10 TDA Smiles Foundation Texas Mission of Mercy Texarkana August 16-17 TDA Board of Directors meeting Austin Using your smart phone, scan this QR code to access the TDA Today on TDA.org.

VOLUME 14, ISSUE 7

AVAILABLE ON TDA.ORG

83rd Texas Legislature: Spotlight on House Bill 3201 As reported in the June 2013 issue of TDA Today, the recently concluded 83rd regular session of the Texas Legislature resulted in passage of legislation that will impact every dental practice in the state. The legislation highlighted in last month’s TDA Today awaited action from Governor Rick Perry. The TDA is pleased to report all bills listed were signed by the Governor and all will become law (ie, House Bill (HB) 500, HB 3201, HB 2483, Senate Bill (SB) 1803, HB 1491). As mandated by the House of Delegates, the TDA actively pursued a robust legislative agenda on behalf of Texas dentists and patients. A priority item for organized dentistry was an effort to enhance patient protection and safety at entities not wholly-owned by dentists who provide patient care. Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) in Texas continue to increase in number, size, and volume of patients treated as do accounts of profit-over-patient business practices that can lead to patient abuse and mistreatment. The TDA worked closely with the legislature during the 83rd session to advocate in favor of creating reasonable safeguards for patients who seek care at DSOs and dentists who work with/for DSOs. Working with key members of the Texas Senate and Texas House, SB 151 and HB 1480, which were identical bills, were filed. The legislation required DSOs to register with the state, pay a fee, and submit information regarding ownership, locations, and dentists who work with/for them. It also included punitive actions for violations and other items aimed to protect patients. The effort was met with sharp opposition on behalf of most DSOs that operate in the state. The resistance began the moment the bills were filed and continued, unabated, until the final days of the regular session. In the end, organized dentistry prevailed with passage of HB 3201 by Rep Lois Kolkhorst (R – Brenham) and Sen Jane Nelson (R – Flower Mound). HB 3201 was amended during the legislative process to include many of the concepts introduced in SB 151/HB 1480. Rep Kolkhorst and Sen Nelson chair House/Senate committees that oversee dentistry, and both were instrumental throughout the session in working with the TDA to enhance patient protection and safety. The following provides a summary of HB 3201, which is now law. The legislation: • Defines in law a DSO; • Defines in law a service agreement made between a DSO and a dentist; • Allows a parent/guardian of a child to be present in the treatment room while the child receives treatment but only if the dentist permits it; • Requires dentists (licensees) to submit the following information to the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) upon issuance and annual renewal of their license effective January 1, 2014: - The number and type of dentists employed by the license holder, if any; - The name under which the license holder provides dental services and each location where those services are provided; - Whether the license holder participates in the Medicaid program; - Whether the license holder is employed by or contracts with a DSO and, if so, the name and address of the DSO; - Whether the license holder owns all or part of a DSO and, if so, the name and address of the DSO and the location of each office; - Whether the license holder is party to a dental service agreement and, if so, the name and address of the DSO that provides services under the agreement; - If the license holder owns all or part if a DSO, whether that practice is a party to a dental service agreement and, if so, the name and address of the DSO that provides services under the agreement. - In addition, the TSBDE may request that a DSO provide to the TSBDE the address of the locations where the organization provides dental services and the name of each dentist providing dental services at each location. • Establishes an expert panel at the TSBDE to assist the board with complaints and investigations relating to professional competency of dentists and hygienists; - The expert panel must complete a preliminary investigation of a complaint not later than the 60th day after the complaint is received; • Increases the annual dental license fee by $55 to cover costs associated with the creation of the expert panel; • Prevents TSBDE board members while serving on the board from testifying as expert witnesses in standard of care cases. Full text of HB 3201 may be found at tinyurl.com/HB3201.

TDA Holds Leadership Conference Almost 60 representatives attended the TDA Leadership Conference on Friday, June 21, 2013, in Austin. TDA President Dr David A. Duncan facilitated the 1-day conference, hosted by TDA Financial Services, Inc. (TDA Perks).

Component society executive directors attend the TDA leadership conference in June: Lisa McLerran - North Texas, Linda Shafer - San Antonio, Tiffany Groothuis - East Texas, Nancy Nisbett - Central Texas, Jane Evans - Dallas, and Susan McKee - Houston.

Like us on Facebook

About 60 component presidents, presidentselect, council and committee chairs, component executive directors, and members of the TDA Board and staff attend the TDA Leadership Conference in Austin on Friday, June 21.

The conference combined meetings of the TDA Presidents-Presidents-elect Conference, the TDA Council, Committee and Affiliate Training, and the TDA Component Society Presidents Committee. The morning session included presentations from TDA Perks and the TDA Smiles Foundation. In the afternoon, attendees heard presentations from TDA legal counsel and Dr Richard Black, chair of the TDA Council on Legislative and Regulatory Affairs. Dr Phil Nauert, chair of DENPAC, reported on the current activities of DENPAC and the necessity for donations. Following his presentation, conference attendees donated approximately $8,000 to the PAC. Also in the afternoon, Dr Duncan held a break-out session for new council and committee chairs and members and discussed their roles and duties. TDA President-elect Dr David McCarley conducted a roundtable discussion with the TDA Component Society Presidents Committee.

Follow @theTDA on Twitter

Connect with us on LinkedIn


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
July 2013 TDA Today by Texas Dental Association - Issuu