AUGUST JUNE, 2008 2011
VOLUME9,12, ISSUE VOLUME ISSUE 6 8
Dentists Who Care Holds Conference Every Member Matters
AVAILABLE ONLINE ATAT TDA.ORG AVAILABLE ONLINE TDA.ORG
Inside Inside
Rise’ Lyman, DDS, TDA Future Focus Committee
Dentists Who Care held its Medicaid in Smiles My Office? TDA Foundation 15th Annual Charity Dental Membership growth is vital to any thriving organization. The Texas Dental Association (TDA) Board is strongly Yes, I Think So! Texas Mission of Mercy Conference on August 5 and to the Membership goal within the “TDA 2009” strategic plan, which addresses continued growth. committed Richard M. Smith, DDS Texarkana 6, 2011, at Isla Grand BeachIResort am proud to report that, as evidence of that commitment and for the second year in a row, the TDA received in South Padre Island, Texas.the A record following ADA awards in 2008: TDA Smiles Foundation number of 450 people attended • the Greatest Percentage Membership Net Gain: Texas had a net gain of 198 members in the year 2007. TMOM gains ardent advocateHealth Medicaid Electronic event. • Top Constituent Dental Society with Greatest Percentage of Non-Members to Membership: TDA president Dr. J. Preston Represents a conversion of 4.7 percent of non-members into membership at end of year 2007. Record Ask the President Coleman addressed the VIP •luncheon Top Constituent Dental Society to Improve Retention Rate Percentage in 2007: Represents a 97 attendees with a welcome address. Incoming President’s message percent Association retention rate, which is an increase of 7 percent from the previous year. Speakers at the conference touched on Percentage of New Dentist Members: Represents a gain of 111 new dentist members (those TDA Perks • Greatest Hilton Israelson, DDS all areas of dentistry. dentists who are 1-9 years out of school). Dentists Who Care is a grassroots Let’s Talk Another example of the commitment to the growth of our Association is the TDA Externship Program, which builds student awareness Preston’s Press movement of dentists working to Outgoing President’s message of organized dentistry. This innovative program, created in 2007, offers students the opportunity to gain insight into the different components stop childhood decay. Its mission is to of organized dentistry including legislative and regulatory affairs, membership, governance, continuing education, and charitable dentistry and A. David May, Jr., DDS spread the message of preventive care to to gain a better understanding of their role as future leaders of the dental team. The program is open to dental students from each of the three TSBDE Rule Update children. dental schools in Texas. This year the externship program will take place June 20 – June 27 in Austin at the TDA central office. 2008-2009 TDA Board of Directors For more information, please visit As an ongoing effort to enhance the value and benefits ofCare the 2011 Association, the TDA Council on(L-R): Membership developed a survey that wassecretary sent Dr. Grayson Dentists Who Board of Directors: back row president Dr. Larry Balli of Edinburg, dentistswhocare.us. to all members in 2006. The results clearly showed thatofmembers have a high satisfaction rating benefits as the TEXAS Sellers Los Fresnos, immediate past president Dr. with Joe Peralez III such of Edinburg, treasurerMeeting, Dr. NoelTDA Garza of Mission, andMeet Your TDA Staff publications, and the ability to participate philanthropically in the Lalonde TDA Smiles great number of the programs offeredmember to member Dr. Adam of LosFoundation. Fresnos; frontArow (L-R): member Dr.discounted Sergio Guzman of McAllen; Dr. Carlos TDA’s new Finance Director members through the TDA Perks Program also received high satisfaction rating. In with and the strategic plan, Council onofMembership, Garcia ofaWeslaco; and vice president Dr.accordance Ricardo Garcia member Dr. JoeytheCazares, both McAllen. Dee Dee Delagarza will survey members again in 2009. Participation from all members and a collaborative effort between the ADA, TDA, and local component societies are the keys to TDA Membership Directory Congratulations to TDA successful membership recruitment and retention. We encourage every member to get involved whether it is by attending local meetings, Component Societies taking part in Give Kids a Smile! Day activities, volunteering at a Texas Mission of Mercy, or participating in TDA Legislative Day activities in Austin. Each member matters and is essential to the continued growth of our Association and of organized dentistry. Allied Groups Listing This is the seventh and final in a series of articles focused on the TDA’s accomplishments guided by the strategic plan. To view the entire plan, Streamline Your Insurance Claims log in at www.tda.org and click on “TDA 2009” under “Current Issues” on the member homepage. For more information, please contact Lyda Creus Speeding up confirmation of benefits Component Societies Listing Molanphy, staff liaison to the Future Focus Committee, at the TDA central office, (512) 443-3675. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is Only July 27, 2011, the Health and Human Services Commission and eligibility introducing a new system that uses digital technology to streamline (HHSC) announced tentative dental contract awards for Texas Medicaid the Medicaid eligibility verification process and provides access to Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) — The “Texas TSBDE Rule Update Mission: To be The Voice ofandDthe enTisTry in Texas Medicaid health history. Dental Program” — to the following managed care organizations (MCOs): Requirements for dental office • Delta Dental Insurance Company radiograph machines September 15 – 17 The two main elements of the system are: • DentaQuest USA Insurance Company, Inc. Public Organizational Development Membership • Manpower The Your Texas BenefitsAdvocacy Medicaid card, which replaces the paper • MCNA Insurance Company Austin In the News Image Excellence Medicaid ID letter (Form 3087) that clients receive in the mail TDA members in the news Texas Academy of General monthly. The final awards are contingent upon the Membership Dentistry • Dentists A website Medicaid providers successful negotiation and execution of contracts willfor value membership and participation in the TDA. that supplies up-to-date information between the MCOs and the State. The final Lone Star Dental Conference Objectives on a patient’s eligibility and history contracts between the MCOs and the State should 1.of services Improveand perceived valuepaid andby benefits of membership in TDA. treatments be signed by the first of September. TDA staff will Tooth Whitening: A Clinical Review a. Increase members’ knowledge about the impact and benefits of TDA membership. Medicaid. continue working with HHSC and the MCOs to September 22 & 23 b. Ensure that components are an integral aspect of the membership process. help assist in the transition for participating dentists TDA Historical El Paso Perspectives c. Create awareness benefits. During the firstgreater week of August of the availability of the Peer Review, Ethics & Judicial, and Risk and Management program enrollees. Dentists, dental hygienists, and the d. Actively promotethe adherence to the Code of Ethics. El Paso Dental Conference 2011, HHSC began mailing Your If you are interested in participating in the new dental team e. Enhance Texas Benefit Medicaidcommunication cards to 3.4 with members and non-members. Texas Dental Program, the first step is to contact f. Build student awareness of and interest in organized dentistry and membership in TDA. million Texans covered by Medicaid. the MCOs. Although, as of this writing, the MCOs The 2007 C.T. Rowland g. clients Ensure contact with students throughout dental school. September 23 Award Medicaid canongoing begin using the cards have not finalized contracts with the State, or Orthodontic case report h. Work closely with dental school faculty. immediately. The new plastic card will be established fee schedules, you may wish to sign a El Paso i. everyday EvaluateMedicaid number card of nonmember dentists who attend and participate in TDA activities Letter (TEXAS Meeting, TDA the client’s and of Intent (LOI) toSmiles join each MCOs network. TDA Executive Committee Foundation programs, etc.). will only be replaced if the client changes Signing a LOI does not obligate you to contract The El Paso Dental Conference Metrics Meeting health plans or if the card is damaged or lost. The current paper with an MCO. It is merely the first step in the MCOs credentialing 1. Seventy percent activewill licensed dentists will for be members of process. TDA byParticipating 2009 (baseline of 68.5% increaseproviders Medicaid ID letter (Formof3087) be mailed outintoTX clients the dentists mustinbeJanuary enrolled2007); as Medicaid rateThis to 97paper percent by April 96% in the 2006). months membership of August andretention September. Medicaid ID2007 letter(baseline will with State and credentialed with the MCOs in which they wish to a-d. Increase the number of dentists serving on component peer review and ethics and judicial affairs committees to attain a September 24 discontinue after September 2011. participate. August 14: participation rate of 2-5 percent relative to the total number of component society members by August 2009. Participating Medicaid providers can begin using Bridge City 2. Ninety percent of TX dental school graduates actively licensed in TX will be members of TDA five years after graduation (89% TDA Board Meeting yourtexasbenefitscard.com to verify a patient’s Medicaid eligibility. The MCOs contact information is below: Smiles on Wheels dental student conversion from thesuch graduating of 2005 Austin, Texas • Delta Dental Insurance Company Providers can opt to purchase equipment, as a cardclass reader, to in Texas). 3. the Increase number of member dentists 1 percent a year (as measured by a variety of means utilize card’s the magnetic stripe that contains theactively client’sparticipating Medicaid in TDA by (800) 775-0523 Ext.3066 – participation at TX Meeting, TMOM, TXDDS, FSI programs, DENPAC participations, TDA legislative day) with annual E-mail : PR-Texas@delta.org ID number. However, no equipment is required. Providers also can October 15-19: report to TDA Board by the Council on Membership. continue verifying eligibility through existing channels, which do not • DentaQuest USA Insurance Company, Inc. ADA Annual Session 4. the Establish baseline nonmember participation at TDA activities (CAS, Foundation, Membership) require purchase of anyofadditional equipment. TDA (800)Smiles 685-9971 San Antonio, Texas Established baseline offor members’ and satisfaction with benefits of their TDA membership through Member 5.Additional functionality the Yourunderstanding Texas Benefits of Medicaid the E-mail: dqrecruiters@dentaquest.com Benefits Services Survey (completed Nov 2006), re-evaluate % increase at thatInsurance time for 2009. card project will and roll out in late 2011. • MCNA Company — 6. Sixty-five percent of all full-time faculty will be TDA members by 2009 = 63%). (2006 Davidbaseline L. Brownell, Director of Provider Relations Join us on Facebook New features will: Website: http://www.mcna.net/provider/texas-program/ • Allow to view it’s patients’ claims, prescription, andanother statewide retreat in August of 2008. The TDAproviders will update strategic plan with Updategroups.to/texasdental Profile diagnosis history; immunization details and lab data; and allow The TDA will continue publicizing monthly updates in the TDA tda.org – Membership Info e-prescribing. Today about the commercial administration of the Texas Dental Program. Follow us on Twitter • Give Medicaid clients the ability to view eligibility information, You may view previous updates, starting in November 2010, by accessing Ask a Colleague details about services received, and Explanation of Benefits the TDA Today archives on tda.org. twitter.com/theTDA (EOBs). Clients will also be able to request a card replacement Additionally, the TDA will be sending email announcements as new tda.org – Features online and print a temporary card information becomes available. The TDA is committed to helping dentists Photos Get LinkedIn navigate the new Texas Dental Program and will be creating tools to assistTEXAS Meeting texasmeeting.com/estore For more information on the new Your Texas Benefits Medicaid participating dentists in educating themselves and their patients about the linkedin.com, search “Texas card visit yourtexasbenefitscard.com. Or call, (855) 827-3747. upcoming changes. Volunteer for ‘08 ADA Dental Association” For questions or comments, contact TDA’s policy manager Ms. Diane tda.org/volunteerada08 Rhodes at (512) 443-3675 or diane@tda.org. In 2003, Texas Dental Association members from across the state develop TDA’s first strategic plan, TDA 2009.
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HHSC Rolls Out the New “Your Texas Benefits” Medicaid Card
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