February 22, 2010 In January, the Colorado State Board of Dental Examiners (SBDE) voted to adopt new rules on the administration of anesthesia. This vote concludes a year of discussion and revision to the rule. The rule went through several iterations before final adoption, addressing a number of dentist concerns in the process.
State Legislative Update: 2010 Bills
February 22, 2010 Thanks to everyone who took action in support of HB 1144, the bill to address insurers’ practice of dictating fees for non-covered services. As you know, HB 1144 died in a frustrating tie vote earlier this month. However, the CDA is still very committed to addressing this issue. We are reviewing our options and will keep members …
Dentist Sales Tax in Centennial
February 22, 2010 The city of Centennial has been sending letters to local dentists asserting that dentists must collect sales tax from patients on certain cosmetic products, including teeth whitening kits. Centennial’s tax code, however, exempts “drugs or materials furnished by a doctor as part of professional services provided to a patient” from sales tax requirements.
HIPAA Breach Reporting – Required by March 1
February 22, 2010 Did you have a HIPAA security breach – for example, the theft of records from your office or loss of a laptop containing patient records – between September and December 2009?
GKAS – Thank You Volunteers!
February 22, 2010 There were lots of smiling kids on Friday, Feb. 5 thanks to Colorado dentists and dental professionals. About 250 dentists participated in the eighth annual Give Kids a Smile Day. In Colorado, this means children from low-income families without access to regular dental care are given free treatment and education by dental volunteers committed to this cause.
Nuggets Tickets Discount
February 22, 2010 Don’t miss your opportunity to take advantage of discounted Denver Nuggets tickets for March and April games! This is a CDA benefit for members and their friends and family. Better yet, a portion of all tickets sold will benefit the CDA Charitable and Educational Fund.
COMOM 2010 – Save the Date
February 22, 2010 Please mark your calendar! This year’s Colorado Mission of Mercy (COMOM) will be held at the Phil Long Expo Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2010 (patient treatment days are Oct. 1-2). We welcome you and your dental team members to join us this year. Nearly 800 volunteers are needed for this event and we …
Tech Tip docx conversion
December 14, 2009 Do you ever receive a Microsoft attachment that your computer can’t open? Chances are the attachment was created in a version of Microsoft that is newer than the version you have on your machine. If the attachment ends in .docx (rather than .doc), this document was created in a newer version of Microsoft Word. Likewise, if you …
Rural Health Grants Available
December 14, 2009 At least $1M is available in grant funding to medical, oral and mental health projects that improve primary care services for the underserved in rural areas of Colorado. The maximum award amount is $50,000 per applicant. The Colorado Rural Health Care Grant Program is available to support the health infrastructure in Colorado’s rural communities. The funds are …
H1N1 for Dental Professionals
December 14, 2009 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its guidance on preventing the transmission of 2009 H1N1 influenza in dental healthcare settings. The guidance includes new recommendations on the use of an airborne infection isolation room, N95 respirators, and infection control measures for personnel with influenza-like illness. The new guidance is available at http://www.cdc.gov/OralHealth/infectioncontrol/factsheets/2009_h1n1.htm.
