By Katya Mauritson, D.M.D., M.P.H.(c), Dental Director, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and Jennifer Goodrum, CDA Director of Government Relations From the Spring 2015 Journal of the Colorado Dental Association The Prevent Abuse and Neglect through Dental Awareness (PANDA) program is designed to create awareness in the dental community, to help dental teams recognize and use appropriate interventions, …
Dealing with the Measles Outbreak
By Judith H Holmes, J.D. From the Spring 2015 Journal of the Colorado Dental Association Question: We have a general dentistry practice, and we see patients of all ages. We are concerned about the effects of the recent measles outbreak on our patients and employees. Are there some guidelines on how to address this issue in our practice?
Jumping in With Both Feet
By Brett Kessler, D.D.S., CDA President From the Spring 2015 Journal of the Colorado Dental Association As I wind down my term as the 128th president of the Colorado Dental Association, I find myself in a reflective mood. I wonder, did I make a difference? Was I an effective leader? Did I leave the organization better than when I found …
Are You Protecting Your Patients from Identity Theft?
By Jennifer Nieto, Best Card From the Spring 2015 Journal of the Colorado Dental Association Dentists protect their patients’ personal information for obvious ethical reasons and HIPAA compliance. Many times, however, they may not realize that preventing identity theft is another very important reason behind this practice. Processing credit card transactions in a safe manner is crucial in protecting patients …
Handshakes Don’t Always Seal the Deal
By Susan Spear, SAS Dental Practice Brokers From the Spring 2015 Journal of the Colorado Dental Association When inviting another dentist into your practice as an associate or selling your practice, the most important objective is finding the right person for your situation. This not only means a brief meeting with someone who has a nice personality, but someone who …
Mandatory CE for Dentists and Dental Hygienists in Colorado
From the Spring 2015 Journal of the Colorado Dental Association During last year’s 2014 state legislative session, the Colorado Dental Practice Act was reviewed and updated pursuant to HB 14-1227, the dental sunset review bill. Substantial changes were made to the Dental Practice Act that will impact dental practices in the months and years to come. One of the key …
Breckenridge Upholds Fluoridation
March 16, 2015 Last week, the town of Breckenridge, under the leadership of mayor and town dentist Dr. John Warner, made the decision to continue fluoridating water to benefit oral health. Despite nearly three decades of water fluoridation, the topic has been a longstanding debate between the health community and anti-fluoride activists in the ski town. Thanks to the efforts …
X-Ray Fees to Increase in April
March 16, 2015 By April 2015, dental practices that renew x-ray certification labels will see a $10 increase on label fees. Most dental offices renew certification labels once every three years. You will see this $10 increase the next time your labels are renewed. There is no change in the renewal schedule. In early April, the state will also send …
Know Your Rights When It Comes to Insurance Payments
March 16, 2015 Many insurance companies have begun paying claims with virtual credit cards. But practitioners end up paying more than they would via an electronic funds transfer (EFT) or a paper check. When insurance companies use virtual credit cards, the practitioner is required to write off a portion of the amount charged to the insurer for the services rendered …
CDA Fights Dentist Rating Systems Based Solely on Fees
March 16, 2015 Last summer, one of the state’s dental insurance plans implemented a new provider rating system—a three-star “designation” system based solely on treatment fees. Under this rating system, dentists with higher fees for services would get lower ratings, and dentists with lower fees would get higher ratings. During the 2015 legislative session, the CDA is running a bill …
