Dental benefits provider DentaQuest is limiting the number of additional dentists in its Medicaid network in Texas, according to an Oct. 14 report by Texas Dentists for Medicaid Reform. Here are seven things to know: 1. As of Oct. 15, … Read More
The U.S. Air Force broke ground on a new dental treatment facility at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas, according to an Oct. 21 news release. Here are six things to know: 1. Construction on the $88 million Dunn Dental … Read More
Harvard School of Dental Medicine Dean William V. Giannobile was presented with the American Dental Association’s 2024 Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Dental Research last Friday. The triennial honor — which recognizes an individual who has either advanced dentistry … Read More
Brett Kessler, D.D.S., of Denver was installed Oct. 22 as the 161st president of the American Dental Association. Dr. Kessler and the new and returning officers of the Association were installed at the ADA House of Delegates meeting in New … Read More
Summary: The American Dental Association will recognize outstanding contributions in leadership, humanitarian efforts, and dental research at SmileCon 2024, honoring individuals for their impact on dental education, global care, and scientific advancements. Key Takeaways: The Distinguished Service Award acknowledges nearly … Read More
The ADA Foundation’s Give Veterans A Smile program launched Oct. 18 during SmileCon in New Orleans. The program aims to raise awareness about the unmet oral health needs of veterans and encourage dentists to provide pro bono oral health care … Read More
Imagine a world where you could regenerate a missing tooth with a single drug, and microrobots clean your teeth every night. That future is getting closer, scientists say. “We are really looking for disruptive technology,” says Dr. Hyun (Michel) Koo, … Read More
Walgreens is planning to close around 1,200 locations, as the drugstore chain and its rivals struggle to define their role for U.S. shoppers who no longer look to them first for convenience. Drugstores that once snapped up prime retail space … Read More
Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell recently introduced a bill designed to expand dental coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and the VA. The Comprehensive Dental Care Reform Act of 2024 aims to improve access to dental care in underserved … Read More
Driven by technological advancements, the field of dentistry has witnessed a transformation that was unimaginable just a few decades ago. From digital scanners to AI-assisted diagnoses and virtual consultations, new tools are reshaping patient care. However, while these developments are … Read More
A series of recently published opinions and letters in JAMA Internal Medicine present varying perspectives on the current state of US dental care all emphasize the need for evidence-based practices and changes in economic models. The conversation kicked off in … Read More
TUSTIN, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–LIBERTY Dental Plan, a leading benefits administrator founded in 2002 by dentists and health industry professionals which currently administers dental benefits in all 50 states, today announced that the company’s affiliate, LIBERTY Dental Plan of California, Inc., has … Read More
Staffing shortages have plagued the dental industry, creating an ongoing problem for dental practices and DSOs. The continuing issue of workforce gaps has some in the industry, including Catrise Austin, DDS, owner of a practice in New York City, worried … Read More
Recently, the Census Bureau released data showing that, in 2023, Texas was the state with the highest percentage of uninsured children. Texas left all other states in the dust, with 12% of its children lacking health insurance. In distant second … Read More
About 36% of dentists have dropped one or more networks in the past year, according to a new report from the American Dental Association. The American Dental Association compiled the results from its Dentist Trend Report Survey and Consumer Trend … Read More
The ADA Foundation’s Give Veterans A Smile program will launch nationally at SmileCon, and attendees will have a number of events and continuing education opportunities to learn more about providing services to those who have served. ADA and ADA Foundation … Read More
Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell recently introduced a bill designed to expand dental coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and the VA. The Comprehensive Dental Care Reform Act of 2024 aims to improve access to dental care in underserved … Read More
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies and are a popular form of health insurance coverage for U.S. adults age 65 and older who choose to forgo Original Medicare. However, finding the best Medicare Advantage plan can be … Read More
In a significant victory for Driscoll Health Plan and its members, a Travis County Court issued a temporary injunction on October 4, 2024, blocking the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) from signing a managed care contract that would … Read More
More than 26% of dentists have dropped out of some insurance networks since the start of 2024, according to a survey conducted by the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute. According to the ADA’s “Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in … Read More
No business is immune to cybercrime, and dental practices are prime targets for ransomware, hacking, and data theft. The sensitivity of patient data, combined with often inadequate cybersecurity measures and untrained staff, makes dentistry an attractive target for cybercriminals. For … Read More
On June 6, Lt. Mike Ramirez, an investigator with Medicaid Provider Integrity, received the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General’s Award for Excellence in Fighting Fraud, Waste, and Abuse. The award was presented during a ceremony in … Read More
There’s a little-known federal law that, if properly enforced, could revolutionize dental care. This law is important to every dentist and dental patient – whether you work with Medicaid or not. This article is meant to empower states across the … Read More
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Tuesday that the Legislature will review all of the state’s existing contracts with the firm Deloitte after it selected a company whose CEO was previously convicted of an “embezzlement scheme” as a project finalist for … Read More
The fight over whether Cook Children’s can continue offering its health care plan to more than 125,000 families in the Tarrant County area has come to a halt. District Judge Laurie Eiserloh of Travis County blocked Texas Health and Human … Read More
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine is set to hold a workshop Nov. 18-19 to explore practices for advancing oral health in the U.S. across the lifespan. The event, called Advancing Oral Health Across the Lifespan: A Workshop, … Read More
Several state dental groups have created relief funds to help residents and dental practices in need of assistance after Hurricane Helene. Five notes: 1. Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane the night of Sept. 26, causing widespread … Read More
While the implications of the election on the future of abortion access have received extensive attention, the stakes are also high for the future directions of Medicaid, a program that seven in ten women have a connection to. Vice President … Read More
The 2025 Give Kids A Smile kickoff is fast approaching, and the ADA Foundation is reminding program coordinators of some important dates. Free product kits for 2025 can be requested via the GKAS website beginning Oct. 1 through Nov. 15. … Read More
The best dental insurance companies are Anthem and Guardian, according to our analysis of large dental insurers. Anthem’s Essential Choice PPO Platinum plan received five out of five stars in our evaluation. We analyzed costs, deductibles, provider networks, waiting periods, … Read More
WELLESLEY, Mass., Oct. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Florida lawmakers approved more than $700 million to support health care workforce growth and innovation statewide with provisions specific to dental care. This includes a rate increase for dentists treating Medicaid patients that … Read More
In a substantial reduction of Medicaid coverage affecting more than two million individuals, primarily children, the State of Texas has drawn considerable scrutiny regarding its management of the “Medicaid unwinding” process following the cessation of pandemic-era federal support. The Texas … Read More
A bill to expand dental coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives Sept. 17. The companion bill was introduced by Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., … Read More
Nearly every state in the U.S. has seen a decrease in the number of dental professional shortage areas since October 2023, according to data from the Health Resources & Services Administration. The HRSA updated its dashboard with new data on … Read More
The Biden-Harris administration has released guidance for coverage requirements in place for children and youth under Medicaid and CHIP. Five things dental leaders should know: 1. The guidance reinforces the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment requirements set in … Read More
October is National Dental Hygiene Month, and I am excited to take the opportunity to recognize and celebrate our nearly 6,000 supported dental hygienists at Heartland Dental. At Heartland Dental, we recognize the invaluable contributions of hygiene providers and are … Read More
Two pieces of legislation introduced to Congress earlier this year could potentially improve dental care access for thousands of people if passed. U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell introduced the Comprehensive Dental Care Reform Act of 2024 Sept. 17 as a companion … Read More
The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners is the first dental board in the U.S. to remove mental health questions from its credentialing applications. The move is part of the Wellbeing First Champion Challenge program, which was launched by the … Read More
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), a leading healthcare enterprise committed to helping people live healthier lives, announced today that the California Department of Health Care Services has selected its subsidiary, Health Net Community Solutions … Read More
Open wide, Vermont: A wave of new dentists-in-training is headed your way. On Friday, the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry announced plans to open a new dental school in Vermont. The move will allow the Michigan college to … Read More
