ODASC Celebrates 40 Years of Supporting ODA Members
The ODA does much to support its member dentists, including through advocacy, dental insurance assistance, public service programs, continuing education, the ODA Annual Session and Leadership Institute, regulatory compliance assistance, and much more.
In addition to these direct benefits, the ODA has also developed strong partnerships with certain business entities that provide products and services for dentists. Forty years ago, the ODA’s leadership had the foresight to leverage the association’s position to create an innovative vehicle – the Ohio Dental Association Services Corporation (ODASC) – to engage with corporate partners in order to offer ODA members high-quality products and services at discount prices. All the products and services that are endorsed by ODASC are vetted by the ODASC Board, which is made up of member dentists and outside business leaders, to ensure our endorsed products are best in class and offered with special pricing.
Health Benefits
For example, more than 1,600 dentists and their staff get their health benefits through the ODA Wellness Trust. This private, self-funded employer health benefit plan was developed by ODA member dentists for ODA member dentists, providing accessible and affordable health care coverage for more than 620 Ohio dental offices.
Dental Supplies
More than 900 ODA member dentists have signed up for ODASC’s Group Purchasing Organization known as Ohio Discount Dental Supplies (OhioDDS). Through OhioDDS’s partner Safco Dental Supply, participating ODA members are getting guaranteed savings of at least 10% on national brand products (such as 3M, Dentsply, Kerr, and hundreds of others) and 30% savings on Safco Brand products. Many participants report that OhioDDS pricing is the best they can find anywhere.
Dental Membership Plans
Dental membership plans are direct-to-patient subscription-based financial arrangements where patients receive preventive care and other treatment outlined in the plan in exchange for a monthly or annual fee paid directly to the dental office. These alternatives to traditional dental insurance plans are becoming very popular, are completely customizable to meet the dental office’s goals or desires for such a plan and allow dental offices to expand care to patients, especially for those who do not otherwise have dental benefits. ODASC has partnered with DentalHQ, whose software platform and support team assist dentists with development and on-going management of their in-office dental membership plans. DentalHQ also assists dentists and their staff with seamlessly integrating the dental membership plans into their day-to-day operations and existing technology. Through ODASC, ODA member dentists get 20% off the price for DentalHQ plans and services.
For more information on dental membership plans and DentalHQ, see page 14
Support for the ODA
Because of its success, ODASC has been able to provide financial support back to the ODA, thereby keeping ODA’s membership dues low. In fact, a recent survey of state dental association dues reveals that the ODA’s dues are sixth lowest in the country (out of 50 state dental associations). So, ODA members are not only getting best-in-class products at discounted prices through ODASC, but they are also supporting the ODA and keeping ODA membership dues low.
Other endorsed programs include:
- Best Card – ODA members are saving on average 27% or nearly $6,500 annually on their credit card processing fees.
- ProSites – ODA members are saving up to 70% off of dental website, marketing, and automated patient communications solutions.
- Medical Protective – Graduating dental students and residents in their first year of practice enjoy their first year of malpractice insurance coverage at no cost and all other ODA members receive a 5% premium discount.
For more information or to sign up for any of these or our other outstanding programs, click here.
