Category: ODA Today

The Ohio Department of Health HIV Care Services (HCS) section is seeking dentists throughout the state to become providers and help improve the oral health status of Ohioans enrolled in the Ryan White Part B Program. The Ryan White program works with organizations to provide HIV related services to people who do not have sufficient health care ... [continue reading]

2013 proved to be another successful year for the Ohio Dental Political Action Committee (ODPAC) in fundraising, as it received more than $253,000 in contributions. Dr. Michael Schaeffer, chairman of ODPAC, thanked everyone who supported ODPAC in 2013. “Members see the value of the advocacy we’ve done at the Statehouse and know support ... [continue reading]

Occasionally, I get calls from dentists who have been approached about providing expert testimony in a malpractice case or a dental board hearing. Generally, they are seeking guidance on the ethics of providing such testimony. When a patient’s dissatisfaction with treatment leads to litigation or the filing of a complaint with the state ... [continue reading]

In September, the Ohio Dental Association’s House of Delegates overwhelmingly approved a comprehensive list of legislative initiatives developed by the Task Force on Access to Care and Auxiliary Utilization aimed at improving access to quality, comprehensive dental care. The initiatives are a collection of recommendations compiled by the task ... [continue reading]

The Ohio Dental Association is again receiving calls from member dentists on issues that have arisen within the past five years and continue to generate concern and confusion. They include the payment method of a small number of third party administrators (TPAs) and the use of electronic health records. TPA credit card payments This ... [continue reading]

Resolution 11-13: New Dentists’ Involvement at ODA and Dental Schools The 2013 House of Delegates passed a resolution charging our Subcouncil on New Dentists to provide the 2014 House with a report on the state of the new dentist in Ohio. I was pleased that the House saw the urgency to look at our next generation of dentists. They are our ... [continue reading]

There is a great deal of talk these days about looking to the future, trying to decide what is likely to happen so that we may better plan for it.  My friend, author and business guru Mark Sanborn often says that “predicting the future is easy – predicting it correctly is very hard.”  From Nostradamus on down, there ... [continue reading]

“It is far easier to entertain than it is to educate.” – Unknown “It is far easier to educate if you are entertaining.” – Kdj It’s been a long time since a certain head of the OSU College of Dentistry’s department of full dentures chewed my butt for not taking notes in his class. Now, I no longer ... [continue reading]

This fall, dentists and dental hygienists will receive licensure renewal information from the Ohio State Dental Board. The board will direct licensees to renew licenses and report continuing education compliance online. The information and payment of the renewal fee is due by Dec. 31, 2013. Dentists will need 40 CE credits to renew their licenses ... [continue reading]

The Governor’s Cabinet Opiate Action Team recently released guidelines to help health care providers when prescribing opioids. The guidelines recommend that if a patient is receiving 80 mg morphine equivalency dosing (MED) or above, the health care provider should evaluate how to optimize therapy and safety, and consider possible adverse ... [continue reading]