ODA SERVICES CORP. CELEBRATES 40 YEARS
The ODA Services Corp. is celebrating 40 years of serving ODA members by endorsing products and services and securing exclusive discounts.
In 1984, the Ohio Dental Association Services Corporation (ODASC) was born as a separate independent subsidiary of the ODA to assist member dentists with various aspects of running a dental practice.
“Our primary concern is to guarantee quality to the dentist customers. Profit is important, but secondary,” said Richard Buchanan, a past president of the ODA and the first president of ODASC in an article in the November 1984 Ohio Dental Journal. “This is a giant step forward for the ODA. But is not a step that has been taken capriciously. For months we have studied other professional associations that have launched similar subsidiaries, such as the American Dental Association and the American Medical Association. We are confident that this move will definitely benefit individual dentists and the association.”
In September 1984, the ODA House of Delegates voted to approve the formation of a for-profit subsidiary corporation of the ODA. The ODA Services Corp. was capitalized with a $34,000 investment from the ODA reserve fund. Since then, the ODA Services Corp. has given $14.2 million dollars back to the ODA and related organizations.
“The ODA Services Corp. has been able to serve as a source of non-dues revenue for the ODA over the past 40 years,” said Dr. Joe Crowley, ODA Services Corp. chair and a past president of the ODA and ADA. “This has allowed the ODA to keep your membership dues as low as possible, and these funds have gone to support our membership benefits and initiatives.”
One of the first ventures of the ODA Services Corp. was to administer the ODA’s health insurance program. Providing health benefits has been a top priority since its inception, and in 2014 a self-insured health plan, the ODA Wellness Trust, was created in response to the Affordable Care Act. The plan is celebrating its 10th anniversary and has become one of the most utilized ODA Services Corp. products.
Today, the ODA Services Corp. endorses 20 products and services. Products range from insurance plans including group-rated workers’ compensation coverage to practice resource products like credit card processing, dental practice marketing and in-office membership plans.
In 2019, the ODA Services Corp. launched a group purchasing organization, OhioDDS. This free member-only program allows ODA members exclusive access to discounted pricing on dental supplies, equipment and services as a benefit of membership. Members can save up to 30% on their purchases through OhioDDS.
The ODA Services Corp. is overseen by a board of directors that includes both ODA member dentists and non-dentists. The Board thoroughly researches and tests products that might be of interest to dentists and then determines whether or not to endorse a product, service or company. As an additional benefit, many of the endorsed products entitle ODA members to premium discounts that aren’t offered to anyone else.
“When you purchase a product endorsed by the ODA Services Corp., you can be confident that it has been thoroughly vetted to make sure it’s a quality product that will benefit your dental office,” Crowley said. “Additionally, we have secured a discount from most of our endorsed partners. Many members report that they are able to cover the cost of their membership dues with the savings they receive. It’s a win-win when you purchase a product endorsed by the ODA Services Corp. because you’ll receive a discount while also supporting the ODA.”
ODA Services Corp. employees are available via phone or email to answer questions about all of the ODA Services Corp. endorsed products. They are licensed insurance agents who are salary-based and do not make a commission on sales, so they always have ODA members’ best interests at heart. They can help members decide what products are right for them, and will even contact our endorsed partners on members’ behalf when needed.
For more information about the ODA Services Corp. and its endorsed products and discounts, click here or call an ODA Services Corp. representative at (800) 282-1526.
