News

As the health care delivery system in the U.S. evolves because of health care reform, insurance changes, economic situations and more, dentistry is at a crossroads. In 2013, the American Dental Association released a comprehensive analysis of the dental care sector in a report titled “A Profession in Transition: Key Forces Reshaping the ... [continue reading]

This year’s Table Clinics will take place Friday, Sept. 18 from 4 to 6 p.m. during the ODA Annual Session. Table Clinics have always been a part of dental continuing education meetings, and they continue to adapt with the times. They have been known as poster sessions and essay programs, and were the main focus of the ... [continue reading]

Volunteer dentists have treated nearly 12,000 Ohioans and provided $21 million in donated care since Dental OPTIONS (Ohio Partnership To Improve Oral health through access to Needed Services) saw its first patient in 1997. A private/public partnership between the Ohio Dental Association and the Ohio Department of Health, Dental OPTIONS is a ... [continue reading]

"A health record has everything — financial account information, Social Security number, health information," said Al Pascual, a senior analyst at Javelin Strategy & Research. In today’s litigious world, however, it is important that you protect your patients, your practice and yourself.  You must strive to ensure that your ... [continue reading]

On Feb. 25, 2015, the United State Supreme Court issued a ruling in the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners v. Federal Trade Commission case that could have significant ramifications for professional licensing boards across the country, including here in Ohio. As regular readers of this column know, I have written multiple columns in ... [continue reading]

This month, House Bill 463 will go into effect.  HB 463 was developed from a series of recommendations by the 2013 ODA House of Delegates aimed at improving access to quality, comprehensive dental care by focusing on delivery system enhancements and workforce development.  The bill was unanimously approved by the Ohio General Assembly ... [continue reading]

ODA's director of legal and legislative services, Keith Kerns, has announced he is leaving the ODA to take over as the new executive director of the Ohio Optometric Association (OOA). Kerns has worked at the ODA for more than 13 years and has had a monthly column in the “ODA Today” during much of that time. In announcing his decision, ... [continue reading]

There has been an increasing amount of talk around the country concerning dentists being audited by third-party payers. While some of the situations that have prompted this talk are applicable in Ohio, many are not. For example, much attention has been focused on Medicaid Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) in other states, and particularly ... [continue reading]

A major dental company is actively running ads on television promising to “fix dentistry.”  Their implication is that the current practice of dentistry is broken.  They attempt to paint the profession as dishonest and devious.  Their characterization of dentists in private practice is that we are not responsive and do ... [continue reading]

There are two “givens” in my life ... now! The first one is: I WILL WALK THROUGH HOT COALS TO PROTECT MY GRANDCHILDREN The second one is: I WILL GIVE MY OPINION ABOUT MY GRANDCHILDREN’S WELFARE ... NO MATTER WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE I realize many of you can relate to the first edict but may be uncomfortable with the second one. ... [continue reading]