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Limbo. An uncertain period of awaiting a decision or resolution; an intermediate state or condition. Many would say that this word describes our current condition with the coronavirus. We are not sure whether conditions will improve or worsen, and when either will happen. In our professional lives, we are not sure how much PPE to purchase – ... [continue reading]

The current coronavirus pandemic has created many challenges in our society. This public health crisis has caused sickness and deaths and has negatively impacted our economy. It has altered nearly everyone’s life as businesses, churches, schools, restaurants, health care facilities and more have been closed or severely restricted. Our ... [continue reading]

Over the last few months, I have received many calls from dentists regarding the Terminal Distributor of Dangerous Drugs license (TDDD). Most of these calls have stemmed from a document sent by suppliers asking for TDDD license numbers. The paperwork also includes a response where a dentist can indicate he or she is exempt from having a TDDD. The ... [continue reading]

The Ohio Dental Association's Medicaid Working Group has acted upon and continues to address a number of matters relative to Ohio's Medicaid dental program. Rebidding Ohio’s Medicaid HMO contracts Early last year Gov. Mike DeWine called on the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) to rebid the state of Ohio’s contracts with the private ... [continue reading]

Sadly, each generation will be faced with an event that shakes them to the core. That generation is not defined by the event itself, but by their response to the cataclysmic change in their world. The generation that were my parents (and many of your grandparents) were called “The Greatest Generation” for their response to World War ... [continue reading]

Ohio's Interim Director of Public Health Lance Himes recently signed an order that requires people in Ohio to wear a mask. This requirement applies to any indoor location that is not a residence. There are some exceptions, including when an individual is alone in an enclosed space. For dental offices, any staff member that is not alone in an ... [continue reading]

The World Health Organization recently released guidance advising “routine non-essential oral health care — which usually includes oral health checkups, dental cleanings and preventive care — be delayed until there has been sufficient reduction in COVID-19 transmission rates.” In direct response to this, the American Dental ... [continue reading]

As part of its ongoing efforts to provide financial relief to health care providers impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced an application deadline extension for the Phase 2 general distribution to Medicaid, Medicaid managed care, Children's Health Insurance Program ... [continue reading]

The American Dental Association has updated its Return to Work Interim Guidance Toolkit and released a new flowchart with guidance to follow if a staff member or someone in a staff member's household tests positive for COVID-19. The flowchart is available exclusively to ADA members as a benefit of membership, and includes information about ... [continue reading]

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is distributing financial assistance to health care providers impacted by COVID-19, through the Provider Relief Fund. Assistance for dental providers is currently available, but the deadline to submit applications is Aug. 3. The Provider Relief Fund Payment Portal is open to eligible ... [continue reading]