As dentists, we pride ourselves in our tough immune systems and our ability to work through pain and minor illness. But sometimes we find ourselves in the position of receiving care instead of providing it. The experience of being a patient with an unusual disease is both eye-opening and humbling.

Updates from the Health Care Authority (HCA) on the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) program and covered orthodontic services.

The ADA Council on Dental Benefit Programs is sending a letter to all major dental insurance payers informing them of increases in dental office overhead due to COVID-19 and imploring them to consider providing an opportunity for dental offices to “meaningfully discuss fees” with the payers.

The Department of Health (DOH) has released the waiver attestation exemption form for the PMP/EHR integration requirement. By Jan. 1, 2022, all providers and facilities subject to the PMP/EHR integration requirement must either be in compliance or have obtained a waiver from the DOH.

Because many patients see their dentists more frequently (at least twice a year) than their primary care physicians — and spend more one-on-one time with them — dentists are in a unique position of being able to identify or address the impact of SBRDs and other chronic diseases on oral and overall health outcomes.

The Department of Health (DOH) has released the waiver attestation exemption form for the e-prescribing requirement. By Jan. 1, 2022, all providers and facilities subject to the e-prescribing requirement must either be in compliance, have qualified for an exemption, or have obtained a waiver from the DOH.