Author: Amy Szmania

Patients fortunate enough to be covered by multiple plans typically benefit by having a lesser out-of-pocket expense. Their multiple coverages, however, present administrative issues for the dental office. Under the traditional form of coordination of benefits (COB), a patient can receive up to 100 percent reimbursement of their expenses from a ... [continue reading]

The Bureau of Workers' Compensation is changing the way it bills for employer premiums for the 2016 rate year. Starting July 1, 2014, the agency will begin billing for employer premiums in advance of coverage instead of after the fact in order to align the BWC with standard industry billing practices. According to the BWC, the transition won’t ... [continue reading]

The Ohio Dental Association provides member dentists with valuable tools, discounts, knowledge, services, support and resources to help dentists be successful in their practices and provide the best available treatment to their patients. The ODA has been informing, representing and serving dentists in Ohio since 1866. Protecting your practice ... [continue reading]

Whether you're a recent graduate trying to pay off student loan debt, or a dentist who recently opened a practice, becoming financially stable is important. Paying off student loans According to the American Dental Association, the average student loan debt is over $200,000. After graduation, dealing with this amount of debt can seem ... [continue reading]

When it comes to the Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature, better known as the CDT Code, most dentists have the same basic questions about their proper use. Common concerns include what to do if you can’t find a code that matches your procedure, how to react if your claim gets denied and where to go for help. Collected by the ADA’s ... [continue reading]

The 2014 Annual Session — ODA Live — will be Sept. 11-14 in Columbus, Ohio. The event will feature CE for the entire dental team, the largest Exhibit Hall in the area and special events and opportunities to connect with colleagues from across the state. The ODA Annual Session also has programming aimed at new dentists. ODA members who have ... [continue reading]

Several ODA member dentists and dental students meet with Speaker of the House William Batchelder and Ohio Rep. Terry Johnson during the ODA’s Day at the Statehouse. This year's ODA Day at the Statehouse was a busy event, full of meetings with legislators, a hearing on legislation supported by the ODA and a press ... [continue reading]

Dentists attend a breakout session at the 2014 Leadership Institute on third-party payer issues presented by ODA Director of Dental Services Chris Moore. The 2014 ODA Leadership Institute gave dentists a chance to learn about current trends and issues in dentistry, reconnect with colleagues and re-energize. “As I am becoming ... [continue reading]

My August 2013 column, “North Carolina case should not affect Ohio State Dental Board,” gave a detailed description of the Fourth Circuit U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision upholding the Federal Trade Commission’s finding that the North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners (N.C. Dental Board) violated federal antitrust laws by ... [continue reading]

The 2013 ODA House of Delegates approved “Access to Care: Blueprint for Success,” a set of recommendations on improving access to dental care in Ohio that is the basis for House Bill 463. Ohio Rep. Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) recently introduced legislation to expand access to dental care in underserved areas of Ohio. ... [continue reading]