Maryland law requires insurers to pay doctors for EHR adoption

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley signed a new law today, making it financially beneficial for physicians to implement electronic medical records into their practices. The new law requires private insurers to offer financial incentives if physician offices switch from their paper record keeping systems to digitized medical records.

Maryland officials have said this is the first state law of its kind to advance EHR adoption in this way. Read full story...

Dentrix and Easy Dental Service Packs

Did you know that DENTRIX/Easy Dental offers component updates or Service Packs after each new version is released to provide fixes for errors reported in the most recent DENTRIX/Easy Dental release? D-TECH wants you to know that It is extremely important that you check periodically to ensure that you have located and installed the latest service pack. This will ensure that you are receiving the optimum benefit from your practice management system. Visit the DENTRIX or Easy Dental website or notify your IT professional if you have not yet downloaded the necessary Service Pack(s) for your current DENTRIX/Easy Dental version.

Dentist announces congressional candidacy at leadership conference

Dr. Paul Gosar of Flagstaff, AZ announced his candidacy for the Unites States Congress at the ADA leadership conference. Currently there are two dentist serving in the United States Congress - Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), one of the WLC speakers, and Rep. John Linder (R-Ga.). Read more...

ADA Files Class Actions Against Insurance Carriers

The American Dental Association has written an extremely informative article regarding legal decisions and their impact on the dental community. Please see the following:

"The Division of Legal Affairs actively monitors and engages in legal issues that are important to or may affect ADA members and supervises litigation pertaining to ADA. ADA has filed three class action lawsuits against insurance carriers alleging federal and state law violations for improperly denied, delayed and/or reduced payment to dentists; undercut fees charged by "out-of-network" dentists without the data required to justify the reductions and a racketeering complaint against three of the nation's largest insurers alleging that they conspired to "deny, reduce and delay" lawful payments to dentists under contract to the plans." To view and read the entire article click here:

Medicaid - Non-Covered Procedures

As a provider of services for the Medicaid population, there are a few requirements that you should be aware of regarding non-covered procedures. Please read the excerpt below from the Doral provider manual:

"2.02 Payment for Non-Covered Services Participating Providers shall hold Members, Doral, Plan and Agency harmless for the payment of non-Covered Services except as provided in this paragraph. Provider may bill a Member for Non-Covered Services if the Provider obtains a written waiver from the Member prior to rendering such service that indicates:

• the services to be provided;
• Doral, Plan and Agency will not pay for or be liable for said services; and
• Member will be financially liable for such services."

Please remember to obtain the patient's written waiver and signature before collecting or billing for non-covered procedures. If you need additional information on this requirement or assistance with writing your waiver documents, contact your D-TECH account representative.

Carefirst is accepting electronic claims and attachments!

Carefirst Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maryland is now accepting electronic claims and attachments for dental procedures. Dentrix and Easy Dental users should use the payor ID TLX88. For all dental billing clients of D-TECH, we will ensure that the necessary changes are made in your practice management system.

Onward and upward!