LEGISLATIVE REPORT:
1) The Governor has health care as a priority. There is a good outlook from the DOH, TennCare, etc. on FNA.
2) There are some issues with telehealth (TH) and teledentistry (TD) as we are regulated by both. TH could be rewritten by Tennessee Medical Association (TMA) and/or we could rewrite the TD to exempt ourselves from TH.
3) Block Grant may be helping pregnant women more.
4) They are looking at a Mississippi law that prevents insurance companies from reneging on treatment that was previously authorized.
5) In office/membership/concierge plans: DOH says it has to be regulated as insurance. We are looking to pass a bill or amend ourselves into the TMA law
6) The Governor may have a Smile Tennessee plan coming next year.
7) Do not accept virtual credit cards for payment of services by insurance companies. They take 2-5% as a fourth party payer. A multidoctor specialist practice reported a loss of $180,000 in one year from doing just that.
JULY BOARD OF DENTISTRY REPORT:
1) E-prescribing has been delayed until 2021.
2) The twenty-day category has been eliminated on the opioid law.
3) We can now accept barter for healthcare services but it must be reported to the IRS.
4) RDHs can prescribe fluoride agents, topical oral anesthetics and non-systemics oral microbials under general supervision and reviewed within 30 by a dentist. CE requirements and limits will be forthcoming as it will be effective 1 July 2020.
5) The October meeting should have some other names/entities approved to do sedation facility inspections.
6) Do not forget that CPR cannot be done online. Dentists with sedation permits still need 4 hours of CE on sedation/anesthesia.
ADA REPORT:
1) Fluoridation Facts is now a free publication.
2) There is an $11 dues increase coming.
3) BOT votes will still be recorded.
4) There is a dues reclassification coming for new grads and active life.
TDA REPORT:
1) There is a survey coming. Please participate!
2) Chiropractors are now allowed into our MEWA which will help drive prices down.
3) There is a new TDA credit card coming to replace your old one.
4) Audits were performed for the finances.
5) Tennessee Wellness Foundation is now completely independent from TDA.
6) There is a coalition forming on licensure between ADA, ASDA, and ADEA that was formed last year to help streamline the process. Learn more at the webinar on www.dentallicensure.org
EFDA REPORT:
1) UT is doing great things in expanding their offerings to alleviate the wait list.
2) Meharry’s first EFDA course sold out and they are taking applications for the Spring 2020 course.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
1) TDA Annual Session: 5-7 June 2020 in Franklin, TN
2) TDA Annual Session: 24-6 June 2021 in Nashville, TN
I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
A. Carroccia
