​KSU Reminds Dentists of Upcoming Amalgam Rule, Requires One-Time Compliance Report

Kansas State University Pollution Prevention Institute recently sent a letter to Kansas dentists to remind them of upcoming changes to a federal rule related to dental amalgam. 

This letter has prompted questions from members regarding amalgam separators. Dentists are encouraged to follow dental best management practices, set forth by the ADA, for amalgam waste handling and disposal.

The EPA requires amalgam separators to achieve at least a 95% removal efficiency. The EPA final rule on amalgam separators went into effect on July 14, 2017, and the date for compliance is July 14, 2020. Most practicing dentists who discharge wastewater into a publicly owned treatment work (POTW), such as a municipal sewer system, must comply.

Dental offices must also submit a one-time compliance report to the Kansas Environmental Assistance Program by October 12, 2020. The report can be emailed to amalgamrule@ksu.edu or mailed to 2323 Anderson Ave, Ste 300 in Manhattan, KS 66502. 

Additional highlights and exemptions to the rule can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions page at ada.org/recycleamalgam.

​KDHE Names State Oral Health Officer

On Monday, May 20, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced that Dayna Brinckman, DDS, CHCEF, has been named as the State Oral Health Officer. This position had previously been vacant. 

“We are excited to welcome Dayna to our agency. She brings a wealth of knowledge and outreach experience which will benefit our state greatly,” said Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary.  

Brinckman received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree the from University of Missouri, School of Dentistry, and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas. 

Brinckman previously served as the Chief Dental Officer for the Health Partnership Clinic in Olathe and as an Outreach Dentist for ReachOut Healthcare America in Kansas City, Kan.

ADA Files Petition with ​FDA Regarding Direct to Consumer Orthodontic Aligners

The basis for the ADA’s citizen petition to the FDA is straightforward: SmileDirectClub, LLC, (SDC) is placing the public at risk by knowingly evading the “by prescription only” restriction that the FDA has placed on plastic teeth aligners and on dental impression material. For all intents and purposes, SDC sells its plastic teeth aligner and dental impression material products to consumers over-the-counter.

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KMOM Pittsburg Provides 743 Patients with $1,129,211 in Donated Dental Care

Save Time and Money While Going Paperless with Electronic Funds Transfer

Looking for ways to make practice administration more efficient? Receiving claim payments via electronic fund transfers, or EFT, instead of by paper check is one answer.

EFT is a method of instructing financial institutions to transfer money electronically from one bank account to another, eliminating the use of paper checks. The EFT program is free and easy to set up. Providers are paid faster, securely, and more efficiently because funds are deposited directly into your bank. End to end encryption of all information is used, helping to ensure safety and confidentiality.

The ADA has resources for dental professionals who need guidance on implementing or using EFT in their offices. Other information addressing the how, the why and the myths related to EFT is available in ADA's on-demand webinar on EFT, available at ADA.org/EFTwebinar.

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KDHE Radiation Control Program: Information for Inspection of Dental Offices

Radiation has been a hot topic over the past year, due to increased dental office inspections and a letter/email sent by Kansas Department of Health and Environment Radiation Control Program regarding continuing education. Both have prompted many questions from member dentists regarding radiation regulations. 

In an effort to help our members, the KDA sat down with representatives from KDHE Radiation Control Program to discuss ways we could better inform dentists of the responsibilities in their dental offices, pertaining to radiation.

View 2016-2017 dental noncompliance issues and an explanation of 2018 dental regulations at ksdental.org/radiation.

If you have questions about radiation regulations or an inspection, contact the KDHE Radiation Control Program at 785-296-1560.

Is an In-Office Dental Plan Right for your Practice?

Studies have shown that patients with a dental plan are much more likely to seek dental care and accept treatment plans.

Under such a plan, the patient pays the doctor or dental office a fixed amount of money on a monthly or annual basis. In return, the patient generally receives preventive services at no charge, with other procedures offered at a discounted fee.

The ADA Council on Dental Benefit Programs has developed a toolkit to help dental practices evaluate whether an in-office dental plan option is right for them.

An on-demand webinar, "Increase Value in your Practice! How? Start your own Dental Plan," is also available to help dentists gain a basic understanding of how in-office dental plans work, how to create a plan for your office, and the advantages/risks of implementing a plan.

CMS Rule Rescinds Medicare Parts C, D Enrollment Requirements

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have published a final rule, effective as of June 15, 2018, revising the Medicare Advantage program (Part C) regulations and Prescription Drug Benefit program (Part D) regulations and to implement certain provisions of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act.

The final rule rescinds a previously announced rule that would have required dentists who provide dental care and prescriptions for Medicare Advantage patients and Part D beneficiaries to be enrolled in Medicare or to have opted out in order for their services to be covered.

As a substitute for the enrollment/opt-out requirement, CMS will utilize a preclusion list, which will go into effect on January 1, 2019. 

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