​KDHE and KSU Remind Dentists of Upcoming Amalgam Rule, Require One-Time Compliance Report

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment ​(KDHE) and Kansas State University Pollution Prevention Institute (KSU PPI) have partnered to help dentists prepare for the upcoming compliance date of the EPA's new amalgam rule. 

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.

Dentists are encouraged to follow dental best management practices, set forth by the ADA, for amalgam waste handling and disposal. Additional highlights and exemptions to the rule can be found at ada.org/recycleamalgam.

Dental offices must also submit a one-time compliance report to the Kansas Environmental Assistance Program by October 12, 2020; OR if you discharge to a POTW with a pretreatment program, you may have different reporting requirements. Check here to see if your city has a pretreatment program and who you would need to contact for further information.

The report can be submitted online, emailed to amalgamrule@ksu.edu,or mailed to 2323 Anderson Ave, Ste 300 in Manhattan, KS 66502. More information is available on the KSU PPI web site.

More information on compliance in Kansas is available on the KSU PPI web site, and contact information for KDHE and our local EPA office is listed below.

KDHE Industrial Programs Section
Bureau of Water
Steve Caspers, Pretreatment Specialist
785-296-5551
steve.caspers@ks.gov

Environmental Protection Agency
Region 7 (KS, NE, IA, MO)
Paul Marshall, Pretreatment Specialist
913-551-7419
marshall.paul@epa.gov

KDA Endorsement of The Dentists Supply Company Begins June 1

Membership just keeps getting better! Your newest benefit? Significant savings on dental supplies.

The KDA has affiliated with The Dentists Supply Company (TDSC) to offer members a new way to shop for dental supplies.

TDSC is a member dentist led organization built to provide consistent, competitive pricing on dental supplies to members of organized dentistry regardless of practice size.

When you buy from TDSC, you are joining a collective of visionary dental professionals who believe the profession should be shaped by those who practice it. 

Dentists have already saved more than $4 million compared to MSRP on everything from adhesives to x-ray materials through tdsc.com. This is savings that can be reinvested back into the practice and patient care!

Ready to see how much you can save? Visit tdsc.com/kansas to learn more and get started today with a custom price comparison on the products you buy today.

Looking for more guidance? Schedule a virtual Lunch and Learn with TDSC!

Important Notice RE: KMAP Provider Registration

In compliance with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the State of Kansas, all KanCare providers must enroll and maintain an active Kansas Medical Assistance Program (KMAP) ID prior to contracting and credentialing with any Managed Care Organization (MCO).

As a valued partner in care with the Kansas Dental Association, Envolve Benefit Options wants to ensure that dentists satisfy this requirement to receive appropriate and timely payment for the services rendered to KMAP members. 

As a reminder, KMAP sent several bulletins detailing the new process and effective dates. 

On January 1, 2018, all new provider enrollments and re-credentialed providers were to enroll with KMAP in order to be enrolled/credentialed with MCOs. 

On November 1, 2018, all providers not currently enrolled with KMAP were to complete the KMAP screening and enrollment process to receive a KMAP ID to continue contracting with MCOs. 

As of January 1, 2019, the MCOs were to deny claims from providers who did not possess an active KMAP ID.

Please visit the KMAP web site to register using the Provider Enrollment Wizard. For questions, call KMAP Provider Enrollment at 1-800-933-6593.

Kansas City University Plans Dental College in Joplin, MO

The Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences plans to build a dental college on its Joplin campus.

University officials say the $80 million College of Dental Medicine in Joplin is planned to accept its first class of 80 students in 2022.

KCU President Marc Hahn said the university will help with a shortage of dentists in the region. He says nearly all counties within a 125-mile radius of Joplin qualify as a dental health professional shortage area under federal regulations. He says more than 750 dentists would be needed within the area to remove that designation.

The Joplin Globe reports the university has committed $40 million toward the project, and the rest will come from philanthropic efforts. About $20 million of the remaining amount has already been secured.

​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.

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

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.

Learn More

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. 

​Learn More

   
About the KDA