The Explorer Winter 2018 Spring Final | Page 9

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN OFFERING DISCOUNT DENTAL PLANS (CONT.)
encouraged to review applicable
sections of the Dental Practice Act to
ensure that their program design is in
compliance, including the permissible
advertising laws and regulations under
Business and Professions Code Section
651 and California Code of Regulations
Title 16 Section 1051.
A dental office considering creating an
in-office discount or payment assistance
program for patients should know that
such programs need to be reviewed by
DMHC, and in fact, the department has
approved many such programs, without
the need for the programs to be licensed
by the state. Programs allowed have a
number of elements in common:
• A monthly or annual fee paid by the
patient. This fee is essentially banked
to cover care provided through
participation in the program.
• A distinction between the services
that will be provided at no-cost as
part of the program enrollment (i.e.,
diagnostic and preventive services)
and which services will be provided at
a discount (i.e., therapeutic services).
Such a program might look like this:
1. Diagnostic and preventive
services: oral examination and
diagnosis, including radiographs,
routine oral prophylaxis, topical
fluoride application and dental
sealants. Services provided at no
additional cost to the patient
beyond the monthly/annual
enrollment fee.
2. Therapeutic services:
periodontal services, fillings and
restorative, endodontic services
and prosthetic services. Services
paid for by the patient on a fee-
for-service basis, but at a 10
percent discount from the
practice's usual fees.
3. Participation available to any
cash-pay patient.
4. Details of the program are
provided in writing to enrolling
patients.
5. The ability for a patient to
disenroll from the program at any
time. Patients who dis-enroll will
receive a refund for the unused
portion of the banked funds.
DMHC is concerned about how such an
in-office program is marketed. A
description of the proposed program
should include marketing or enrollment
materials that will be used for
promoting the program, a copy of the
patient enrollment forms, a copy of the
patient agreement/contract, etc. The
more program details included with
your proposal will assist the department
in its review.
Before establishing a program in the
office, it should be submitted to the
DMHC for review:
Office of Legal Services
California Department of Managed
Health Care
980 Ninth Street, Suite 500
Sacramento, California 95814 䡲
CDA CARES ANAHEIM IS ALMOST HERE
— SHARE WHY YOU CARE IN 3 STEPS
Reprinted with permission from California Dental Association
An estimated 10 million Califo rnians experience barriers to
care. Through the generosity of volunteers, thousands of
them receive no-cost dental treatment at CDA Cares, the
biannual clinic hosted by CDA and the CDA Foundation. On
average, 1,950 individuals receive care at each event. For
some of these individuals, the treatment is life-changing.
But the lives of volunteers are also changed by giving others
health, hope and happiness. There are countless
heartwarming stories from dentists and dental students who
are surprised by the impact the clinic has made on them.
The next CDA Cares comes to Anaheim April 27–28, and a new
tool makes it easier than ever to change even more lives. If you
volunteer for or donate to CDA Cares, you can help share the
experience with your colleagues and friends in three simple steps
with our social media toolkit. Choose among graphics that
capture amazing moments at the event and post them to your
own social media accounts.
Visit cdafoundation.org/share to see how to post and share why
you care. And if you haven’t yet signed up to volunteer in
Anaheim, you can do so at cdafoundation.org/Anaheim.
Copyright © 2018 California Dental Association 䡲
Los Angeles Dental Society Explorer