Saturday, August 15, 2020

8:30 a.m.

Via GoToWebinar

The DDKS Annual Membership Meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday August 15, 2020. Consistent with our commitment to providing a safe and healthy environment for our Members’ annual meeting, and in light of public health concerns surrounding the COVID-19 virus and possible governmental meeting restrictions, the DDKS Board of Directors voted to hold this year’s Meeting virtually via GoToWebinar.

To ensure a smooth and secure meeting, DDKS will be utilizing the services of an experienced outside company to conduct the meeting. Participation in this format will permit participants to both hear and see presentations as well as ask questions. Although many of us are now familiar with virtual meeting protocols, some brief guidelines regarding meeting format and participation will be outlined at the beginning of the meeting. Please login and join the meeting at least 15 minutes early to help facilitate a smooth meeting start at 8:30.  

Only Participating Dentists are eligible to attend and vote, and those who wish to attend must register for the meeting by noon on Friday, August 14, 2020. Registration is available by logging in to your online dentist account here. Each registrant must use their own individual email address. Upon successfully registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing your unique identification number and information about joining the webinar. If you do not receive a confirmation, please contact us at pr@deltadentalks.com.

Pursuant to the Bylaws, the purpose of the meeting is to receive the annual reports of the officers, elect a member to the DDKS Board of Directors, and transact such other business as may properly be presented. With respect to the Board election, a Nominating Committee was appointed by the Board Chair, pursuant to Article V, Section 7, of the DDKS Bylaws. The Committee met on June 23, 2020, and nominated Dr. Jeffrey Burkett for a four-year term on the DDKS Board of Directors. As of this date, Dr. Nick Troilo has also been nominated by petition. Additional nominations may be made via a written petition containing the nominee’s name, signed by at least ten (10) members in good standing, and delivered to the Chairperson of the Board at least five (5) days prior to the Annual Meeting at the following address: Mr. Gary Yager, Board Chair, Delta Dental of Kansas, Inc., P.O. Box 789769, Wichita, KS 67278-9769. 

Thank you and we look forward to your participation in the Annual Meeting.

All Delta Dental of Kansas (DDKS) Participating Dentists are invited to attend the DDKS Annual Membership Meeting on Saturday, August 15, 2020 at 8:30 a.m.

Please note: In order to keep the safety and health of member dentists a top priority as well as meeting proper social distancing and meeting restrictions as a result of COVID-19, the meeting is being held virtually this year. Keep an eye out for details coming soon. 

The Dentist Support PPE Program was implemented on June 1, 2020 to help assist Participating Dentists with increased costs related to PPE from the COVID-19 pandemic. This program will remain in effect until December 31, 2020 (extended from July 31, 2020).

Important program reminders: 

• Payments will be issued monthly as a bulk payment for the total number of DDKS patient visits from the prior month (Checks will be mailed around the 15th of each month).
• Delta Dental of Kansas will pay participating dental practices in Kansas $10 per patient visit for patients that are DDKS covered members only.
• Participating Dentists will submit claims as usual (no special codes or notes needed).
• Claims must be received within 30 days of the date of service in order for DDKS to calculate payments.

The Dentist Support PPE Program is in addition to two dentist relief programs that were launched in April. The first program - our Dentist Relief Aid Program - distributed approximately $3 million in relief payments in April. The second program - our Dentist Advance Claims Payment Program - provided interest-free claims advance payments to assist Participating Dentists across the state with their practice. You are an important partner with us in improving the oral health of your patients. We are committed to supporting you, our group purchasers, our members and our employees during these unprecedented times.

We want to make sure we are communicating to your patients about dental benefits in a way that is easy to understand. As part of this effort, we have completely revamped our Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) to a more member-friendly format with easy-to-understand terms and language. Some key updates:

• A high level call-out section that will quickly tell the member what is being paid by their dental plan and what their share of the cost is.

• Links for patients to have easy access to all information related to their dental benefits plan including exclusions and limitations.

• A simplified claim detail chart.

• An added benefit summary section letting the member know how much of their deductible and annual maximum they have used to date.

• A clear call-out at the bottom of the page letting the member know how much of their Benefit Period Annual Maximum they have remaining to use.

• On the back of the new EOB, we’ve added helpful definitions, explanations of appeal rights in plain language, and more.

Next up, we will be updating the Explanation of Payments (EOPs) that are mailed to dental offices with checks.

What did our EOB used to look like? You can view an example of our old EOB here.

View New EOB Example

Silver Diamine Fluoride is now a Covered Preventive Service Under Most Delta Dental of Kansas Dental Plans

Dental code: D1354 – interim caries arresting medicament application – per tooth 

Benefit level: Preventive 

Frequency: Twice per tooth, per benefit year 

Delta Dental of Kansas Dental Plans Offer at Least Two Cleanings per Benefit Year

All Delta Dental of Kansas (DDKS) patients in Kansas have dental plans that allow for at least 2 cleanings at any point during the benefit year, and many DDKS groups have chosen to add unlimited cleanings to their plans. You don't have to wait for the exact 6 month mark to schedule your Delta Dental of Kansas patients for their next appointment.

Also, plans with an incentive only require one preventive service every 12 months for patients to remain at the incentive benefit level.

Easily check your patient’s benefits and eligibility by logging in to your dentist account here. 

Does your patient have dual dental insurance coverage?  

When a patient has dual dental insurance coverage, the two insurance companies will, in most cases, “coordinate benefits” for the patient – this process is called Coordination of Benefits. In order for Delta Dental of Kansas to coordinate benefits with another insurance company, the patient must complete our Dual Coverage Information Request form located here so that we know what other insurance company we need to work with, and which plan will pay first/second. 

How does it work? 

When a patient is covered by more than one dental plan, one plan will pay first (the primary plan), and one plan will pay second (the secondary plan). Here are some general rules about which plan is primary/secondary: 

• In Kansas, the patient’s plan through his or her employment is generally primary.
• For dependent children, the “birthday rule” is used when the parents are married or living together. This means that the dental plan covering the parent whose birthday (month and day) occurs earlier in the calendar year will be the primary plan – and the plan covering the parent whose birthday falls later in the year will be the secondary plan.

Click below to see more details on determining primary and secondary dental plans.

Learn More

The oral examination comprises a uniform and consistent inspection of the head and neck and an intraoral evaluation of the hard and soft tissues - in conjunction with a thorough medical and dental history. The entire mouth should be inspected regardless of the patient’s chief complaint and reasons for the visit. Let's take a look at the various types of oral evaluations available to dental practitioners.

D0120 - Periodic Oral Evaluation – Established Patient

An evaluation performed on a patient of record to determine any changes in the patient’s dental and medical health status since a previous comprehensive or periodic evaluation. Evaluation includes an oral cancer screening and periodontal screening/charting where indicated.

D0140 - Limited Oral Evaluation – Problem Focused

An evaluation limited to a specific oral health problem or complaint. Typically, patients present with a specific problem, trauma, acute infection, emergency, etc.

D0145 - Oral Evaluation for A Patient Under Three Years of Age and Counseling with a Primary Caregiver

Diagnostic services performed for a child under the age of three. Evaluation includes recording the oral and physical health history, evaluation of caries susceptibility, and development of an appropriate preventive oral health regimen. Evaluation includes counseling the child’s primary caregiver with respect to fluoride recommendations, diet recommendations, and instructions for cleaning the child’s teeth.

D0150 - Comprehensive Oral Evaluation – New or Established Patient

A thorough evaluation and recording of the extra oral and intra oral hard and soft tissues. Evaluation includes an evaluation for oral cancer, evaluation and recording of the patient’s dental and medical history, a general health assessment, recording of dental caries, missing or unerupted teeth, restorations, existing prosthesis, occlusal relationships, periodontal condition (including periodontal screening/charting), and tissue anomalies.

D0160 - Detailed and Extensive Oral Evaluation – Problem Focused, by report

A detailed and extensive problem focused evaluation based on the findings of a comprehensive oral evaluation. Examples of conditions requiring this type of evaluation may include dentofacial anomalies, complicated perio-prosthetic conditions, complex temporomandibular dysfunction, and facial pain of unknown origin. The condition requiring this type of evaluation should be described and documented.

D0170 - Re-evaluation – Limited, Problem Focused (Established Patient; Not Post-Operative Visit)

Assessing the status of a previously existing condition. Typically, D0170 would be preceded by another evaluation.

D0171 - Re-evaluation – Post Operative Office Visit

Assessing the status of a previously performed procedure.

D0180 - Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluation – New or Established Patient

An evaluation performed for patients showing signs or symptoms of periodontal disease and for patients with risk factors such as smoking and diabetes. Procedure includes evaluation of periodontal conditions, probing and charting, evaluation and recording of the patient’s dental and medical history, and general health assessment. It may include the recording of dental caries, missing or unerupted teeth, restorations, existing prosthesis, and occlusal relationships.

An easier way to submit an appeal to Delta Dental of Kansas is here. You can now easily submit an appeal form online here.

Online Appeal Form

Each year, a Dentist Nominating Committee is appointed by the Delta Dental of Kansas (DDKS) Board Chair. The purpose of the Committee is to nominate a candidate for election to the DDKS Board of Directors. Gary Yager, Board Chair, appointed Dr. Don Wilson to chair this year's Dentist Nominating Committee.

Nominations may be submitted to Dr. Wilson at pr@deltadentalks.com. Interested parties may be asked to meet with the Committee on June 23, 2020, at 5:00 p.m.

The election to fill the Board vacancy will be held at the DDKS Annual Membership Meeting on Saturday, August 15, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. Due to possible meeting restrictions as a result of COVID-19, the meeting is being held virtually this year. Details will be released soon.

Questions? Contact your Professional Relations Team.

We have instituted our business continuity plan during this time to ensure that we continue to provide excellent service to you. We have planned and prepared for situations that allow us to work remotely while continuing to provide the best-in-class service you’ve come to expect from Delta Dental of Kansas. Our teams have the tools and resources to meet our customers’ needs. We believe there will be little to no business disruption during this time. This is an unprecedented situation and we appreciate your patience.

Delta Dental of Kansas is committed to providing proactive information to help you manage through these challenging times.

Tele-dentistry and Processing Update

We are aware that some of your offices have had to close or reduce your office hours. Due to these changes, DDKS has implemented the following:

• DDKS will benefit limited oral evaluations completed via tele-dentistry within the next 60 days. Please use ADA code D0140 Limited Oral Evaluation - problem focused, to describe the treatment rendered. Also, please be mindful of maintaining appropriate chart notes in accordance with current Kansas Dental Board dental record keeping requirement under K.S.A.-65-1436.
• If DDKS receives any claim submitted during this time frame requiring additional information pursuant to current processing policies, DDKS will be flexible with the 14 day policy for you to return requested information.

Payment Continuity

• Your Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) payments will not be impacted. You will continue to receive timely payments as usual.
• We are working with our print vendor to ensure that paper checks will not be impacted during this time. We will continue to update information at DeltaDentalKS.com/COVID-19.
• Haven’t signed up for EFT yet? Complete this form and email to finance@deltadentalks.com to get set up with electronic payments.

Our Customer Service and Claims Teams are Operational

A majority of our workforce is working remotely in order to do our part to protect the safety and health of our employees and the general public. Our teams have the tools and resources to meet your needs. We believe there will be little to no business disruption during this time.

Please consider submitting claims electronically during this time in order for us to assist you more quickly while working remotely.

Online Resources and Self-Service Tools Available 24/7

Log in to your Delta Dental of Kansas online dentist account, where you can:

• Look-up patient benefits
• Submit claims and pre-determinations
• View claim status
• Retrieve payment information
• And more

If you haven’t registered for an online account, you can easily do so here.

Benefits Fax Back is another quick and easy way to obtain your patient’s benefit information, including frequencies. Here’s how:

• Dial 1-877-FAX-DDKS (329-3357) or 316-462-3360
• You will get an automated voice response that will lead you through simple instructions. You will need to know the treating dentist’s tax ID and license number, and the patient’s Delta Dental ID number.
• You will be sent a fax immediately.

Important COVID-19 Resources

• The CDC - cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• The American Dental Association - ADA.org/virus
• The Kansas Department of Health - govstatus.egov.com/coronavirus
• The Kansas Dental Association - ksdental.org
• OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19: osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf

Other Delta Dental Companies

To our knowledge, all Delta Dental organizations are operational. Some Delta Dental organizations have decided to close their offices, but continue to work remotely to support our Participating Dentists, members, groups and brokers. If you are having issues with a certain Delta Dental organization, please contact your Professional Relations Representative.

DeltaDentalKS.com/COVID-19