Billy Tarpley – Page 5 – Arkansas State Dental Association

Clinic closure highlights dental care challenges in Medicaid

Billy Tarpley on June 27, 2023

Reprinted from ADA Morning Huddle, June 26, 2023:

The closure of a dental clinic in Albany, N.Y., that serves people with Medicaid places additional pressure on federally qualified health centers that provide dental care for people with low incomes and those who are uninsured. A recent settlement to expand dental services under the state’s Medicaid program won’t help people get the dental care they need without enough providers. People who are unable to access dental care are more likely have worse health problems, which can place a burden on emergency departments, says James Galati, D.D.S., former president of the New York State Dental Association.

Full Story: Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) (tiered subscription model) (6/23

Operation Stand Down 2023 set for November

Billy Tarpley on April 21, 2023

On Friday, November 3, 2023, the Arkansas Chapter of the ICD will host the 2nd Operation Stand Down, a dental mission dedicated to treating our nation’s veterans. As with last year, the six hosts will be:

Dr. Ned Alley, Little Rock
Dr. Troy Bartels, Jonesboro
Dr. David Bell, Arkadelphia
Dr. Angela Broomfield and Dr. Kristen Beavers, Fayetteville
Dr. Cara Jones, Pine Bluff
Dr. Charlie Liggett and Dr. Cole Johnson, Fort Smith

Last year’s event was successful and generated a great deal of public interest. The organizers anticipate a jump in participation this year and expect a need for more volunteers, so please consider volunteering either a half day or full day at one of these six sites. The location is strictly up to you, although the staffing needs at each site varies.

Treatment and services provided will primarily address chief complaints/pain, and the Arkansas ICD will appoint veterans to minimum hour-long appointments to prevent waiting, lines, etc. Volunteer cost is travel and time.

Please contact Dr. R. Mark Bailey at dr.markbailey@gmail.com if you want to participate. Please specify your site preference and how many auxiliaries (RDA and RDH) will accompany you.

For more questions, contact Dr. Bailey through his email or at 479-207-0205.

ADA clarifies “good faith estimates” in No Surprises Act

Billy Tarpley on April 6, 2023

A new bill expected to pass Congress today references the No Surprises Act, which requires medical providers to provide “a good faith estimate of expected charges” before treating uninsured and underinsured patients. The act, which went into effect on January 1, 2022, curbs unexpected billing and provide consumers new financial protections when undergoing both emergency and non-emergency care.

On February 22, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid clarified how this new law affects dentistry and how your practice should bill and provide patient estimates going forward.

For more information on best practices, estimates, and exceptions to the good faith estimate rule, please visit the ADA and CMS websites.

MATE Act in spending bill includes changes sought by ADA

Billy Tarpley on April 6, 2023

The omnibus spending bill approved by Congress at the end of 2022 includes the Medication Access and Training Expansion Act, which requires dentists and other providers who prescribe controlled substances (Schedules II-V) to have eight hours of training before obtaining or renewing a Drug Enforcement Administration registration. ADA advocacy was successful in getting Congress to change some MATE Act provisions to align with Association policy, including the removal of a requirement that dentists take three hours of specialized training to prescribe buprenorphine, which is beyond the scope of dental practice.

Download a printable FAQ here.

(Reprinted from ADA Morning Huddle)

Full Story: ADA News

ASDA Storm Relief Response

Billy Tarpley on April 1, 2023

The outbreak of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms that struck Arkansas on Friday, March 31 dealt a crippling blow to hundreds of businesses and residences in our state. Unfortunately, several dental offices did not escape the damage either. To that end, ASDA wants to know and we’re asking for your help.

Please help ASDA gather information on dentists who may have suffered damage from Friday’s weather events. Whether it was you who experienced a loss or another dentist we want to gather information as to how we may be of assistance.

Obviously, insurance will be the first resource in assembling the data necessary to address property losses, but ASDA has access to limited funds that may be used for expenses that may not otherwise covered by the doctor’s insurance policies.

For the time being, we will gather basic information and reach out to you or the affected parties as soon as possible. More detailed information will be requested at a later date.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE FORM

DATA RECOVERY

During this time of recovery, Standard Computer is offering free data recovery services to any dental office that was impacted from the storms. According to CEO Sean Kubin, “If a dentist’s server won’t boot, we will try to recover data to a loaner server or virtual machine.” He said they can also provide estimates or statements for electrical or flood damage to offices. Just email staff@standardcomputer.com or call 501-224-0050 ext. 1 for more information

ASDA OFFICE

The ASDA headquarters office in Sherwood is presently without power due to the tornado. We hope that electricity can be restored next week, but will continue to monitor phone calls to the best of our ability. For now, if we can be of assistance please use the following information:

Billy Tarpley, Executive Director – billy@arkansasdentistry.org. – cell 870-260-6079
Gorma McBride, Comptroller – gorma@arkansasdentistry.org – cell 251-294-2488
Dwight Callaham, PAIS Agency Manager – dwight@paisllc.com – cell 501-993-6991
Holly Scheiber, PAIS/ASDA – holly@paislls.com – cell 501-326-4482

Obituary: Dr. Marty Joe Harderson of Clarksville, AR

Billy Tarpley on March 2, 2023

Marty Joe Harderson, DDS was born on June 9, 1960 in Clarksville, AR to Joe and Juanita Harderson. He graduated from formerly known as Hartman High School in Hartman, Arkansas, known now as Westside High School in Coal Hill, AR to eventually earn several high school honors, including the highest achievement math award. Ultimately, he made the decision to attend dental school in Memphis, Tennessee, which would set the course for the rest of his life. He used his skills in dentistry to help countless patients, witness to them as he was working on them, sing to them as he was working on them and make them feel more comfortable in a dentist office. He had an overwhelming passion to help those in need, resulting in several mission trips to different countries and mission clinics across the state of Arkansas. He loved music, learned how to play multiple instruments and wrote several songs that have touched so many lives. His love for the Lord was reflected in his love for people, family and his ministry of music in the church. Marty was full of life, loved to tell jokes and loved football more than most. He was an amazing father, grandfather and will be missed by several people more than words can describe.

He is preceded in death by Joe Harderson (father), Juanita Harderson (mother), Shiryl Harderson (sister) and Noah Samuel Harderson (grandson).

He is survived by one son, Gabriel (Crystal) Harderson of Clarksville; two brothers, Ken (Stacy) Harderson of Ozone and Victor Harderson of Oceanside, CA; one sister, Melba (Shawn) Ritchie of Pottsville; his four grandchildren, Kylee, Blakelee, Wyatt and Saylor and a host of other family and friends.

ADA receives clarification on No Surprises Act

Billy Tarpley on March 2, 2023

American Dental Association update, March 2, 2023 – Dental providers and facilities are “generally required to provide uninsured patients with a good faith estimate of expected charges” unless the patient is enrolled in an excepted benefit plan or coverage such as a stand-alone dental plan, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid.

This was one of the answers the ADA received from CMS when the Association shared common questions it has received from member dentists about the No Surprises Act, also known as surprise billing.

The No Surprises Act went into effect Jan. 1, 2022. The law gives consumers billing protections when getting emergency care, nonemergency care from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, and air ambulance services from out-of-network providers.

Many dentists have asked the ADA about good faith estimates and whether they need to provide them.

On Feb. 22, CMS sent an email to ADA confirming that dental providers are required to provide uninsured or self-pay individuals with a good faith estimate of expected charges under [federal regulation] 45 CFR 149.610. The agency did note that providers and facilities are “generally not required to provide a good faith estimate to an individual enrolled in an excepted benefit plan or coverage such as a limited-scope dental plan, even if the individual is not enrolled in other coverage.”

“This is because such an individual is considered to be enrolled in a group health plan or health insurance coverage under the Public Health Service Act, and therefore is generally not considered uninsured,” CMS said.

The CMS also said there were two exceptions to the good faith estimate rule:

“If the excepted benefit plan or coverage does not cover a scheduled or requested item or service (for example, because the excepted benefit plan is a limited-scope vision plan and the individual is scheduling dental services), and the individual has no other coverage for the item or service, that individual is considered uninsured with respect to that item or service, and the provider or facility must give them an uninsured or self-pay good faith estimate,” the response said. “Similarly, if the individual does not seek to have a claim for the item or service submitted to their excepted benefit plan or coverage, and the individual has no other coverage for that item or service, that individual is considered self-pay with respect to that item or service, and the provider or facility must give them an uninsured (or self-pay) good faith estimate.

“In both of these cases, the individual with the uninsured or self-pay good faith estimate would be eligible to initiate the Patient-Provider Dispute Resolution process if the provider or facility’s bill is at least $400 more than the estimate in the good faith estimate.”

CMS also noted that in making the determination as to whether the individual is uninsured or self-pay, “there is no requirement in [the regulation] that providers or facilities verify coverage for each item or service with the individual’s plan or issuer. Providers and facilities may make this determination based on its inquiries of the individual under [the regulation.]”

For previous ADA News information on the No Surprises Act, read this 2022 article.

For information on all of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid guidance on the No Surprises Act, visit CMS.gov/NoSurprises.

The ADA continues to monitor this evolving issue and will share any updates the Association receives. This article is not, and should not, be considered legal advice.

For more information on all the ADA’s advocacy efforts, visit ADA.org/Advocacy.

The top 3 challenges facing dentists in 2023

Billy Tarpley on February 1, 2023

What’s in Store for the Dental Sector in 2023?

American Dental Association, February 1, 2023 –

2023 marks the third year of the ADA Health Policy Institute’s monthly polling around the perspectives of practicing dentists on the dental economy and other current events impacting the industry. Whether you’ve been with us from the start or joined somewhere along the way, we thank you for your continued interest and insights as we begin another year together. Now that the books have closed on 2022, we’re surveying the dental landscape of 2023. The December and January waves of HPI’s Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry poll find that dentists are actively anticipating and taking action for the year ahead:

Top 3 Challenges: The top concerns dental practices are dealing with are staffing, rising operating costs, and stagnant insurance reimbursement levels. There will continue to be margin compression.
Top 3 Practice Preparations: The top actions dentists plan in 2023 are raising fees, hiring more staff and dropping out of some insurance networks. Nearly three out of four dentists plan to raise their fees, 2 out of 5 dentists want to hire more staff, and more than a third intend to drop out of some insurance networks.

Other key takeaways include:

Recruitment Needs: Recruitment needs for dental hygienists and assistants slightly declined again in January. But by no means is the shortage over. Dentists continue to say recruitment is extremely challenging.
Practice Schedules: Dental practice schedules remain steady at the start of 2023, with schedules 85% full on average in January. For several months, we have been in a ‘holding pattern’. Increasingly, dental practices are saying ‘not enough patients’ is the key reason they are not busier, compared to ‘staffing shortages’ which was a much bigger reason a year ago.
Dental Spending: The December data show no big developments in terms of dental spending trends. Here too, we appear to be in a ‘holding pattern’. It is unlikely there is any more pent-up demand to work through, and we may be hitting a new “steady state.”

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RESULTS

Employee Retention Credit: Does Your Dental Practice Qualify?

Billy Tarpley on January 24, 2023

A MESSAGE FROM GILL RAGON OWEN ATTORNEYS: Keeping You Informed!

EMPLOYEE RETENTION CREDITS

_______________________________________________________________

If your business (even if it’s tax-exempt) had W-2 employees during 2020 and 2021, your business may qualify retroactively to claim Employee Retention Credits of up to $26,000 per employee.

The law recently changed to allow an employer to retroactively claim the Employee Retention Credits, even if the business obtained a PPP loan.

Now, an employer may amend its payroll tax returns (Form 941, etc.) for tax year 2020 and the first three quarters of tax year 2021 to claim the Employee Retention Credit if either:

the business’s (or a major supplier’s) operations were impacted by a government order related to COVID; or
the business suffered a significant reduction in revenue compared to its 2019 revenue.

We work on a contingency basis to help a business determine in a formal tax opinion as to whether your business is eligible to claim Employee Retention Credits, and, if so, to what amount of Employee Retention Credits it is entitled.

Please contact Chris Travis or Adam Reid at (501) 376-3800 to begin the process.

ADA: Half of Dentists Say Patients Are High at Dental Appointments

Billy Tarpley on November 3, 2022

Medical Marijuana Use May Affect Oral Health and Treatment

CHICAGO, November 3, 2022 – As personal and medical marijuana use increases nationwide, the American Dental Association (ADA) suggests patients refrain from using marijuana before dental visits after a new survey finds more than half of dentists (52%) reported patients arriving for appointments high on marijuana or another drug.

Currently, recreational marijuana use is legal in 19 states and the District of Columbia, with five more states voting on ballot measures Nov. 8. Medicinal use is legal in 37 states and the District of Columbia.

“When talking through health histories, more patients tell me they use marijuana regularly because it is now legal,” says ADA spokesperson Dr. Tricia Quartey, a dentist in New York. “Unfortunately, sometimes having marijuana in your system results in needing an additional visit.”

That’s because being high at the dentist can limit the care that can be delivered. The survey of dentists found 56% reported limiting treatment to patients who were high. Because of how marijuana and anesthesia impact the central nervous system, 46% of surveyed dentists reported sometimes needing to increase anesthesia to treat patients who needed care.

Findings were uncovered in two online surveys earlier this year – one of 557 dentists and a second nationally representative survey of 1,006 consumers – conducted as part of trend research by the ADA.

“Marijuana can lead to increased anxiety, paranoia and hyperactivity, which could make the visit more stressful. It can also increase heart rate and has unwanted respiratory side effects, which increases the risk of using local anesthetics for pain control,” Dr. Quartey said. “Plus, the best treatment options are always ones a dentist and patient decide on together. A clear head is essential for that.”

Studies have also shown regular marijuana users are more likely to have significantly more cavities than non-users.

“The active ingredient in marijuana, THC, makes you hungry, and people don’t always make healthy food choices under its influence,” Dr. Quartey said. “Medically speaking, munchies are real.”

The science behind oral health and marijuana is beginning to emerge, particularly when it comes to edible or topical forms. Still, there are strong indications that smoking marijuana is harmful to oral and overall health. The ADA surveyed 1,006 consumers in a second poll around marijuana and vaping use. The results of the representative sample found nearly 4 in 10 (39%) patients reported using marijuana, with smoking the most common form of use. Separately, 25% of respondents said they vaped, and of those respondents, 51% vaped marijuana.

“Smoking marijuana is associated with gum disease and dry mouth, which can lead to many oral health issues,” Dr. Quartey said. “It also puts smokers at an increased risk of mouth and neck cancers.”

The ADA has called for additional research around marijuana and oral health and will continue to monitor the science to provide clinical recommendations for dentists and patients.

In the meantime, survey results show 67% of patients say they are comfortable talking to their dentist about marijuana. The ADA recommends dentists discuss marijuana use while reviewing health history during dental visits.

“If we ask, it’s because we’re here to keep you in the best health we can,” Dr. Quartey says. “If you use it medicinally, we can work with your prescribing physician as part of your personal healthcare team.”

In the meantime, patients who use marijuana can stay on top of their oral health with a strong daily hygiene routine of brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between teeth daily and visiting the dentist regularly and making healthy snack choices.

For more information on the oral health effects of marijuana, visit ADA.org.