September 2020

 

Charging patients for PPE

As you continue to treat patients during this pandemic, remember that you cannot submit a separate charge to Delta Dental members for the cost of personal protection equipment (PPE). Current Delta Dental policy states PPE is not billable to the patient.

You also may not use code D1999 for the cost of PPE, as incorrectly stated in an American Dental Association email on April 21. The use of D1999 for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 is not an appropriate use of the code. According to CDT 2020, code D1999 is for an unspecified preventive procedure. 

Any claims submitted to Delta Dental that charge members with the cost of PPE, either through a separate charge or with code D1999, will be denied as not billable to the patient.

 

Claim submission timeline changes

Due to the national emergency caused by COVID-19, the U.S. Department of Labor has passed a regulation that extends the claim submission deadline beyond our standard 12-month timeline.

When reviewing claims for timeliness, Delta Dental will disregard the “Outbreak Period,” which has been identified as the time between March 1, 2020, until 60 days after the announced end of the national emergency, or another date as announced in the future. The change applies to your patients with commercial Delta Dental benefits.

The exact time frame of the extension is dependent on the end of the national emergency. We will keep you updated as information becomes available.

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Receive your Henry Schein credit

To help your practice restock its supplies and better serve your patients, Delta Dental is providing all dentists in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana who are currently practicing, and have an active license and Type 1 NPI number, with a $1,000 credit to Henry Schein to be used toward existing account balances or toward any future purchase of dental products and/or services from Henry Schein.1

This is our gift to you—we are facing unprecedented challenges and you have a vital role in helping our community members safely receive important care to maintain good oral and overall health.

Click here to read details on eligibility, receiving a credit or our FAQs.

Additional details

  • The $1,000 credit is yours to use as you deem necessary—from the purchase of PPE, office equipment or additional services. If you have an existing balance with Henry Schein, your credit will be applied to your existing balance first. For example: If you receive the credit and have an existing account balance of $600, you will have a $400 credit remaining for future purchases.
  • More than one dentist in a practice may receive the credit as long as each dentist is eligible.
  • The program will begin for eligible dentists on May 26, 2020, and end December 31, 2020. Unless Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana decides to extend the credit period, the credit will not be applied to any accounts after December 31, 2020.
  • All value, recipient criteria and direction of this credit offering is provided by Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana.2
1 Issuance of credit by Henry Schein under the credit offering is contingent upon Henry Schein’s receipt of the necessary underlying funds from Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana.
2  Please note that participation in this program is completely voluntary and is being offered by Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana on a voluntary basis to assist practices during the COVID-19 crisis and is not a guarantee of funding. NEITHER DELTA DENTAL NOR HENRY SCHEIN SHALL BE LIABLE IN ANY WAY FOR ANY LOSSES OR DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, WHETHER DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOST PROFITS AND LOSS OF GOODWILL, ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO ANY DUTY OF COMMON LAW, AND WHETHER OR NOT OCCASIONED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF DELTA DENTAL OR HENRY SCHEIN, REGARDLESS OF ANY NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.  IF THE FOREGOING LIMITATION OF LIABILITY PROVISION, OR ANY PORTION THEREOF, IS HELD BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO BE INVALID, ILLEGAL VOID OR UNENFORCEABLE, PLEASE NOTE THAT IN NO EVENT OR UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES MAY DELTA DENTAL OR HENRY SCHEIN’S MAXIMUM TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THIS PROGRAM EXCEED $1,000.

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Invisalign processing change

Delta Dental has changed the way it processes the Invisalign type of orthodontics.

Invisalign and similar nontraditional orthodontic methods are no longer considered an optional or alternate benefit. When a claim indicates Invisalign, it will be processed with submitted orthodontic codes, and the patient will no longer be responsible for the difference between the submitted and approved fees. 

This change went into effect June 12, 2020.

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Online CE courses for your staff

/getmedia/d7a097d5-0d91-4e24-a31d-4c8325d55c53/money_icon.aspx?width=160&height=160Are you looking for continuing education (CE) courses in the dental field? You’re in luck! 

Delta Dental provides online CE courses at no cost to our participating providers and their hygienists, assistants and office staff. Continue learning today!

Visit https://www.deltadentalin.com/onlineeducation

Available Courses

  • Dental Care for Children with Special Health Care Needs
  • Fluoride*
  • How to Complete an Age 1 Dental Visit
  • HPV and Head and Neck Cancer
  • Human Trafficking—Modern Day Slavery
  • Infant and Toddler Oral Health Care
  • Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions
  • Safe Opioid Prescribing Practices, New Laws and Regulations*
  • The Proper Handling of Amalgam and its Wastes—Complying with the New EPA Rules*
  • The Seal is the Deal*

*These courses were released in 2020 

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