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News from the week of July 22, 2024

• CMS’ PROGRESS ON ORAL HEALTH INITIATIVES: 6 NOTES (Becker's Dental) – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published its inaugural fact sheet detailing the advance of its oral health initiative including progress in Medicare oral health coverage, Medicaid dental advances and more. 


• OHIO PASSES BILL AIMED AT IMPROVING DENTAL INSURANCE, LICENSE PORTABILITY (ADA News) – Ohio lawmakers passed legislation that aims to improve dental insurance by addressing non-covered services rules and license portability through the dentist and hygienist compact. 


• PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR SIGNS DENTAL INSURANCE REFORM BILL (Becker's Dental) – Pennsylvania has a new law requiring dental insurers to offer dentists alternatives to receiving payment via credit card which carry fees. 


• WITH COSTS UP BY AS MUCH AS 98% SINCE 2010, CAN MEDICAID DENTAL PRACTICES IN TEXAS SURVIVE? (Texas Dentists for Medicaid Reform) – Medicaid dental practices in Texas face critical challenges due to rising costs, staffing shortages, and outdated fee schedules.


• WHAT’S ON DECK FOR M&A IN THE DENTAL INDUSTRY (Becker's Dental) – Mergers and acquisitions were a huge part of the dental and DSO space in 2023, but changing economic conditions have raised uncertainty for the industry. 


• WHAT THE MEDICARE QUALITY RATING CHANGE MEANS FOR HEALTHCARE COMPANIES — AND PATIENT HEALTH (MedCityNews) – CMS is reevaluating its Star Ratings. Not only do health plans stand to benefit from the new calculations — all healthcare companies and millions of patients will reap the rewards.


• CMS CRACKS DOWN ON ACA BROKERS TO PREVENT PLAN SWITCHING (Healthcare Dive) – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking action to prevent unauthorized plan switching by Affordable Care Act (ACA) brokers, following consumer complaints.


• HEALTHCARE COSTS SET TO RISE BY AS MUCH AS 8% IN 2025: PWC (Fierce Healthcare) – A report from PWC predicts that healthcare costs will rise by 8% next year.


• USOFCARE REPORTS ON STATE POLICY TRENDS TO ADDRESS HEALTHCARE AFFORDABILITY (Healthcare Innovation) – Inflation and healthcare affordability are the top issues for 2024 presidential candidates to address, concludes USofCare based on its wrap-up of state legislative activity.


• 69% OF HEALTHCARE CONSUMERS WILL SWITCH PROVIDERS IF COMMUNICATIONS DON’T MEET EXPECTATIONS (HIT Consultant) – 69% of healthcare consumers switch providers if communications don’t meet expectations, prioritizing clear, timely interactions.


• HEALTHCARE STAKEHOLDERS ARE MOSTLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT HTI-2 (HealthcareIT News) – Healthcare leaders are reacting to the recently proposed HTI-2 interoperability rule, with most seeing it as a way to improve health information exchange between providers, health agencies and payers, others see large gaps.

News from the week of July 15, 2024

• NEW SURVEY FINDS OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF U.S. VOTERS SUPPORT MEDICARE DENTAL COVERAGE (Dentistry IQ) – A new survey reveals strong public support for Medicare dental coverage.


• WHY BERNIE SANDERS IS TARGETING ORAL HEALTH: ‘DENTAL CARE IN AMERICA IS IN CRISIS.' (USA Today) – Sen. Bernie Sanders is promoting legislation to expand dental coverage and access through Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA.


• CMS PROPOSES EXPANDING DENTAL SERVICES ELIGIBLE FOR FEE-FOR-SERVICE MEDICARE PAYMENTS (Becker's Dental) – CMS released several proposals July 10 related to Medicare payments and claims submissions for dental services.


• COURT PAUSES CMS BROKER COMPENSATION RULE FOR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS (Fierce Healthcare) – A judge has paused CMS’s final rule on broker compensation for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.


• SENATORS INTRODUCE BILL TO HELP EXPAND DENTIST PIPELINES (Becker's Dental) – A new Senate bill would provide grant money to create and expand dental provider pipelines, prioritizing programs in underserved areas and recruiting instate students.


• CROSSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE TO SERVE MEDICAID POPULATIONS (HIT Consultant) – Studies find that Medicaid populations have access to cell phones and other personal technology, so efforts to bridge the digital divide should focus on related challenges such as health literacy, trust in the medical system, and reimbursement. 


• JUDGE DENIES REQUEST TO EXTENDED TIMEFRAME FOR GEORGIA’S NEW MEDICAID PLAN (FOX5 Atlanta) – A federal judge has denied a request to extend Georgia’s Medicaid alternative that launched a year ago. The program has enrolled fewer than 4,500 people, well below enrollment estimates.


• SENATORS INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN HEALTHCARE CYBERSECURITY LEGISLATION (Healthcare Dive) – The bill would create a special liaison within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to help coordinate the government’s response during cyber incidents.


• DENTAL PROBLEMS AFFECT EVERY DAY FOR THESE PATIENTS (Dr. Bicuspid) – A recent study highlights the need for policy reforms and interventions aimed at improving dental care access to mitigate the detrimental effects of poor oral health on daily functions for vulnerable populations.

News from the week of July 8, 2024

• ECONOMIC OUTLOOK AND CHALLENGES IN DENTISTRY (ADA HPI) – The ADA’s HPI is out with their Q2 Economic Outlook and dentists are reporting that their top three challenges are workforce issues, insurance reimbursement including delayed and denied payments and increasing overhead/expenses. In addition, more than a quarter of dentists say they may drop insurance networks in 2024.


• RHODE ISLAND AND LOUISIANA PASS DENTAL LOSS RATIO BILLS (ADA News) – Rhode Island and Louisiana have passed dental loss ratio bills.


• HOW MISSOURI IS GETTING MORE PEOPLE TO THE DENTIST — FOR MORE THAN A PRETTY SMILE (The Beacon) – This month Missouri added routine dental exams to their adult Medicaid program, previously only cleanings were covered. Advocates hope it will be a big step in improving oral health and overall health.


• DENTAL VISITS FOUND TO INCREASE WITH SUPPORT FROM PEDIATRIC PROVIDERS (Medical Xpress) – A new study finds that children’s dental visits increased when pediatricians were trained to discuss oral health and provide dental referrals during annual medical checkups.


• HHS PROPOSES PHYSICIAN PAYMENT RULE TO DRIVE WHOLE-PERSON CARE AND IMPROVE HEALTH QUALITY FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH MEDICARE (CMS) – CMS’s proposed (and controversial) Medicare physician payment rule includes notes on further exploration of expanding payment policies for dental services related to diabetes care and autoimmune diseases.


• STATES EXPERIENCE MEDICAID WINS (ADA News) – The ADA provides a wrap-up of recent state level Medicaid dental legislative changes.

News from the week of June 24, 2024

• LOWER-INCOME FAMILIES SPEND 7 TIMES MORE ON DENTAL CARE: REPORT (Becker's Dental) – A new report reveals lower-income families paid 7.4 times more in out-of-pocket costs for dental care compared to higher-income families between 2007 and 2021 and were less likely to visit the dentist.


• ‘I WAS EXPECTING EVERYBODY TO COME BACK AFTER COVID’: WHY STAFFING SHORTAGES HAVE DENTISTS SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS (Becker's Dental) – Dentists continue to grapple with staffing shortages and dental hygienists and assistants are being heavily recruited by competing practices offering higher wages.


• THE GROWING THREAT DENTISTS MAY NOT BE PREPARED FOR (Becker’s Dental) – General dentists may not be prepared for a cybersecurity incident as the possibility of these attacks grows, according to Huzefa Kapadia, DDS.


• RESEARCHERS LINK TOOTH LOSS TO INCREASED OBESITY RISK (Medical Xpress) HOW ALLERGIES MAY BUILD THE DENTAL-MEDICAL CONNECTION (Dr. Bicuspid) – Researchers have presented a new study linking tooth loss to obesity as well as recommendations for patient education. In addition, Oral mucosal immunotherapy (specially formulated toothpaste) is showing promise as a way to improve food and environmental allergies and may provide a method to strengthen the dental-medical connection among providers.


• STATES ADOPTED CHANGES TO EXPAND MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY AND STREAMLINE RENEWAL PROCESSES THAT WILL CONTINUE BEYOND THE UNWINDING, THOUGH CHALLENGES REMAIN (KFF) – The unwinding of Medicaid continuous enrollment provisions has led to changes that will extend beyond the current period. In addition, some states are facing challenges in maintaining coverage for seniors and people with disabilities due to cumbersome eligibility and renewal policies. 


• MEDICAID FOR MILLIONS IN AMERICA HINGES ON DELOITTE-RUN SYSTEMS PLAGUED BY ERRORS (KFF Health News) – Deloitte’s Medicaid eligibility systems have widespread problems that affect vulnerable populations. 


• 600K DROPPED FROM MEDICAID; HALF ARE CHILDREN (State Affairs) – Georgia is experiencing administrative challenges in managing the “Medicaid unwinding” process and researchers warn that a higher percentage of children are losing coverage in Georgia than in other states. Streamlined processes and improved communication could help alleviate some of these challenges.


• FIVE STEPS FOR MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS PAYERS TO HELP REPORT FEDERAL DATA (PWC) – Earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) upended data reporting for payers who provide supplemental benefits such as vision and dental supplements to government-provided Medicare. PWC offers five recommendations to maintain compliance with these government mandates.


• FOR VM'S 2024 TOP 50 U.S. OPTICAL RETAILERS, REVENUES SHOW HEALTHY GROWTH DESPITE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY (Vision Monday) – The collective sales of Vision Monday’s Top 50 U.S. Optical Retailers rose 8 percent in 2023 compared with 2022, reaching an estimated $20.1 billion from 16,369 locations.

News from the week of June 17, 2024

• COST OF DENTAL SERVICES UP 5% FROM 2023: 4 NOTES (Becker's Dental) – The cost of dental services has increased by 5.1% over the last year, and the report shows a 1% increase since April.


• AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ADOPTS POLICY IN SUPPORT OF EXPANDED DENTAL BENEFITS (Becker's Dental) – The American Medical Association recently adopted a policy to support expanding dental coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, aiming to improve access to dental care for patients.


• PATIENTS RECEPTIVE TO NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING AT THE DENTIST (Dr. Bicuspid) – According to a study published in BDJ Open, dental patients are open to receiving diet advice in dental settings and are willing to follow nutritional programs to prevent both oral and systemic diseases.


• STATES ENACT DENTAL BENEFIT LEGISLATION (ADA News) – Sixteen new dental benefit laws have been enacted in nine states, addressing issues like assignment of benefits, claims review transparency, downcoding, and bundling. These reforms aim to improve dental care access and insurer practices.


• A LOOK AT MEDICAID AND CHIP ELIGIBILITY, ENROLLMENT, AND RENEWAL POLICIES DURING THE UNWINDING OF CONTINUOUS ENROLLMENT AND BEYOND (KFF) – KFF reports on efforts states have made to improve the Medicaid renewal process, strengthen benefits and improve communication and engagement.


• A TALE OF TWO STATES: ARIZONA AND FLORIDA DIVERGE ON HOW TO EXPAND KIDS’ HEALTH INSURANCE (KFF) –  Legislatures in Florida and Arizona worked across party lines in 2023 to pass bills expanding their states’ Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).


• CMS RECALCULATES MEDICARE ADVANTAGE STAR RATINGS IN MAJOR WIN FOR INSURERS (Healthcare Dive) – The CMS has recalculated plans’ quality ratings in the Medicare Advantage program after a series of court rulings challenging the agency’s methodology in determining scores for 2024.


• UNINSURED RATE EXPECTED TO HIT 8.9% OVER NEXT DECADE, CBO FINDS (Healthcare Dive) – According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), federal subsidies for health insurance are projected to grow substantially from $1.8 trillion in 2023 to $3.3 trillion in 2033, reaching 8.3% of GDP.


• VIRTUAL SECOND OPINIONS SAVE OVER $8,700 PER PATIENT, NEW ANALYSIS FINDS (Healthcare Business Today) – A new quantitative case analysis from The Clinic by Cleveland Clinic reveals that virtual second opinions (VSOs) produce an average savings of $8,705 per patient.

News from the week of June 10, 2024

• UPDATE ON NET INCOME OF GENERAL PRACTITIONER DENTISTS (ADA  HPI) U.S. DENTIST RETIREMENT AND CAREER SPAN TRENDS (ADA  HPI) – The ADA’s Health Policy Institute provides net income statistics for general practitioner dentists in 2023 which vary based on factors such as location, practice type, and years of experience. A second report looks at retirement trends among dentists.


• U.S. NEEDS NEARLY 1,000 DENTAL PROFESSIONALS TO FILL SHORTAGE AREAS (Becker's Dental) – A new report from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) details dental shortage areas across all 50 states.


• MA BENEFICIARIES SPEND $2,500 LESS ON HEALTHCARE THAN TRADITIONAL MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES (MedCity News) – A new report finds Medicare Advantage beneficiaries spend less on healthcare than traditional Medicare patients.


• CMS PROJECTS NATIONAL HEALTH SPENDING GREW 7.5% IN 2023 TO $4.8T (Fierce Healthcare) – CMS projected that national health spending in the United States grew by 7.5% in 2023, outpacing the rest of the economy. The increases are due in part to historic gains in health insurance coverage which reached 93.1% of the population during the pandemic.


• BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES A PLAN FOR REMOVING MEDICAL DEBT FROM CREDIT REPORTS (NPR) – The new rule proposed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) aims to help people with medical debt by changing how credit scores consider medical bills, potentially improving credit access for millions of Americans.


• ADA PLEADS WITH SUPREME COURT FOR INSURANCE REFORM (ADA) – The American Dental Association (ADA) urgently appeals to the Supreme Court for insurance reform, citing unfair practices by insurance companies that impact dentists and patients.


• NADP PUSH FOR GREATER ACCESS TO DENTAL BENEFIT GAINING TRACTION IN CONGRESS (ForexTV) – The National Association of Dental Plans (NADP) is advocating for increased access to dental benefits, and their efforts are gaining traction in Congress. 


• TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY OF AI FOR PAYERS (McKinsey & Company) – Healthcare payers can leverage AI for cost savings, improved outcomes, and efficiency.


• SKYGEN INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: THE TIME FOR DENTAL AND VISION BENEFITS TRANSFORMATION IS NOW (SKYGEN) – SKYGEN's 2024 industry outlook. 

News from the week of June 3, 2024

• VARIATION IN USE OF DENTAL SERVICES BY CHILDREN AND ADULTS ENROLLED IN MEDICAID OR CHIP (KFF) – KFF discusses challenges including low usage rates and strategies to expand access to dental care in Medicaid among adults and children.


• HOW FAMILIES' MEDICAID UNWINDING EXPERIENCE CAN HELP US ADVANCE HEALTH EQUITY (Georgetown Center for Children and Families) – The impact of the unwinding process on Medicaid enrollment for children in California is discussed, focusing on administrative barriers and opportunities for improving future coverage renewal.


• ARKANSAS TO END MEDICAID MANAGED CARE DENTAL PROGRAM: 4 NOTES (Becker's Dental) – Details on Arkansas’ plan to move their Medicaid dental from a managed care program to fee-for-service.


• ADVOCATES ARGUE FOR MEDICARE TO COVER DENTAL HEALTH (Pagosa Daily Post) – Dentists nationwide urge Congress to include dental coverage in Medicare, emphasizing the need for better access and education to improve oral health for older Americans and people with disabilities.


• DSOS FOCUS ON SPECIALTY SERVICES: A NEW ERA OF DENTAL CARE (Group Dentistry Now) – Many DSOs are expanding their specialty service offerings to increase practice revenue.


• INSURANCE COVERAGE INFLUENCE FREQUENCY OF DENTAL VISITS BY OLDER ADULTS (BenefitsPro) – A new study digs into factors impacting frequency of dental visits among older adults including insurance coverage, health status, race and income. 


• NEW RESEARCH FROM VSP VISION CARE FINDS 54 PERCENT OF GEN Z EMPLOYEES REPORT DECLINING EYE HEALTH (Vision Monday) – New research by VSP Vision Care reveals that 82% of Gen Z employees are working longer hours, including nights and weekends, and 54% report worsening eye health due to excessive screen time.


• J.D. POWER STUDY REVEALS GROWING GAP IN COMMERCIAL HEALTH PLAN SATISFACTION (HIT Consultant) – The J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Commercial Member Health Plan Study reveals a significant satisfaction gap between different health insurance providers, emphasizing the impact of insurers on Americans’ overall healthcare experience.

News from the week of May 13, 2024

• NEW KFF HEALTH TRACKING POLL (KFF) – KFF is out with their most recent Health Tracking poll which looks at attitudes towards Medicaid, Medicare and more in light of the upcoming presidential elections.


• WHY MEDICAID’S ‘UNDERCOUNT’ PROBLEM COUNTS (KFF Health News) – Millions of people were unexpectedly removed from Medicaid after pandemic-era protections expired, and nearly 1 in 3 enrollees didn’t realize they were covered by the program. 


• MEDICAID ‘UNWINDING’ DECRIED AS BIASED AGAINST DISABLED PEOPLE (KFF Health News) – TThe article discusses how Medicaid’s recent eligibility reviews fell short in complying with federal law which dictates that states must ensure that people with disabilities have appropriate communication and support to navigate the often confusing Medicaid redetermination process.


• CALIFORNIA’S $12 BILLION MEDICAID MAKEOVER BANKS ON NONPROFITS’ BUY-IN (KFF Health News) – California’s Medicaid program is undergoing a $12 billion transformation that involves nonprofits and community health workers, aiming to provide social services alongside traditional health care for low-income residents.


• IT'S TIME TO END THE MEDICARE-MEDICAID MERRY-GO-ROUND (Leonard Davis Institute) – Conflicting rules between Medicare and Medicaid create administrative nightmares for patients, affecting nearly 13 million dually eligible Americans.


• MEDICARE ADVANTAGE RISK ASSESSMENTS DRIVING BILLIONS IN COSTS EACH YEAR (Fierce Healthcare) – Medicare Advantage risk assessments drive up costs, affecting 44.4% of beneficiaries and leading to increased coding intensity. Restricting their impact could save $4.5 billion to $12.3 billion annually.


• THE VITAL ROLE OF A UNIQUE ELECTRONIC DENTAL RECORD (EDR) IN PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE (Dentistry IQ) – EDRs streamline charting, treatment planning, imaging, and communication among providers, enhancing modern dentistry practices.


• MARQUETTE DENTAL GRADS 1ST IN U.S. TO RECEIVE ‘PRIVILEGE DIPLOMAS' (Becker's Dental) – Marquette dental grads receive ‘privilege diplomas’, allowing immediate practice in Wisconsin after graduation.


• STUDY REVEALS LINK BETWEEN FOOD INSECURITY AND TOOTH LOSS (Dr. Bicuspid) – Food insecurity may be linked to tooth loss among adults aged 50 and older in the U.S., according to a recent study published in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry.


• TECHNOLOGY, TRANSPARENCY AND THE BOTTOM LINE: CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE SPECIALTY BENEFITS ECOSYSTEM (DOTmed) – Christine Tremblay of SKYGEN discuesses technology, transparency, and considerations for the specialty benefits space.

News from the week of May 6, 2024

• MISSING IN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE: MEANINGFUL DATA ON HOW CONSUMERS USE SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS (AARP) – Medicare Advantage (MA) supplemental benefits are widely used, but there is limited data on how many enrollees use them and which benefits are most meaningful to consumers.


• 47% OF DATA IS UNDERUTILIZED IN HEALTHCARE DECISION-MAKING, ARCADIA STUDY REVEALS (HIT Consultant) – Nearly half of healthcare data remains underutilized for critical clinical and business decisions, emphasizing the potential of data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) in improving care quality and operational efficiency.


• POOR ORAL HEALTH, GUM BACTERIA LINKED TO DEMENTIA (Dr. Bicuspid) – Poor oral health may be associated with a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.


• ADA SUPPORTS BILL STOPPING HEALTH PLANS FROM ADDING EFT FEES (Becker’s Dental) – The ADA is adding its’ support for a bill eliminating EFT fees by health plans.


• DENTAL INDUSTRY REACTS TO WALMART HEALTH CLOSING (Becker's Dental) – Dental professionals are discussing the impact of Walmart Health closing its 51 centers, which provided dental care. Walmart cited financial challenges and rising costs as reasons for the closures.


• NOT SMILING: A CASE STUDY ON DENTAL MEDICAL LOSS RATIO (American Action Forum) – Massachusetts dental insurance reform mandates that dental plans allocate 83% of premiums to dental care and 17% to administrative costs or profits, potentially affecting patient premiums and carrier options.


• BIDEN ADMINISTRATION EXTENDS ACA COVERAGE ELIGIBILITY TO DACA RECIPIENTS (MedCity News) – The Biden Administration is extending ACA coverage to DACA recipients.


• MEDICAID REDETERMINATIONS LOSSES EXCEEDING PREDICTED LEVELS IN SOME STATES (HealthCare Dive) – Updated Medicaid redetermination numbers show larger cuts than expected in several states.

News from the week of april 29, 2024

• DELTA DENTAL’S THE STATE OF AMERICA’S ORAL HEALTH REPORT 2024 (Delta Dental) – Delta Dental has released their 2024 State of America’s Oral Health Report with higher numbers reporting preventive dental visits and increased awareness of the links between oral health and overall wellness.


• 10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MEDICAID MANAGED CARE (KFF) – KFF has new guidance on updated federal Medicaid managed care rules which are meant to strengthen access to care and monitoring and enforcement efforts.


• HHS RESTORES NONDISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS, EXPANDS PROVISIONS TO TELEHEALTH, AI (Fierce Healthcare) – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized a rule that restores regulatory protections against discrimination in healthcare, expands provisions to include telehealth and artificial intelligence (AI) used for patient care under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).


• NC DOESN’T PAY DENTISTS ENOUGH TO TREAT MEDICAID BENEFICIARIES, NEW REPORT SAYS (NC Newsline) – North Carolina’s Medicaid program falls short in compensating dentists for treating Medicaid beneficiaries, leading to challenges in accessing dental care for low-income individuals.


• STUDY REVEALS DENTAL DISPARITIES IN IMMIGRANT, MINORITY CHILDREN (Dr. Bicuspid) – Children of first-generation immigrants, especially those from minority racial or ethnic backgrounds, may be less likely to visit a dentist and more prone to dental issues like tooth decay.


• REDUCE MEDICAL COSTS: ACTIVE MEMBER ENGAGEMENT FOR EMPLOYERS (HIT Consultant) – Employers can lower medical costs by 5.3% and reduce hospitalizations by 12.5% through enhanced support for better decision-making, improved benefits utilization, and active member engagement. 


• RISK OF SERIOUS HEAD AND NECK INFECTIONS RELATED TO LACK OF DENTAL CARE AND POOR ORAL HYGIENE (Dentistry IQ) – A recent study found that poor oral hygiene increases the risk of severe head and neck infections, and lack of access to dental care also contributes to these infections.

News from the week of april 22, 2024

• TEN THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CONSOLIDATION IN HEALTH CARE PROVIDER MARKETS (KFF) – A recent KFF report looks at ten key topics related to health care provider market consolidation including trends, benefits and harms and policy options for increasing competition.


• 7 ESSENTIAL ORAL-SYSTEMIC ASSESSMENTS FOR YOUR DENTAL PATIENTS (Dentistry IQ) – Dentistry IQ has published a list of seven essential medical conditions for dentists to assess with their patients including sleep apnea, oral cancer and other conditions.


• MORE THAN 200K WEST VIRGINIANS LOST MEDICAID OR CHIP OVER PAST YEAR, MOST FOR PROCEDURAL ISSUES (News From The States) – West Virginia has wrapped up the Medicaid unwinding process with more than 200,000 losing Medicaid or CHIP coverage. Close to 80% of these lost coverage for procedural issues. It is not yet clear how many of these have been able to reenroll in Medicaid. In addition, the state Medicaid program is facing a $147 million shortfall for the 2025 fiscal year. 


• FEWER AMERICANS ARE OPTING FOR DUAL HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE, U.S. CENSUS BUREAU REPORT SAYS (Vision Monday) – A US Census Bureau report reveals that fewer seniors are relying on a mix of private and Medicare coverage, while overall rates of private coverage for seniors has been falling.


• ADA UNVEILS NEW SEAL OF ACCEPTANCE CATEGORY (Becker’s Dental) – The ADA has announced a new program to help identify non-opioid products for dental pain management through their Seal of Acceptance program.


• PATIENT ENGAGEMENT IS ESSENTIAL FOR ACHIEVING THE GOALS OF VALUE-BASED CARE (Med City News) – Effective value based care models move beyond the clinic walls to improve access, quality and cost effectiveness of health services through broad-based programs that impact social determinants of health and other factors.