On June 16, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas signed HB 2056 into law, making it legal for Texas dentists to provide teledentistry services to their patients. Among other provisions, the law:
Requires informed consent from the patient
Establishes standards of care for teledentistry
Protects patient privacy
Promotes care for underserved areas
Addresses teledentistry’s use in treating patients with special needs
Sets up rules for Medicaid and teledentistry
Requests biennial reports on teledentistry’s effectiveness
Empowers the Texas Medical Board and State Board of Dental Examiners to set rules for teledentistry
Building up teledentistry services from scratch can seem daunting, but there are tools and resources out there that make it easy. From guides on how to see patients to tools like Delta Dental – Virtual Consult that help you easily expand your practice, Delta Dental makes it easy for you to find success with teledentistry.
Interested? Just fill out the interest form and we’ll reach out to you about getting started with Virtual Consult.
Is your practice ready to offer virtual dentistry to your patients? In 2019, the global teledentistry market stood at a little more than $667 million. Before the decade is over, the market is expected to reach $2.6 billion. You won’t want to miss out on that kind of growth.
But teledentistry isn’t just a great business opportunity. It’s also great for patients. As Dr. Deirmenjian, the CEO of Smiles West Dental Management says, “We firmly believe that teledentistry will continue to be the future of building healthier smiles.”
Setting up a teledentistry space in your office may sound expensive and daunting if you don’t already have the necessary equipment and a speedy internet connection. Fortunately, there’s a tool that makes teledentistry simple: Delta Dental – Virtual Consult. If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s not too late!
Virtual Consult is the perfect tool to increase your access to patients and your earning potential. Virtual Consult lets you check in with and diagnose Delta Dental members remotely, all with an emphasis on simplicity when it comes to scheduling and claims. With Virtual Consult, you can:
Increase your patient volume and attract new patients
Save time and money
Set your own hours
Get detailed training and support
Automate communications with your patients
Interested? Just fill out the online form and we’ll reach out to you about getting started with Virtual Consult.
Gain access to over 200,000 NY members with 100% benefits for covered services when you enroll as an NY Select dentist! When you participate in the NY Select network (formerly known as NYPPO), you can help provide your fellow New Yorkers with dependable, quality dental care.
This network is specific to New York state and is the only in-network option for members of two large union health plan/funds:
DC37 is the largest public employee union in New York City, with 150,000 members serviced by the District Council 37 Health & Security Plan. DC37 members help make New York run by working in over 1,000 titles — everything from accountants to zookeepers.
32BJ is a branch of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) that is headquartered in New York City. The Building Service 32BJ Health Fund services over 75,000 of New York’s property service workers.
DC 37 and 32BJ’s NY members are benefited 100% for covered services with NY Select participating dentists.
Delta Dental ensures that members are able to find your office by providing special dentist directories especially for DC37 and 32BJ patients.
Everything you’ll need for administration, including how to register for direct deposit, view treatment history and obtain claim status, is available in your Provider Tools account.
Simply log in or register to access these handy tools:
Reference Library: Find your Dentist Handbook and other information.
My Patients: Obtain eligibility and benefits for current and new patients.
Submit Claims: Transmit free, real-time claims and attachments.
My Account: Update your directory profile to ensure patients can find you.
Interested in participating in the NY Select network? Please contact Delta Dental Network Development Representative John Wilson by email at jwilson@delta.org or phone at 628-260-4764.
Not sure if you’re already participating in the NY Select network? Or currently participating and have questions? Please contact our Provider Concierge by email at providerconcierge@delta.org or by phone at 800-592-0156.
Please note: The NY Select dentist network is separate from Delta Dental PPO™ and Delta Dental Premier®. Please review your NY Select contract and fee schedule for additional information.
There’s a new tool to help you connect with your Delta Dental PPO™ and Delta Dental Premier® patients. Say hello to Delta Dental – Virtual Consult. This new platform lets you check in with and diagnose Delta Dental members remotely, all with an emphasis on simplicity when it comes to scheduling.
Virtual Consult is a video-based platform for conducting limited oral evaluations virtually through a fully secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. It’s ideal for seeing patients remotely for urgent consultations, follow-up exams or general questions. With Virtual Consult, you can:
Schedule and have video appointments from anywhere you have an internet connection and a webcam or an iOS device
Connect with new patients
Safely prescribe e-prescriptions for pain or infection
See patients with urgent needs at any time, day or night
Virtual dentistry offers convenience for patients, and it’s a great safe, contact-free access tool for dentists, as well. If you have open time in your schedule or want to see patients after hours, Virtual Consult lets you see patients remotely. Diagnostic exams conducted through Virtual Consult are submitted to Delta Dental the same as in-office claims, so you don’t need to worry about learning a billing new system.
Provider enrollment in Virtual Consult is now open! To learn more, fill out the Virtual Consult interest form and we’ll reach out to you.
More patients are becoming aware of the way that health issues can manifest in the mouth and oral health issues can exacerbate other medical conditions. With serious issues like heart disease being responsible for so many deaths in the U.S., your patients may be interested in learning how good dental health can improve their overall health. For patients who have medical conditions that affect their oral health, SmileWay® Wellness Benefits may be available to help meet their needs.
Who’s eligible for SmileWay Wellness Benefits?
Not all patients are eligible for SmileWay Wellness benefits. To claim these benefits, patients must:
Have a Delta Dental PPO™ plan
Belong to a group that offers SmileWay Wellness Benefits
Have chosen to opt in to the program
Members who have been diagnosed with any of the following are eligible for expanded coverage:
Diabetes
Heart disease
HIV/AIDS
Rheumatoid arthritis
Stroke
What are the benefits?
Members whose plans offer SmileWay Wellness Benefits are eligible for these added benefits each calendar or contract year:
100% coverage for one scaling and root planning procedure per quadrant (D4341 or D4342)
and 100% coverage for four of the following in any combination:
Prophylaxis (D1110 or D1120)
Periodontal maintenance procedure (D4910)
Scaling in the presence of moderate or severe gingival inflammation (D4346)
If you have patients with medical issues that necessitate extra dental care, find out if they’re eligible for SmileWay Wellness Benefits. These benefits can help keep them both smiling and healthy!
A new kind of large group plan is coming to DeltaCare® USA plans in 2021. Effective January 1, 2021, DeltaCare USA i-series plans will be available with comprehensive coverage for dental implants. Once i-series plan rollouts are complete (there will be nine in total), they will be available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
These plans are designed to address the growing demand by DeltaCare USA members for dental implants. These plans will include coverage for all major codes related to the placement and removal of dental implants and abutments. Coverage of implants means you have another tool in your toolbox when it comes to recommending the best treatments for your patients.
For more information on the i-series plans, please consult your DeltaCare USA benefits book.
