Articles
Delta Dental Now Serves 1.4 Million People in NJ, CT, Says Annual Report
Cost Containment Report Released
Delta Dental to Launch Improved Online Eligibility Enrollment
Staff Spotlight: Mary Anne Miller
Benefits Connection
HIPAA: How Will the Mandatory Reforms Affect Your Clients?
Golfers Raise $50,000 for Special Olympics
Family Service of Morris County Honors Delta Dental
Marketing Department Announces Changes

Delta Dental Now Serves 1.4 Million People in NJ, CT, Says Annual Report

Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey added more than 100,000 new subscribers in 2000. Even as we grew, our retention rate held steady at an impressive 95 percent - a rate we have consistently maintained for 13 consecutive years. These were just some of Delta Dental's achievements, which are highlighted in our 2000 Annual Report. Other accomplishments include:

• More than $30 million in new sales, and a total subscription revenue that exceeded $300 million.
• Achieving an impressive "AA-" Standard & Poor's rating of our financial strength.
• Processing more than 2.3 million claims, including nearly 800,000 electronic claims - doubling the number of electronic claims that we processed just three years ago.
• Handling 578,000 calls to Customer Service, up from 549,000 in 1999.
• Improving our average claim cycle time, dropping it to 7.8 business days.
• Introducing technological enhancements such as Computer Telephony Integration, or CTI, which saves callers and Customer Service Agents valuable time.
• Continuously upgrading our Internet presence by adding such features as online directions to network dental offices.

Cost Containment Report Released

Delta Dental saved your clients and subscribers close to $150 million last year, thanks to our cost-containment measures and by diligently managing administrative costs. To view our complete "Cost Containment Report for 2000," visit our website at www.deltadentalnj.com and click on "Broker's Portfolio."

Delta Dental to Launch Improved Online Eligibility Enrollment

Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey is about to roll our two new online services this summer. One will greatly simplify the task of eligibility enrollment. The other will allow subscribers to receive instant, detailed information about their Delta Dental benefits via the convenience of the Internet. Access to both services is password-protected and secure.

Staff Spotlight: Mary Anne Miller

While most brokers probably haven't met Marketing Coordinator Mary Anne Miller, she works diligently behind the scenes to ensure that brokers receive information they need to win and satisfy customers. One example: Miller produces the customized GeoAccess reports which present a detailed snapshot of the participating providers that fall within a group's geographical area. She also supports Marketing Vice President Mark Nadeau with his work on the Marketing and Product Development Committee for Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA). Miller also produces monthly production reports and commission statements for Account Executives. She joined the Marketing Department as Marketing Coordinator in February 2000 to assist Nadeau and Marketing Director Don Hickey. Miller previously worked for eight years as an executive assistant for famed golf-course designer Rees Jones. "Being in Marketing is very exciting because this is where it all begins in this business," says Miller. "When a new group signs on with Delta Dental, especially a large one, it's fun to be where there's so much great energy. There is constant action in Marketing, so there's never a dull moment, for sure. This position also allows me to interact with so many other Delta Dental employees, which is something I truly enjoy. I'm a 'people person' and hope that I bring a positive force to all I come in contact with." The South Jersey native graduated from Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in music. Although she never pursued a career in music, it continues to be a big part of her life, as she enjoys playing the piano, singing in choirs... and making Delta Dental's Marketing department hum.

Benefits Connection

The new online Benefits Connection makes it possible for subscribers - and their dentists - to obtain instant, detailed information about their benefits. Subscribers can easily determine what services are covered by their specific program, the percentages that Delta Dental will cover, and whether there are deductibles or waiting periods. With the online Benefits Connection, subscribers no longer need to pore through benefit booklets or notification of payment statements, or call Customer Service to find the information they need. It's all at their fingertips. In less than 30 seconds, they can find their answer through Benefits Connection. What's more, they can also have their dentists (even non-participating dentists) access this information, so subscribers and dentists together can make informed decisions about care. Watch for more information about online Eligibility Enrollment and Benefits Connection shortly.

HIPAA: How Will the Mandatory Reforms Affect Your Clients?

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. It's a federal law intended to provide better access to health insurance, limit fraud and abuse, and limit administration costs.Administrative Simplification
A major provision of HIPAA is called Administrative Simplification. It's the part of the law released in 1996 that addresses the maintenance and transmission of electronic health information. Administrative Simplification mandates the standardization of electronic transmissions for many administrative and financial transactions in an effort to reduce overall costs and administrative burdens in the healthcare system.The United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is required to develop standards and requirements for all health information while ensuring that the data can be securely and confidentially shared. To do this, the department is in the process of composing a set of rules that define and support the national standards in areas such as the privacy of individually identifiable health information, electronic transactions and code sets, security and electronic signatures, and provider and employer identifiers.What Is the Goal of Administrative Simplification?
The goal is to implement national standards that will encourage electronic commerce in the healthcare industry and ultimately simplify the processes involved. Currently, there is no common standard for the transfer of healthcare information. For example, at this time, about 400 formats exist for healthcare claims. Conformity to national standards will make electronic data interchange (EDI) a viable and preferable alternative to paper processing.Who is Affected?
All health plans (including ERISA plans), healthcare clearinghouses and healthcare providers transmitting data in electronic form must comply or be subject to substantial fines. For example, any claim submitted electronically must comply with HIPAA requirements. This means dental offices submitting electronically have two options: ensure the format they use is HIPAA compliant, or rely on an electronic clearinghouse to convert the claims data into a HIPAA format.Delta Dental is continuing to monitor HIPAA legislation and, as each rule is finalized, is positioned to bring our systems into compliance. Additionally, we'll continue to provide you with updates about this important legislation.Is There a Deadline for Adopting the HIPAA Standards?
Regulations are still evolving and the rules are in various stages of development. Once a rule has been finalized, organizations have between 24 and 36 months to comply. For example, the deadline for compliance with the Electronic Transaction Standards is October 2002.For more information about this federal mandate, you can visit http://aspe.hhs.gov/admnsimp/.

Golfers Raise $50,000 for Special Olympics

The Eleventh Annual Delta Dental Classic, which drew 126 golfers to the Cherry Valley Country Club on June 5, raised $50,000 for Special Olympics programs. Since the Delta Dental Classic began in 1991, the event has raised more than $300,000 for Special Olympics New Jersey. Contest winners include: 1st place Low Gross (Ladies): Dr. Leslie Skurla
1st place Low Gross (Men): Jeff Simpson
1st place Gross Team: Bob Allen, Jeff Simpson, Don Fisher, John Bartaccio Special thanks to all of our participants and sponsors. The date for next year's Delta Dental Classic will be announced shortly.

Family Service of Morris County Honors Delta Dental

The Board of Managers of Family Service of Morris County honored Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey for its "commitment to children and the community" at its 39th annual spring ball on March 31. The program for the event, called "A Celebration of Families," detailed Delta Dental's contribution to Family Service, as well as many other community outreach programs throughout New Jersey. Some of those include Special Olympics New Jersey, Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey, PANDA (Prevent Abuse and Neglect through Dental Awareness), Matheny School and Hospital, the Dover Free Clinic and many more. "Clearly, Delta Dental cares about the families of New Jersey," said the program.Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey has been affiliated with Family Service of Morris County since the 1980s. Family Service of Morris County is a nonprofit agency serving the greater Morris area. Founded in 1813, Family Service helps families by providing a variety of vital services to families and individuals including professional counseling, education, advocacy, and support. The agency reaches out to special people in need such as the blind, victims of trauma, single-parent families, and the elderly. Family Service has five locations in Morris County - Flanders, Rockaway, Madison, Succasunna, and Morristown.

Marketing Department Announces Changes

Delta Dental's Marketing department enacted the following changes, effective June 1:Allan Berkin, formerly Delta Dental's Manager of Broker and Consultant Relations, assumes the newly created position of Manager, National Accounts. In his previous position, Berkin was responsible for meeting with the nation's top consultants and getting the "Delta Story" out. His efforts were partly responsible for a more than 31% increase in consultant proposal activity during the last two years. As Manager of National Accounts, Berkin will concentrate on groups headquartered in New Jersey that have more than 1,000 employees. He will continue to work closely with our top consultants, assist in all New Jersey sales for groups with more than 1,000 employees and be responsible for calling on targeted large group prospects. Kim White assumes the position of Senior Account Executive. In her seven years with Delta Dental, White has been awarded the President's Trophy for outstanding sales performance four times. She has been responsible for bringing on close to 100,000 primary employees and manages a book of business worth nearly $45 million. In 1999, White was inducted in the Delta Dental Hall of Fame for her efforts in writing DeltaUSA business that added more than 50,000 primary subscribers to the Delta Dental system.