Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey

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Newsletters - February 2000

Articles
New 'In-Net' Program Could Save Your Practice Thousands of Dollars Annually
Web Site Offers Free Home Page, Other Benefits for Par Dentists
Do You Have A Web Site? Tell Us Why You Do-or Don't!
Top Reasons Dentists Participate in Delta Dental
Golf Outing Set for June 6
Updated Addresses for Delta Dental Plans
Rockwell International Covered by Delta Dental Plan of California
Important Contact Information
Are You Using the New ADA Claim form ?
Earn Continuing Education Credit While Learning to Prevent Child Abuse

New 'In-Net' Program Could Save Your Practice Thousands of Dollars Annually

Delta Dental recently launched a new value-added program for participating dentists called "In-Net," which provides discounts on many items your practice may need in the coming year, from dental supplies and equipment, to professional liability coverage and practice-management software and hardware. It even includes a free Internet home page.

"Delta Dental has always valued our participating dentists and this is one way to thank them for helping to make us a leading dental benefits provider," says Dr. Scott Navarro, Vice President, Professional Relations and Dental Director.

Participating dentists should have received a brochure in the mail called Team Up with Delta Dental, which outlines the "In-Net" Program. The program incorporates some existing vendor discount programs (such as Delta Dental MVPs) with several new ones. The result is a program that could save your practice thousands of dollars each year, while improving office efficiency so you can spend more time on patient care and less time managing the business aspects of your practice.

This program currently offers participating dentists four ways to save:

Delta Dental's MVPs Practice Management Discount Program. For new systems, Delta Dental's MVPs (practice management vendor participants) have indicated that they offer Delta Dental participating dentists in New Jersey and Connecticut discounted pricing on some or all of the following: hardware, base practice management software, add-on software, training, service and ECS transmission costs. Here's how you can contact MVPs:
- Applied Professional Systems-(800) 472-6329
- BRS Computing, Inc.-(914) 747-0201
- Computer Age Dentist-(800) 426-8927
- Diverse Dental Services (Dentrix)-(609) 448-3688
- HealthCare Communications (Dental Mac)-(212) 683-2224
- Health-Tech Systems, Inc. (Dentech)-(800) 288-7691
- Professional Software Solutions (SoftDent)-(800) 724-5758 in NJ for 07 zip codes or (215) 256-8589 for all other zip codes
- Quality Systems, Inc.-(714) 731-7171
- Suzy Systems, Inc.-(201) 489-5888
- Trojan Professional Services-(800) 451-9723; also offers discount on benefit and credit services
Free Internet Home Page. Delta Dental has teamed up with Dental X Change (DXC). DXC has indicated that it will offer you a Web presence through a free, enhanced Internet home page. For more information, see "Web Site Offers Free Home Page, Other Benefits for Par Dentists" in this issue. To sign up with DXC, call (800) 624-2904 or visit its web site at www.dentalxchange.com.
SAFECO Discounted Malpractice Insurance (administered by Herbert L. Jamison & Co., LLC). SAFECO offers participating dentists who have completed Delta Dental's credentialing requirements a special 10% premium discount (over and above other available discounts) for qualified dentists insured under the SAFECO Insurance Company Preferred Dental Professional Liability Program. (Credentialing has been completed in Connecticut and will begin in New Jersey in January.) This state-of-the-art professional liability protection includes license defense, contractual liability coverage, defense in addition to limits, and more. Optional additional coverage is also available. For more information, visit www.safeco.com or www.jamisongroup.com. For a no-obligation estimate of the professional liability coverage, call (800) JAMISON (526-4766), ext. 352, or e-mail lbarbaro@jamisongroup.com.
ProfitFinder Price Comparison Shopping Service. ProfitFinder has indicated that it will offer a substantial discount off its annual membership fee for Delta Dental Participating Dentists. ProfitFinder services include:
- A CD-ROM program, which you load once and get updates each time you visit the ProfitFinder Web site. It is also available in book format or live on the Internet.
- Updates of all pricing every six weeks.
- Use of ProfitFinder's personal shopping service at no additional cost.
- Free computer support (toll free) five days a week for as long as you are a current member.
- A listing of more than 20,000 brand-name and generic dental supplies and equipment with detailed descriptions and manufacturer names and numbers.
- A complete listing of quarterly manufacturer coupons.
- Clearance specials given to ProfitFinder by dealers that are available only to ProfitFinder members.
- A member benefits section that has other pertinent service at deep discounted prices (e.g., handpiece repair, sterilization monitoring services, etc.).
- Price research on any competitively priced product, if not already listed in their program, at no additional cost.

To enroll, contact ProfitFinder at (800) 443-5095 or visit its web site at www.profitfinder.com.

When you contact these vendors, please identify yourself as a Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey participating dentist. They will lead you through the enrollment process.

For more information about Delta Dental's "In-Net" Program, call (800) 452-9310 and ask to speak with a Professional Relations representative.

Please note that our team vendors will deal directly with you. Delta Dental will do its best to maintain these team players and add team players to provide even more value to you. However, Delta Dental cannot guarantee the performance or continued participation of these vendors.

Web Site Offers Free Home Page, Other Benefits for Par Dentists

With Internet use skyrocketing, people now depend on the web for information about almost everything in their daily lives-including finding the right dentist. All Delta Dental Participating Dentists are automatically included in our online directory of participating dentists.

Now, Delta Dental can help you set up your own web site.

Since May 1997 Dental Plan of New Jersey has arranged with Dental X Change (DXC) to offer all Delta Dental participating dentists a free enhanced Internet home page. With your new home page, you can expand your new patient base, increase communication with your patients and harness the Internet medium.

Other benefits of this program include:

A free listing in DXC's Dentist Directory at www.dentistdirectory.com.
Ability to enroll in a course from DXC's extensive continuing education library on topics such as specialties, legal issues, practice management, OSHA, and more.
A comprehensive employment resource to post job openings, resumes, or CVs.
Access to a complete resource for practice-management information, tools and solutions.
Ability to learn about the latest dental products and share your reviews.
Free access to DXC's premier online dental articles.
Access to discussion forums with leaders in clinical excellence.

To sign up with DXC, call (800) 624-2904, or visit its web site at www.dentalxchange.com.

Disclaimer: Information found on DXC's web site does not necessarily reflect the views of Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey.

Do You Have A Web Site? Tell Us Why You Do-or Don't!

We've heard from a number of dentists recently who have developed or plan to develop web sites. This caused us to want us to investigate whether this is a growing trend, and how dentists are using this new technology to benefit their practices. Dental News developed this brief survey to find out what Delta Dental's dentists are doing now, and hope to do in the future, with the Internet.

The results of this survey will be reported in an upcoming issue of Dental News. Please fax this survey to Betty Hill at (973) 285-4230 by Friday, February 18, 2000. Thank you!

Dentist Web Site Survey

1) Name

2) Name of Practice

3) What is your e-mail address?

4) Do you currently have a web site for your practice? Yes No

(If you answered Yes, please answer questions 5-7, then skip to question 9. If you answered No, please skip to question 8.

5) What is your site address?

6) If you currently have your own site, what do you use it for? (check all that apply)
to describe your practice/marketing
to give directions to the office
to provide hours of operation
to educate patients on treatments available
other

7) How valuable is the web site to your practice in terms of:

a) finding new patients?
       Very valuable
       Moderately valuable
       Not valuable

b) lowering costs?
       Very valuable
       Moderately valuable
       Not valuable

8) If you do not have a web site, do you plan to develop a web site? Yes No

If Yes, when?
       this year
       next year
       don't know-in the distant future

9) How interested would you be in reading articles and tips for developing effective web sites in Dental News?
       Very interested
       Moderately interested
       Not at all interested

10) Are you a participating Delta Dental dentist? Yes No

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Results will be published in an upcoming issue of Dental News.

Top Reasons Dentists Participate in Delta Dental

Dental News recently asked our dental network coordinators the top three reasons why more than 5,000 dentists in New Jersey and 2,000 in Connecticut participate with Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey. Here's what they said:

Delta Dental is the largest provider of dental coverage nationwide. One out of every four dental claims in the nation is paid by Delta Dental. The national Delta Dental system has more than 28 million members and 31,000 client groups under contract.
More opportunities to expand the practice. As a participating dentist, you are automatically included in our printed dental directory, which is provided to all covered groups. Subscribers can also call Customer Service or visit our web site for a listing of participating dentists.
Improved cash flow. Participating dentists receive direct payment from Delta Dental.

Other benefits include discounts on practice-management software and access to Delta Dental's dental network coordinators, who will visit your office to explain our various programs in person. Dental network coordinators can also provide your office with a list of employers in your area who offer Delta Dental coverage in your area. Your dental network coordinator can be reached by calling (888) 396-6641.

Did You Know That . . .

Each individual doctor in a group practice needs to sign a contract with Delta Dental.
Owners of group practices also need to sign a Participation Agreement.
Dental offices need to contact Delta Dental in writing if a doctor no longer practices with that group.

Delta Dental needs to be notified in writing of any change of address, tax ID number or phone number. Fax changes to Delta Dental's Professional Relations Department at (973) 285-4140, or mail them to the Professional Relations Department at Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, Inc., P.O. Box 222, Parsippany, NJ 07054.

Golf Outing Set for June 6

Resolving to get more exercise and contribute to worthy causes in this new millennium? Here's a way you can do both: join us for the Tenth Annual Delta Dental Classic at Cherry Valley Country Club in Skillman, New Jersey, June 6. The annual event raises funds for Special Olympics New Jersey. Last year's Classic raised $50,000 for Special Olympics programs. To date, this annual event has raised $225,000 for Special Olympics.

Stay tuned for more golf news. We hope to see you there!

Updated Addresses for Delta Dental Plans

Effective immediately, Delta Dental Plan of Oklahoma and Delta Dental Plan of Missouri have new addresses:

Delta Dental Plan of Oklahoma
The Broadway Plaza
16 Northwest 63rd St., Third Floor
Oklahoma City, OK 73116-9115
Phone: (405) 601-2100
Fax: (405) 601-2190
Note: P.O. Box numbers and toll-free numbers will not change

Delta Dental Plan of Missouri
12399 Gravois Road
St. Louis, MO 63127-1702
Phone: (314) 656-3000 or (800) 392-1167
Fax: (314) 656-2900

Rockwell International Covered by Delta Dental Plan of California

Effective immediately, Rockwell International employees now have dental coverage through Delta Dental Plan of California. Please send all claims with dates of service after December 31, 1999 to the following address for processing:

Delta Dental Plan of California
P.O. Box 7736
San Francisco, CA 94120

Delta Dental Plan of California welcomes electronically submitted claims. Please be sure to update the information in your practice management software to reflect the correct carrier: Delta Dental Plan of California. For special assistance with electronic claims, contact Delta Dental Plan of California's electronic claims specialists at (415) 974-8547 or (415) 974-8548, or send e-mail to ecs@delta.org.

For claims, eligibility and benefit inquiries, call Delta Dental Plan of California's Customer and Member Service (CMS) Department toll-free at (800) 477-4718. You may also contact the department by e-mail at cms@delta.org or through its web site at www.deltadentalca.org.

If you wish to change your address, your filed fees or Tax ID number, please continue to send this information to your local Delta Dental Plan, Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey.

Important contact information

CMS: (800) 477-4718 or cms@delta.org
BeneFax: (888) 335-8227 and press 1
DIAL: (888) 335-8227 and press 2
DocuFax (877) 226-1974
www.deltadentalca.org

Are You Using the New ADA Claim Form?

If you've begun using the new version of the ADA Dental claim form included in the CDT-3 Manual, you've probably noticed one major change—there are fewer lines in which to list each procedure. Instead of having 15 lines, you now have eight.

If you need to list more procedures than will clearly fit on eight lines, please continue the list on an additional claim form . Be sure to write "Continued on next page" so the continuation is not separated into another claim.

This will ensure that your claim is legible and avoid processing delays.

Earn Continuing Education Credit While Learning to Prevent Child Abuse

Thousands of children throughout New Jersey and Connecticut are the victims of child abuse each year. Would you be able to recognize the signs of abuse in your young patients? Would you know whom to call if you encountered these signs?

A program sponsored by Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey through its philanthropic arm, the Delta Dental Endowment Association, is dedicated to helping dental office personnel recognize and report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect. The PANDA (for Prevent Abuse and Neglect through Dental Awareness) program offers educational programs free of charge to dental or other interested groups with 10 or more members. Attending a one-hour PANDA presentation qualifies for continuing education credit. The program includes a speaker from the PANDA Coalition, slide program and printed materials. To schedule a PANDA presentation in New Jersey, contact Delta Dental at 973-285-4058. In Connecticut, call the Connecticut State Dental Association at (203) 278-5550.

How To Report Suspected Abuse
Dentists, along with other health-care professionals, are mandated by state law to report suspected cases of abuse and neglect.
To make a report in New Jersey, contact your county's Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Or, call the Office of Child Abuse Control (OCAC), which operates a toll-free, 24-hour hotline at (800) 792-8610.
To report abuse in Connecticut, call the CARELINE any time of day or night at (800) 842-2288.