|
Articles
School Districts Give Delta Dental Top
Marks Year After Year
New Advantage Fee Schedules Mailed
2003 Annual Report Published
2003 Client Report Card Released
Tech-Niques: Calling for Backup: Understanding
the value of backups and their implementation
Online Claims Reminder
Dr. Navarro Tackles Critical Issues Editing
Magazine for Dental Consultants
See How We've Grown in 35 Years
Create a 'Shortcut' to Delta Dental
New Services Added for Participating Dentists
Delta Dental Days Scheduled
School Districts Give Delta Dental
Top Marks Year After Year
Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey welcomed West Milford
Public Schools in West Milford, New Jersey, as one
of our first groups almost 35 years ago. School Superintendent
Robert Gilmartin recently told us why the district
has stayed with Delta Dental all these years.
"Whenever we looked around, we came to a collective
decision that Delta Dental provides the best options
and the best program for us," he says. "There has
never been a major issue with the contract, service
or implementation over the years."
The program meets the needs of the district's
employees, as well. "I don't think I've ever
heard of anybody going to a dentist who does
not participate with the program," says Gilmartin. "Most
participating dentists file their claims for
them, so it saves patients a lot of effort
and energy."
Gilmartin has been with the school district
nearly 30 years, and appreciates the Delta
Dental benefit on a personal level. "It's been
a nice benefit, especially as a parent. Service
is an important piece of satisfaction with
the program. From my own personal experience
I'd give Delta Dental high marks in customer
service."
He adds that in the region's dental benefits
market, "Delta Dental is at the front of the
parade."
Two things keep the Keyport, New Jersey, Board
of Education with Delta Dental Plan of New
Jersey: "Consistent employee and employer satisfaction," says
Sally Gadomski, who administers benefits for
the district. "We have a large provider population
in Monmouth County," says Gadomski. "Most dentists
in the area participate. There are no claim
forms to handle. Delta Dental has toll-free
numbers to address patient questions. Predetermination
is good-if you have a lot of work done, you
know what your out-of-pocket expenses are going
to be."
Gadomski's supervisor, Jo Ann Podracky,
agrees. "You know right up front what
you're going to pay. There are no hidden
costs for patients."
Podracky also appreciates how efficiently
Delta Dental handles coordination of
benefits. "We have a lot of husband-and-wife
teacher teams, who are both covered by
Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey. The
coordination of benefits is flawless."
The district reviews its dental benefits
program every year or so. "Whenever we
review our plan, Delta Dental keeps coming
up on top," says Podracky. "The fact
that employees are happy makes it good
for us. There's a lot of satisfaction
with the program."
New Advantage Fee Schedules Mailed
New fee schedules were recently mailed to all dentists
participating in Delta's Advantage Program. The new
fees became effective July 1 for all Advantage and
Advantage Plus groups.
For information on how to become a participating
dentist in Delta's Advantage Program, please call
our dental network coordinators at (888) 396-6641.
2003 Annual Report Published
Delta Dental's 2003 Annual Report - Touching Your
Life Every Day - is now available. The report features
photographs of the everyday people who are our subscribers
and perform services for our community-a bus driver,
health-care worker, police officer, and many others
who are among the more than 1.5 million people covered
by Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, Inc.
The 2003 Annual Report features:
- Performance highlights, including our
96% customer retention rate, and high customer
satisfaction levels as measured by our annual benefits
manager and subscriber surveys.
- Financial highlights, including our "AA-" rating
from Standard & Poor's for counterparty credit
and financial strength, and subscription income
growth to $443.4 million.
- Philanthropic highlights, including our
Foundation's support of causes such as Special
Olympics New Jersey, numerous children's health
and welfare organizations, dental scholarships
and oral-health research.
To order your copy of the 2003 Annual Report, visit
our Web site at www.deltadentalnj.com, click "Our
Company" on the left navigation bar, then "Annual
Report." Complete the order form on screen. The Annual
Report will be mailed to you.
2003 Client Report Card Released
Delta Dental's "Client Report Card" identifies satisfaction
levels for five key plan attributes. We are extremely
proud that the overall satisfaction level was 95%.
This report is based on the findings of a mail survey
conducted during the fall of 2003. Surveys were distributed
to 5,800 randomly selected subscribers nationwide
who had filed a claim with Delta Dental Plan of New
Jersey within the previous 12 months.
From the pool of 5,800, 1,402 subscribers, or 24
%, responded to the survey.
SOURCE: Brownstone Information Resources (February
2004)
Tech-Niques: Calling for Backup:
Understanding the value of backups and their implementation
By Linda Hetcher, Vice President Professional
Services, Concurrent Technologies
You walk into your dental office one morning. To
your horror, you discover there's been a fire. Your
computers are destroyed and all your practice data
are gone.
Data loss can occur all too easily, caused by hardware
failure, human error, software corruption, computer
viruses, theft or a multitude of physical disasters.
Fortunately, you can protect your practice by regularly
backing up your computers.
Backing up simply means to make copies of your PC
(or server) data onto an alternate medium. Backups
make it possible to recover data when the original
information becomes lost or damaged.
Despite the importance of backing up, many individuals
and businesses still neglect this task. There are
several reasons people cite for not conducting backups:
- They don't appreciate how important backups are
to their practice continuity, particularly if they
haven't experienced a disaster (yet).
- They don't know how to do backups.
- They forget to complete backups because the process
is not automated.
- They are concerned about the time it takes to
complete a backup.
- They don't trust the accuracy of a backup.
- They are unsure how to restore data from a backup.
This article addresses the basics of backup so you
can get started protecting your data.
Backup Devices/Media
There are many different backup devices and methods
available. Frequently used methods include:
- Floppy disks
- Fixed and removable hard disks
- Fixed and removable tape drives
- CD/DVD drives
- Network Attached Storage devices (NAS)
- External storage devices
- Internet backup services
The media and method chosen should depend upon the
quantity of data that need to be backed up, and how
often and how quickly the data need to be restored.
Convenience, reliability and scalability also enter
into the decision.
Considerations
The backup option(s) a dental practice should consider
depends on a number of key conditions:
- How much practice-critical data needs backing
up? Floppy disks don't hold as much data
as other backup devices.
- How dynamic is the data? How often does it
change? The more often your data changes,
the more often you should conduct backups.
- How much backup automation is needed? What
level of simplicity and convenience is needed? You
should consider the capabilities and time commitments
of those responsible for conducting backups.
- How quickly will business-critical data grow? You
don't want to select a backup system that your
practice will outgrow in a few months.
- What performance requirements exist? How
long will it take to complete the backup? Can it
be simply scheduled during off-hours?
- What are the cost-benefit expectations? Backup
systems have different cost and value structures,
which you should consider carefully, based on your
practice's specific requirements.
Once your practice determines its capacity requirements
and how often its data changes, it should focus on
a backup choice that provides a good balance among
features such as risk level, dependability, cost
and speed.
There are a few guidelines that can be followed to
ensure a predictable level of data protection for
your practice. These tips outline best practices
for backups.
7 Backup Tips
1. Develop a strategy/plan - Do an inventory of your
business, based on the considerations listed above.
2. Back up often - Err on the side of backing up
more often than not. Consider doing a daily backup,
especially if files are heavily accessed and change
frequently.
3. Back up more than select files - Back up all documents
and files. It may seem extensive, but if you experience
a disaster you can restore all your data in a shorter
amount of time.
4. Perform intelligent backups - Select software
that can efficiently create a backup that doesn't
include previously deleted or renamed files and folders
(progressive rather than incremental backups).
5. Make several backup copies - Back up at least
two copies (preferably three), with one copy kept
in a secure offsite location.
6. Automate your backups - Choose software that facilitates
backups automatically and with a schedule planner
that is flexible.
7. Verify your backups on a regular basis - Don't
assume that your backup is always accurate and complete.
Even though software reliability has come a long
way, it's a good practice to restore file samples
periodically.
For a dental practice, there are a number of viable
backup approaches that can work well. The first involves
the use of an external drive; the second employs
the Internet.
External drives are effective, efficient and easy
to operate as adjunct storage devices for a PC. One
popular brand is Maxtor's OneTouchtm external
drive, which operates at the touch of a button. It
can conduct backups on-demand, or can be set to conduct
automatic backups at specific times.
External drives are compact and weigh about three
pounds. They also have a large capacity and can be
easily scaled as the needs of the practice grow.
Prices start at about $200 for a single PC.
This option is suitable for a single PC that gets
high amount of use, and where daily backups are a
necessity. However, in order to avoid the situation
where both the PC and data are damaged (as in the
instance of a fire), it is recommended that the external
drive be ported to a safe, secure location on daily
basis.
An alternative to the external drive is the option
of using the Internet for online backup purposes.
This eliminates the need to physically carry the
backup files to an offsite location. Additionally,
this option is growing in popularity as use of the
Internet becomes more widespread and costs are more
manageable (about $30 a month).
Online backup involves backing up over the Internet
to a secure, reliable data center. No equipment or
software is required at your office. Instead, you
are provided an account, and through a Windows interface
can trigger the backup process or set a schedule
for the process. It is recommended that high-speed
connectivity be used to transfer files. Cable modems,
DSL services or a dedicated connection such as a
T1 will meet backup requirements.
Internet backup protects the privacy of your data
by encrypting it as it travels from your computers
to an offsite center (using SSL).
Restoration can occur on-demand, whenever you request
it. Internet backup offers high performance, high-speed
transfer and simplified data recovery. Data center
partners can archive backups for weeks, months or
even years, and can organize data in the most logical
way for your practice's needs.
The most important thing to remember about backups
is to select a method that you will actually use
and will allow fast, dependable recovery in the case
of a disaster. The health and continuation of your
practice depends on it.
Concurrent Technologies designs and develops custom Web-based interactive
solutions for a diverse clientele ranging from Fortune 500 companies to non-profit
organizations. In the business for over 18 years, Concurrent Technologies is
a Total Solution Provider (TSP) offering a range of services from e-business
strategy to complete technology outsourcing. For more information, visit them
at www.concurrenttechnologies.com or call (800) 345-3895.
Online Claims Reminder
Do you file claims online using Benefits Connection
and also file electronic claims? If so, please note
this important reminder.
Before you submit electronic claims using your office
management software, please remember to pull out
your Delta Dental claims if you plan to submit them
using Benefits Connection. Otherwise, your claims
to Delta Dental will be submitted twice, and will
cause extra work for your office.
Dr. Navarro Tackles Critical
Issues Editing Magazine for Dental Consultants
Not many people have heard of dental consultants.
Dr. Scott Navarro hopes to change that. As editor
of Beacon, the magazine for members of the
American Association of Dental Consultants (AADC),
Dr. Navarro wants to encourage discussion among AADC
members, practicing dentists, and others with an
interest in dental benefits.
"Dental consultants are dentists who consult with dental carriers in such areas
as claims review, program design, policy setting, quality assurance, building
dental networks, utilization review and fraud," says Dr. Navarro, who is Delta
Dental's vice president, Professional Services and Dental Director.
Some AADC members maintain part-time private dental
practices, while others are full-time consultants.
Dental consultants enable dental carriers such as
Delta Dental to incorporate the knowledge and perspectives
of practicing dentists into their operations.
"The publication provides a forum to discuss issues pertaining to dental benefits," says
Dr. Navarro. "It's designed to create a dialog among dental consultants, dentists
and other parties with a stake in dental benefits."
Although not a refereed journal, Beacon does
include research articles. It recently published
an epidemiological study on childhood caries and
periodontal disease conducted by the University of
Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey
Dental School. The Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey
Foundation supported the study.
Recent authors included a dental school dean, professors
and researchers, dental consultants and practicing
dentists. The Spring 2004 issue addressed the difficult
question, "How will scientific advances in oral health
influence dental benefits?" It featured articles
on evidence-based dentistry, data warehouses, and
the current (and future) state of oral-health research.
Each issue includes an insert called Second Opinion,
in which dental consultants present actual cases
and discuss different approaches to adjudication.
Dr. Harold Seiler, a consultant for Atlanta Dental
Consultants, edits Second Opinion.
Dr. Navarro encourages anyone with an interest in
dental benefits to contribute to Beacon. The
editorial address is Beacon, 10032 Wind Hill
Dr., Greenville, IN 47124. For more information about
AADC, visit its Web site at www.aadc.org.
See How We've Grown in 35 Years
A lot of milestones happened in 1969. Neil Armstrong
walked on the moon, the Beatles performed their last
concert, and ARAPANET (the predecessor of the Internet)
was created.
That was also the year that Delta Dental Plan of
New Jersey began fulfilling its mission "to promote
oral health to the greatest number of people by providing
accessible dental benefit programs of the highest
quality, service, and value." On July 8, 1969, the
New Jersey Dental Service Plan (our original name)
filed the articles of incorporation with the New
Jersey Secretary of State.
Here's a snapshot of how far we've come:
First headquarters (1970)
A room of Dr. Joseph Pollack's dental office in East
Orange, New Jersey
Current headquarters (2004)
Nearly 90,000 square feet at 1639 Route 10, Parsippany,
New Jersey
Number of groups:
August 1972: 16
December 2003: 2,200
First claim paid: January 1971, to Dr. Stanley M. Schlossman of Morris
Plains, New Jersey
Claims processed in 2003: More than 2.8 million
Participating New Jersey dentist locations:
1970: 2,200
2003: More than 6,000
Number of subscribers:
January 1971: 4,000 subscribers and dependents
December 2003: More than 1.65 million subscribers
and dependents
Claims milestones:
1974: More than $1 million in benefits paid
2003: $388.1 million in benefits paid
Thank you for helping us to come so far. We look
forward to continuing our growth and our relationship
with you in the years to come!
Create a 'Shortcut' to Delta
Dental
A quick way to get to Delta Dental's Web site is
to create a shortcut. Here's one way to save Delta
Dental's Web site as a shortcut on your computer
desktop:
1. Launch Internet Explorer browser.
2. Type the following URL in the address bar in the
tool bar at the top of the screen: www.deltadentalnj.com.
Press "Enter" (the Return key).
3. Click "Favorites" in the tool bar at the top of
the screen.
4. Click "Add" on the left on the screen.
5. A pop up box will appear, "Add Favorite." Click
OK.
6. Click on the "Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey" link
in the "Favorites" list and drag it onto your computer
screen desktop.
If you would like to rename the shortcut, right-click
on the icon you just created.
Click on "Rename" and begin typing the new name for
the icon (for example, "Delta Dental NJ"). Then press "Enter."
If you want to save the Dentists Welcome page instead
of our Web site home page, type the following URL
in the address bar: http://www.deltadentalnj.com/dentists/dentists.shtml.
Then follow steps 3-6.
New Services Added for Participating
Dentists
Delta Dental has added two new value-added services
to help support your education and training efforts.
The first, offered through Lexi-Comp, Inc., provides
participating Delta Dental dentists with a 60-day
free trial of online access to the following Lexi-Comp
information products:
1. Drug Information Handbook for Dentistry
2. Drug Images with Manufacturer Data
3. Patient Information Leaflets
4. Interaction Data and Analysis
5. Web Search Capability
After the 60-day free trial, participating dentists
may continue using Lexi-Comp's online service at
the discounted fee of $30 per year. For an additional
$15 per year, participating dentists also have online
access to these additional Lexi-Comp products:
1. Dental Office Medical Emergencies
2. Oral Soft Tissue Diseases
3. Oral Hard Tissue Diseases
4. Natural Therapeutics Guide
5. Manual of Clinical Periodontics
6. Clinician's Endodontic Handbook
ProBusiness Online has agreed with Delta Dental to
bring online OSHA and HIPAA training to participating
dental offices at a 30% savings. ProBusiness Online
is a recognized ADA CERP provider and offers CE credit
for all courses. In addition, eight hours of CE credit
is awarded for OSHA and six hours for HIPAA.
Participating dental offices can provide OSHA training
for their entire office team for $69, and HIPAA training
for $56. The OSHA and HIPAA courses include training
for up to 10 staff members, with unlimited access
for one year, including new employees hired during
the year.
ProBusiness Online courses are available 24 hours
a day, seven days a week, allowing office staff to
study at their own pace.
ProBusiness Online also offers a comprehensive suite
of online continuing education, with more than 200
courses available to participating dentists at a
15% savings. Several courses have been specifically
designed for dental assistants and front office staff.
For more on these value-added services, register
on the Delta Dental portal at www.deltadental.com,
click "Dentist Connection" and follow the registration
instructions.
Delta Dental Days Scheduled
Delta Dental Days are a series of free educational
seminars offered by Delta Dental on Wednesday mornings
to participating dentists and their office staff.
The next Delta Dental Day programs are:
September 8, 2004
Ocean Place Conference Resort
One Ocean Blvd.
Long Branch, NJ
September 22, 2004
Somerset Hills Hotel
200 Liberty Corner Rd.
Warren, NJ
September 29, 2004
Sheraton Crossroads
1 International Blvd.
Mahwah, NJ
Each seminar, which runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., covers:
- The different types of programs Delta Dental
offers
- Electronic claims--how to get started and helpful
tips
- Delta Dental's compliance efforts with HIPAA
- Delta Dental's use of processing policies in
claims processing
- Overbilling and its consequences
- How to use Benefits Connection to verify patient
eligibility and benefits on the Internet to save
your practice time, improve patient relations,
and improve your cash flow when using the Internet
to submit claims
Participants will receive four continuing education
credits for attending. Registration information will
be sent to Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey participating
dental offices shortly.
|
