routes on guidelines. The guidelines will be based on level of consciousness.

• Length of training for initial certifica- tion went from 24 to 60 CE hours, and 20 cases with at least one IV case.

Currently, the Missouri Dental Practice Act differentiates between oral and IV routes for permits. These new guidelines will be shared with Dental Boards across the country, and each state will determine any changes to their existing rules.

These guidelines can be found at ada.org/en/ member-center/oral-health-topics/ anesthesia-and-sedation or read the November 7 ADA News article at ada.org/ en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/ november/ada-house-of-delegates-adopt- revisions-in-sedation-anesthesia-guidelines.

A resolution passed allows dentists to an- nounce as specialists recognized in their jurisdictions even if it’s not one of the nine dental specialties recognized by the ADA. “65. Resolved, that Section 5.H. of the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Profes- sional Conduct be amended as set forth below (additions underscored): Amended the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct to permit ‘dentists to announce as specialists recognized in their jurisdictions even if it’s not one of the nine dental specialties recognized by the Association’ AND ‘a dentist holding specialty degrees should be permit- ted to practice to the full scope of the dental licenses that they hold so long as they maintain adequate expertise in the specialty.’”

A letter from Dr. Halasz, Chair of the ADA Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs was distributed to ADA members and the full text of the ADA Code can be found on the ADA website at ada.org/en/about-the-ada/ principles-of-ethics-code-of-professional- conduct.

Three-Year Initiative to Drive Utilization of Dental Services for ADA Members: Ap- proved a three-year targeted program aimed at motivating patients to visit the dentist. The $6.3 million campaign (over three years, evaluated after the first year for continua- tion) will be a social media campaign direct- ing the public to ADA members only. The funding for the first year is to be taken from

reserves and ongoing $6 million (2018 and 2019) will be determined by the ADA Board. “67RC. Resolved, that the initiative “Drive Uti- lization of Dental Services for ADA Members” be approved, and be it further Resolved, that the Council on Communications submit annual status updates to the House of Delegates for the duration of the campaign, and be it further Resolved, that we urge funding for this program shall come from the reserves for the first year, and be it further Resolved, that funding for the second and third years shall be at the discre- tion of the Board of Trustees, and be it further Resolved, that the Council on Communications shall provide evidence of the value of this media campaign to the 2017 House of Delegates.”

Supporting Member Engagement: Approved $250,000 in funding for the Membership Program for Growth (MPG) grant program. This is for membership-related activities for outreach to dental students, dentists in ad- vanced education or residency programs and new dentists one to 10 years out. State and local societies will be able to apply for the funding for 2017 events. “80. Resolved, that $250,000 be appropriated in the 2017 Budget to fund a program overseen by the Council on Membership to financially assist constituent and component societies to support member engagement for outreach to dental students, dentists in an advanced dental education or residency program, and new dentists 1-10 years out of dental school, and be it further Resolved, that the Council on Membership require partici- pants to demonstrate the membership-related nature of the engagement activity to ensure that funding does not support purely social events.”

Sunsetted the Council on Annual Session. It will become an Advisory on Annual Meetings to the Board.

Dues increased by $10 to $532, effec- tive January 1, 2017.

Adopted new policy that opposes practices by third-party payers that permit disallowed claims and other practices the Associa- tion believes are inappropriate or intrusive. Resolution 12H-2016, Comprehensive ADA Policy Statement on Inappropriate or Intru- sive Provisions and Practices by Third-Party Payers, was in response to member dentists continuing to call the ADA with concerns

related to managed care agreements that in- terfere with the doctor-patient relationship. “The American Dental Association opposes interference in the treatment decisions made between doctor and patient,” the resolution states. “Plans which contain inappropriate and intrusive provisions substitute busi- ness decisions for treatment decisions made through a patient-doctor dialogue. Such provisions and practices deny patients their purchased benefits and robs them of their rights as informed consumers of health care.” The resolution also states that plans that contain certain provisions should disclose them to the plan purchasers and to pa- tients and dentists should be aware of those practices when offered a contract. Accord- ing to the resolution, the ADA believes the following practices by third-party payers are inappropriate or interfere with the doctor/ patient relationship: • Bad faith practices. • Inappropriate fee discounting practices. • Lowering patient benefits and claims payment abuse. This can include down- coding; bundling of procedures; limiting benefits for non-covered services; least expensive alternative treatment clauses; most favored nation clauses; and disal- lowed clauses.

• Using non-dentist personnel for adjudi- cation of benefit.

• Restricting dialogue between dentists and patients or public agencies.

• Automatic assignment of participating dentist agreements.

• Nondisclosure of fee schedules or pro- cessing policies prior to contracting.

“We plan on sharing this comprehensive poli- cy with the major dental carriers through the National Association of Dental Plans, Delta Dental Plans Association and Blue Cross/ Blue Shield Association,” said Dr. Ron Rig- gins, chair of the Council on Dental Benefit Programs, which proposed the resolution. “A lot of these practices aren’t going to go away overnight but we want the third-party payers to know we are opposed to the practices and we want members to know we are advocat- ing on their behalf.” f

For additional questions about these resolutions or other ADA House actions, contact Vicki Wilbers at vicki@ modentalmail.org.

ISSUE 6 | NOV/DEC 2016 | focus 21