Organizational and Cultural Resistance: Established dental leaders and longstand- ing governance structures sometimes favor traditional approaches, such as large com- mittees and formal board procedures. Legacy processes can slow pivotal changes—like new membership categories or online platforms. Successful associations effectively commu- nicate the value of these changes and guide members through the transition.


Skill and Knowledge Gaps: Marketing, data analytics and technology integration may not be strengths for many dental associations. Even with modern database systems, lacking training or insufficient staffing can make it difficult to segment communications or per- sonalize offerings for each member cohort.


Information Overload: Both dentists and team members are bombarded by emails, social media posts, and industry updates. Associations need to ensure that their communications are relevant, concise and timely. A few well-crafted messages can be more effective than frequent, poorly targeted campaigns.


CONCLUSION


Given dentists’ challenges in Missouri, the MDA has never been more crucial to the success and well-being of members, their teams, and their practices. In a landscape of consolidations, heightened patient expecta- tions, and intensifying competition, MDA provides advocacy, professional development and access to a trusted network of peers.


To remain relevant, MDA must embrace innovative engagement models—rooted in robust research, personalized offerings and flexible governance. Doing so makes the MDA an indispensable partner to dentists navigating a complex and rapidly evolving profession.


Dean West, FASAE is President of Association Laboratory and was facilitator of the recent MDA Leadership Summit. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives and internationally recognized thought leader and


futurist in the association sector. He has studied effective and ineffective strategies in association leadership and management for more than 20 years.


Dental Billing CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27


payments and denied claims, overall prof- itability can decline.


The complexity of dental billing requires precision, efficiency and adaptability to ever-changing payer requirements. Tra- ditional, manual processes leave room for errors which often result in claim denials, delayed payments and revenue leakage. In contrast, dental billing software automates critical aspects of the revenue cycle, from insurance verification to claims submission and patient billing, helping practices reduce administrative burdens while improving cash flow.


One of the most impactful features of dental billing software is automated insur- ance verification. That means real-time verification before appointments, ensuring accurate benefit calculations and reducing claim denials due to eligibility issues. Addi- tionally, coding support tools help ensure claims are submitted with the correct codes, proper documentation and compli- ance with payer-specific rules, signifi- cantly reducing rejection rates. If a claim is denied, the system can flag it immediately and assist in the re-submission process.


Billing and collections solutions offer transparent cost estimates, digital invoic- ing and flexible payment options. Many platforms integrate with patient portals, allowing patients to view their outstanding balances, set up payment plans and make secure online payments, reducing the likelihood of unpaid bills.


Practice analytics tools provide real-time insights into key performance indicators such as claim acceptance rates, outstand- ing accounts receivable, and revenue trends. Dental practices can identify bottlenecks in their billing process and implement solutions to maximize profit- ability. Finally, these tools can integrate seamlessly with existing practice manage- ment systems. In fact, dental billing solu- tions can offer an added layer of efficiency and security, providing peace of mind for practice and patients.


With automatic software updates ensuring compliance with the latest billing regula- tions and HIPAA requirements, practices can stay ahead of industry changes with- out added administrative strain.


Robert McDermott is the President & CEO of iCoreConnect, a company that has developed its healthcare workflow platform to integrate existing practice management software into revenue realization tools to boost efficiency, accuracy and security. MDA members receive substantial discounts on iCoreConnect’s services. Visit iCoreConnect.com/MO7 or call 888-810-7706 to book a demo.


ISSUE 1 | SPRING 2025 | focus 31


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