November 2003 Newsletter

NJDA Noteworthy News

STATE BOARD OF DENTISTRY REPORT Dr. Frank Graham
Discussion covered scanned impressions being more accurate than poured impressions. The State Board determined that diagnostic casts were the standard of care and should be utilized. No resolution was passed.
It was reported that the nitrous oxide regulation regarding hygienists monitoring has been given the green light and will be published in the N. J. Register in October.
REPORT OF COUNCILS
Council on Annual Sessions
Currently working on Give Kids A Smile and the Children’s Dental Health Month.
The “Day at the Circus” will be March 7 but there will be no suite and no post party.
The speakers for this year have been finalized and the Annual Session dates for 2005 and 2006 have been secured.
The Board Retreat will be held November 15-16, 2003. The meeting on Sunday morning will discuss diversity in NJDA and a program has been set for the spouses to discuss preparation for Annual Session.
Council on Dental Education
Had a successful meeting with the student leaders of all the classes at UMDNJ with over 30 students attended and she was pleased with the exchange of ideas and needs. She stressed what NJDA is and what we feel we can do for the students and asked what the students thought they needed from us.
The Council on Dental Education has money budgeted for scholarships for dental assistants . This year there will be four (4) recipients; 2 from Cumberland, 1 from Camden and 1 from the Institute of Dental Health in Fairfield.
There will be a Continuing Education course held on December 3rd at the Elizabeth Hilton on the paperless practice. It’s a half-day course, 4 hours and 4 credits, for both staff and doctors.
The Week End Study Club registrations are very good. Four have been scheduled. Dr. Michael Dzitzer, Trustee from Atlantic-Cape May, was the speaker at the first study club and he did an excellent job. The WeekEnd Study Clubs are attracting a new group of people which, in turn, will meet with other groups.
Council on Membership
Distributed a resolution from the Council on Membership concerning the conversion of its software to the ADA tripartite system and assessing the accuracy of “previous balances”. In the past we have carried old balances forward, however, the system does not define for what membership year the money is owed. In addition, in the overwhelming majority of cases, no money is actually owed because the dentists elected to forego membership. There are members who come and go.
We will be following the ADA approach as of July 1st in that nothing will be mailed to members that have not paid their dues. If you have not paid your dues, you will be dropped from membership for the year. Members can always rejoin. However, those members that have not paid will affect life membership. To attain life membership, you must have 30 continuous years as well at reach the age of 65 or be a member for 40 years.
Membership audit is ongoing. It has been estimated that this membership comparison between NJDA membership records and the ADA tripartite system will take approximately seven (7) weeks with two people working seven hours a day and five days a week. This will only identify discrepancies between the two systems. We then have to identify which data is correct. The audit is a very time consuming job. Two temporary employees were hired to assist with this project.
She reported briefly on the Women’s Initiative. They have not been able to secure a definite leader but have invited 5 or 6 women to a one night dinner event to discuss specific needs of the female practitioner and just how NJDA can assist them.
ID Team has been temporarily put on the back burner in light of other pressing priorities. They have reached out to the attorney general’s office to get a contact person so that the NJDA ID Team will have one person to contact. At this point, the NJDA is looking into training, the identification of more members and the process by which that will occur. The purpose is to develop the New Jersey Identification Dental Team as an organization that the New Jersey State Government will call upon in time of need.
Marketing & Communications
Developing a new program for both doctors and spouses on the purchase of non-dental items. He called it the “Members Edge” Program. This is a discount program of items at various locations at different percent discounts for families; i.e. Barnes & Noble, Brooks Brothers, auto service and restaurants. Members will receive a brochure listing names, addresses, phone numbers and percentage of discount. This program is anticipated to be available in January.
Council on Governmental Affairs
The Legislature remains on recess and is not expected to reconvene until after the November elections. Many races where dentists are running for election are very close and he encouraged all members to get out and vote.
Council on Dental Benefits Programs
CDT 4 Codes will be effective beginning in October. Moreover, the ADA has clarified the instructions for filling out claim forms. It is important to remember that claim forms will not be processed unless they are properly completed. The good news is that insurance companies cannot manipulate the codes on the forms.
However, it was reported that Horizon has recently sent out new EOB statements that use language making a determination that alternative treatments were available and should have been used. This is a serious problem and is being investigated thoroughly by both Ms. Moskal and Mr. Meisel.
REPORT OF OFFICERS
PRESIDENT’S REPORT – Dr. Jeffrey H. Rempell
Dr. Rempell and other NJDA members attended a recent dinner with representatives from Delta Dental. He expressed the NJDA desire to streamline the audit process so that it doesn’t take months.
He further reported that he will be attending a meeting tonight with the Commonwealth Dental Society to open lines of communication and to encourage cross membership.
PRESIDENT-ELECT’S REPORT – Dr. Frank J. Graham
Dr. Frank Graham pointed out that the conclusion in the ENVIRON Report on page 13 indicates that the amount of mercury in the form of amalgam entering surface waters in New Jersey is approximately 0.009 pounds per active dentist and that the annual cost of reduction through the use of amalgam separators in NJ would range from approximately $157 to $497 million per ton. Environ concluded that the estimated cost to reduce mercury discharges from New Jersey dental facilities was greater than costs relative to other industries that the USEPA has chosen not to regulate. However, Dr. Graham stressed the importance of members using the Best Management Practice (BMPs)for amalgam waste and requested that this information be published in the Capsule and the Journal.
An article appeared in the September issue of the ADA News concerning a new alumni group for dentists from Rutgers. They are looking to recognize Rutgers alumni who have become dentists. The group will hold its first meeting March 27, 2004 on the New Brunswick campus and Dr. Michael Alfano, Dean of New York University College of Dentists, will be the keynote speaker. If this applies to any member, or if you know of any Rutgers alumni, who are dentists, to please contact Dr. McCormick.
VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT – Dr. August D. Pellegrini
Dr. Augie Pellegrini reported that at the August 13th Board meeting a subcommittee, consisting of Drs. Richard Kahn, Frank Carotenuto and Frank Graham and himself, was set-up to review and make recommendations to the following resolution:
While serving on the Board of Trustees or any councils of the New Jersey Dental Association (“NJDA”) a person shall not express opposition to or espouse a position inconsistent with one set forth by the NJDA before any legislative or regulatory body or with the news media.
The subcommittee concluded that further discussion was unnecessary and that the resolution should remain as written, no changes needed.
TREASURER’S REPORT – Dr. Robert A. Hersh
Dr. Robert Hersh reported that the current numbers for Annual Session indicate there will be a surplus of approximately $15,000 - $20,000. Some additional monies are still coming in.
Dr. Hersh attended a meeting just prior to today’s Board meeting regarding healthcare employee benefits. Guardian HealthNet, the current staff healthcare provider, has increased the premium 15.2%. NJDA projected budget increase for 2004 was 15%. To continue continuity we will keep the current provider with unchanged benefits.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE REPORT – Dr. Walter I. Chinoy
Dr. Walter Chinoy reminded the Board that the next Board meeting will be held after the House of Delegates meeting. The House meeting will be held November 12, 2003, at 9:30 a.m. in the Pines Manor, Edison, NJ. Dr. Bernie McDermott, 4th District Trustee, will address the House.
To date, there are two resolutions; the Budget and the Membership Jurisdiction on component membership.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S & LEGAL COUNSEL’S REPORT – Mr. Art Meisel
Mr. Arthur Meisel reported that an application for specialty recognition for Craniofacial Pain has been filed and will be considered by the ADA House of Delegates in 2004.
Mr. Meisel reported that the FTC is conducting an inquiry into the South Carolina State Board of Dentistry as well as conducting inquiries into various state association’s codes of ethics. NJDA proudly provided our documents. He also reported that the California Supreme Court has agreed to review the dismissal of the amalgam suite. Mr. Meisel asked the Board if it had any objection to his filing an amicus brief, if requested by the California Dental Association or by the ADA. The sense of the Board was it had no objection to the filing of an amicus brief.
Sub-committee on Component Board Towns
The sub-committee recommended bylaws change that deletes the requirement that a member must belong to the component society where their main office is registered with the State Board of Dentistry. This change will be voted upon at the House of Delegates meeting in November 2003.
NEW BUSINESS
GUESTS
Dr. Jeffrey Linfante, Director of Administration and Recruitment for the UMDNJ Dental School, provided a power point presentation on student admissions and recruitment programs. He discussed the reasons for students going into dentistry; i.e., self-employment and what amounts to a freedom of insurance industry stranglehold. There is clearly a changing diversity of students. He discussed some of the recruitment programs to aid students with tuition, mentoring and even going into high schools to establish new recruitment arenas. Also quality of applicants and quantity are up.
Dr. Cecile Feldman, Dean of the UMDNJ-Dental School, thanked NJDA for all the support we have given the school and especially for the financial support with the new construction. She announced some new administrative organizational changes. Drs. Tony Volpe and Cosmo DeSteno are co-chairs on the Campaign Leadership Committee. Dr. Cosmo DeSteno is the new Vice Dean of the Dental School, Dr. Michael Conti, the new Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs and Dr. John Ricciani, the new Director of Patient Services.
Due to recent budget cuts from the State, the Dental School had an 11% decrease, which is approximately a 1.2 million-dollar cut for this year. GME Federal funding for residents has been put on hold, but residents prior to October 1st will be grandfathered in. She reported that the ADA has been very active in helping the school deal with lobbying.
Dr. Feldman was pleased to announce that appointments to all department chairs have been filled except the Department of Community Health. The search is still ongoing.