October 2011 Newsletter

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-9/13/2011-

Attendance: Ashmen, Bernstein, Desai, Dominguez, Fernandes, Glickman, Goldstein, Kaga, Kahn, Modi, Prabhu, Rosen, Satwah, Savage, Schambra, Silverstein, Simos, Stein, Vitale, Vora, Weiner and Marlene Glickman
Acceptance of Minutes- Vote unanimous
President's Report-Robert Ashmen
A very warm welcome was given to Drs. Maritza Dominguez, Genevieve Fernandes and Sanjeev (Sunny) Satwah, who attended the meeting and expressed an interest in joining the executive board. Dr. Satwah became the MCDS representative to the Council on New Dentists replacing Dr. Mitch Weiner, who is now the chairman of the same council. A new committee was formed to welcome and help new members and to improve communications with existing members of the dental society. Dr. Fernandes was offered the chairmanship of this Membership Hospitality Committee which she readily accepted. Dr. Dominguez offered to help Drs. Rosen and Silverstein with MCDS website.
This is the 100th year of existence of our dental society. Planning for the Centennial celebrations for MCDS is on its way. Details are being work out by the planning committee. Tentative dates and venues were presented and discussed. Committee members met twice during summer to work out the logistics. Further details are presented below under Old Business.
Treasurer's Report-Alyssa Bernstein
See report on page 3.
Dr. Stein pointed out that PayPal had requested documentation of our not for profit status (specifically our 501c determination letter, which we can't locate). Everyone on the board agreed that the issue needs to be addressed and resolved promptly.
Educational Coordinator-Devang Modi
MCDS is proud to bring you the latest and most innovative topics in Dentistry today. As part of our continued commitment to learning and our members, we have confirmed notable speakers who will lecture on various topics such as "Endodontist role in the decision making process of natural tooth versus dental implants; bisphosphonate related osteoradionecrosis of the jaw; interdisciplinary treatment with emphasis on Orthodontics and Periodontics; and early diagnosis and detection of oral cancer." On October 19, 2011, Dr. Jon Ruel will present a full day seminar on "making implants the treatment of choice to replace missing teeth." MCDS will host NJDA President Dr. Barbara Rich and the NJDA staff at its annual "Officers Night" on January 17, 2012. Five esteemed Dentist will be honored this evening and receive their Life Member Pins. The educational journey will conclude on 5/15/2012, Staff Night. Several exciting, new ideas are being considered to make this year a memorable one.
NJDA Trustee's Report-Mark Vitale
See full report on page 5.
NJDPAC- Report-Mark Vitale
It has been a tough year. Only $12,000 left in treasury with elections just around the corner. We are asking again for those of our members who have not contributed or would like to contribute to NJDPAC to please do so at the earliest. A new approach will be used at the time of membership renewal. For NJDPAC contributions, in the 2012 year dues reminder statement, 'Opt out' format will be used (instead of "opt in").
Give Kids a Smile-Cavan Brunsden
Dr. Mark Vitale presented information about the need for increased awareness at the department of education and school administrative levels. Dr. Brunsden will present a detailed report at the next meeting.
Executive Secretary-Marlene Glickman
The MCDS phone line has been very active. Dental Shadowing is up and running. Hygiene study club starts in September. CE credits for the year 2010-11 will go out to the members this month.
NJDA Council Reports:
Annual Session-Nainesh Desai
The Garden State Dental Conference and Expo 2011 was very well attended with significant increase in the number attendees and revenues. A new venue, well known speakers like Dr. Carl Misch, added activities for attendees and hard work by NJDA staff and members of the board and council helped with the success. The Garden State Dental Conference and Expo 2012 will be another weekend event at The Ocean Place Resort in Long Branch, NJ, on June 22nd and 23rd. An even improved lecture and hands-on series with many technology related sessions are being planned. Dr. Ethan Glickman proposed a resolution to be presented to NJDA Board and Council on Annual session which was then unanimously voted for and passed. An email was also sent to NJDA to that effect. The resolution is as follows:
Resolved that the Middlesex County Dental Society Board of Trustees strongly urges that the NJDA Board of Trustees and the NJDA Council on Annual Sessions select a prominent-well known clinical speaker for the 2nd day of the New Jersey Garden State Expo-Dental Convention of 2012.
Dental Benefits-Devang Modi
A joint meeting with the Council on Governmental affairs will be held next week.
Dental Education-Bob Ashmen
Weekend study club of NJDA is ready with another year of exciting lectures which will be held at the NJDA headquarters.
Peer Review-Sandy Goldstein
Over the summer months four new cases were assigned. Two of the cases went to plenary hearings and two are still pending mediation.
Committee Reports:
Budget and Finance-Ira Rosen
The committee will meet before the next meeting and present the budget to the board at next board meeting and to the general membership, if approved by the board.
Mentor-Amit Vora/Nima MirMadjlessi
Our last bi-annual OSHA program was held on June 2, 2011 at St. Peter's Medical Center, New Brunswick where 135 members and staff were in attendance. The next bi-annual OSHA program that satisfies the OSHA standard on Occupational Exposure to Blood Borne Pathogens, which is required annually for dentists and staff, will be given on November 3, 2011 at St. Peter's Medical Center, New Brunswick. Two CE credits are awarded to the Dentists & staff members attending these 2-hour seminars. These seminars are available to our members & staff for $25/pp as a member benefit of MCDS. A very big "Thank You" to Dr. Joe Fertig, Director of Dental Services - St. Peter's Medical Center, for arranging all our room accommodations for the MCDS OSHA-Mentor programs at St. Peter's Medical Center in New Brunswick. Please see the insert in this newsletter for additional information and registration for the Mentor/OSHA program.
Old Business
Dr. Ethan Glickman presented the Centennial Committee report:
The Committee consists of the following members: Robert Ashmen (Chair), Mitch Weiner, Nima Madjlessi, Amit Vora, Cavin Brunsden, Danny Krantz, Alyssa Bernstein, Maya Prabhu, David Stein, Ira Rosen, Ethan Glickman (Recording secretary) and Marlene Glickman.
Several venues are being considered, including the Hilton Hotel in East Bruswick, the Hyatt Hotel in New Brunswick, and the Westin Hotel Forrestal Village in Princeton.
The event would tentatively take place some time in January of 2012.
All 100 of MCDS's past Presidents would be honored, and dignitaries both from NJDA and ADA, and politicians may be invited.
The format of the event, entertainment, and marketing were all discussed. All of these items will be finalized at an upcoming meeting.
New Business
Dr. Ethan Glickman and Dr. Fernandes suggested that communications with new members and existing members who are not using member benefits of MCDS need to be improved. Dr. Glickman proposed formation of a committee for the same. A motion for the committee, named 'Membership Hospitality' was made by Dr. Ashmen and was passed unanimously. Dr Fernandez will be the chairperson. Drs. Glickman and Savage, and Marlene Glickman will be on the committee.
Good & Welfare
Over the summer, Dr. Ethan Glickman and Marlene were blessed with another grandchild, Sydney Jean Glickman. Dr. Nainesh Desai and his wife Gayatri were blessed with another son, Arjun Desai in May 2011. Congratulations and best wishes to both the families.
Congratulations to Alyssa Bernstein or her marriage to Patrick Burt on 8/20/11.
Congratulations to David Stein on the birth of his son Zachary Adam on 9/15/11.
Best wishes to all members for another exciting year in dentistry and continuing education.
Respectfully Submitted,
Nainesh Desai, Secretary

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DENTAL BENEFITS WORKSHOP – NOVEMBER 16, 2011
 
In case you missed the course presented by NJDA's Council on Dental Benefits in Atlantic City in 2010, you have another opportunity to gain a better understanding of dental benefits and its intricacies.  Members of NJDA's Council on Dental Benefits and NJDA staff will cover an array of topics including   correct coding, ERISA plans, prompt payment, dental plan contracting, the ever-dreaded coordination of benefit rules, insurance fraud, and emerging issues such as Evidence Based Dentistry and the impact of federal health care reform, as time permits.
The course will be held at NJDA headquarters (click here for directions) on November 16, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.   Dentists and staff are invited to attend.  The registration fee for the course is $40.00 and includes breakfast and light lunch. Download the attached registration form, complete it and send by email, fax or post mail to:
NJDA
ATTN: Irene Tafaro
One Dental Plaza
P.O. Box 6020
North Brunswick, NJ 08902-6020
Fax: (732) 821-1082
Email: [email protected]
If you have any questions about the course, please contact Mary Moskal at (732) 821-9400. Space is limited, so don't delay.

MCDS Members in the News Follow Up Report

As reported in the September 2011 issue of this newsletter, Dr. Diana Bucolo, a MCDS member, was a finalist for the Golden Heart Award, the top prize for unpublished fiction in the nation in her genre, for her thriller, Spy in the Mirror. Since the September publication, Dr. Bucolo was informed that she won the top prize. MCDS extends our congratulations!

NJDA Noteworthy News

- Ms. Rosanna Salerno from TD Bank, one of our Partners, presented a check in the amount of $25,606.13. There is no enrollment involved, nothing our members have to do except open an account and inform TD that they are part of the NJDA Affinity Program. If you already have an account professionally or personally, tell TD Bank to add that account to the NJDA Affinity Program. This could become a significant revenue source for NJDA.
- Dr. Mark Vitale reported that at the last meeting, the trustees were to go back to their respective components and establish a contact person who would be responsible for sharing information of blast emails for CE courses that meet the approval of the Board. Monmouth-Ocean was the only component that did so far.Dr. Vitale (MI) asked the Trustees to furnish Eric Elmore with the name of their component contact for blast emails that meet CE course approval.
- Component Presidents & Secretaries were previously asked to make nominations of any member interested in serving as NJDA Trustee to the Foundation of UMDNJ Board of Trustees. Only Essex furnished the name of Dr. Carmine LoMonaco. The Board approved the nomination of Dr. Carmine LoMonaco for a 1 year term.
-The 2012 budget was approved as presented to the Budget Hearing Committee and was subsequently approved by the BOT. It will now be sent to the House of Delegates meeting on November 9, 2011 for approval.
- Mr. Arthur Meisel reported that there is new proposed PIP Fee Schedule for dental. This is a public document. There are two regions in N.J., North and South. The numbers from the North come from the zip code of Chatham and the numbers for the South come from Moorestown. NJDA will be emailing the fee schedule to all its members.
Membership and Annual Session
Ms. Tricia DeCotiis distributed a draft of the 2012 dues bill. She referred to the resolution at the June House of Delegates in which the PAC Board requested that the NJDPAC shall appear as an opt-out on the NJDA's Annual Dues Billing Statement and be brought above the line. There was discussion and approval of the layout.
She reported that 4,501 members have paid to date, which is 81 down from last year this time. Also Ms. DeCotiis distributed the non-renew list. As a matter of information, she reported that the Membership staff received 100 payments from its telemarketing calls. Some of this was achieved by extending payment plans. For those members who do not respond, having dentists make the calls helps.
As per Dr. Rich's suggestion and the Board's agreement, a survey will go out to all members regarding satisfaction with services. By utilizing 'Constant Contacts' the survey is affordable. We have received a $15,000 grant from the ADA for Dental recruitment and retention efforts. We will direct this to the recruitment of female dentists and to the Indian Association.
Ms. DeCotiis reported the Annual Session figures. We have received approximately a surplus of $50,000, mostly due to the Misch course and the bonfire. She reported that Maureen Barlow, the Events Coordinator, was very mindful of keeping the expenses within budget.
Communications and Dental Education
Mr. Eric Elmore reported that the November issue of the Advocate will be the last one distributed in its current form. We will be utilizing Constant Contact, a service that will handle emails. In the Advocate there is an article on our email policy. When news is available we will email blast. Please note that personal email addresses may be on the online directory. Look for NJDA ALERT, NJDA ADVISORY and NJDA PROMOTION. This is all part of NJDA's campaign to move to all electronic communications. Ms. DeCotiis added that she begun her general practice residency visits and they are delighted that we have gone forward electronically. It is important that we learn to communicate with the younger generation.
Mr. Elmore reported that Membership is studying how we can enhance non-dues revenue and how to handle partnership vs. endorsement. He announced that the NJDA has been nominated for a Golden Apple Award in the category of Promoting Dental Issues to the Public. We have received many inquiries from dentists regarding where we are with Staples. Staples has presented us with a contract; we made some suggestions and they are reviewing it with their attorneys. The Week End Study Clubs are set and will offer three credits for each course. You may register on the website. On August 17th we are giving a course on improving the cash flow on the front and back end. Both I.C. Systems and HealthCard are going to speak on how to look at contracts and save money.
The NJDA Golf Outing on Monday, August 15th was held at the Deal Country Club and was a success.
Next year, the 2012 Give Kids A Smile event, will celebrate its 10th Anniversary. Dr. Feinberg and Jim Schulz have been asked to get some legislators involved. Within the ten years, GKAS has treated 25,000 kids and has given $5,000,000 in free dental care. NJDA GKAS is the second largest event in the USA with 109 locations. The first meeting for the 2012 GKAS will be in September.
Governmental and Public Affairs
Mr. James Schulz reported that we are meeting with Patterson and Jersey City School Superintendents' offices to discuss participation in next year's GKAS program, which he stated is bigger than any of the MOM's program held anywhere in the country. We will use legislators to help secure meetings in these areas. The General Supervision legislation is qued-up but hasn't moved yet because the legislature is on summer recess. He is working with the Senate Committee aides to get the bill posted up sooner, but our best hope will be to move the legislation during the Lame Duck session in December and early January.
Access to Care continues to be a primary focus. NJ is one of only three states to never perform, to the CDC and ASTDD standards, an Oral Health Surveillance Survey of 3rd graders to properly access overall pediatric oral health. We should do this through the Department of Health and Senior Services. However, since we were unable to schedule a meeting on a timely basis, we have focused on the Department of Education which is very supportive. We have met with the Commission of Education and received his formal support. On Wednesday, August 17th, we met with the Acting Commissioner of Health to discuss the program. We will need dentists to volunteer to screen 3rd graders. Each child should be referred to a dentist if they have active caries. We have been presented with a random list of schools by the CDC/ASTDD in order to fairly perform the assessment.
The Department of Health has started to impose fines on dental offices for not complying with the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, which requires any office that measures blood, among other things, to be permitted and regulated by the State. You can be fined and your office can be temporarily shutdown if you do not have a permit.
We are working with the NJ Division of Taxation to update the Sales and Use Tax guide for dental products and devices. We should have an updated list this Fall.
The Council on Governmental & Public Affairs is moving forward with technology – and has signed up for OOVOO and Skype for video conferencing.
Mr. Schulz reported that NJDPAC has had a very busy and expensive year – all 120 legislators are up for re-election in new legislative districts. He expects democrats to maintain the majority in both houses for now.
Federally, the Affordable Care Act passed. This is the establishment of health care for small businesses to participate on an exchange. States can establish their own exchange, however, if they do not, they must take the federal exchange. New Jersey is trying to establish its own. Assemblyman Herb Conaway is trying to get the conversation started. Right now, it does not allow for stand-alone dental plans; we need to make sure that dentistry is included in that Bill.
Dental Benefits and Peer Review
Ms. Moskal reported that the ADA website has a Health Care Reform Implementation Matrix that lists various provisions related to dentistry and ADA activity related to the particular item. Significantly, the 1099 form filing requirement on small businesses was repealed in April. However, a new "medical device tax" is scheduled to go into effect on sales after December 31, 2012, and dental devices are not specifically exempt. ADA and a coalition of dental groups is advocating that the Treasury determine that the excise tax not apply to dental devices manufactured by dental laboratories and orthodontic manufacturers. The Health Insurance Exchange required under the federal law would allow stand-alone dental plans a place on the exchange so that the pediatric oral care benefits could conceivably be carved out. However, a bill has been introduced in the New Jersey legislature to operate a state exchange, but it specifically excludes stand-alone dental plans. NJDA is advocating for their presence.
The Council's Dental Insurance Workshop is scheduled for November 16, 2011 at NJDA. The annual Peer Review Training is scheduled for November 30, 2011. The council's next regular meeting will be held on September 21, 2011 as a joint meeting with the Council on Governmental and Public Affairs.
State Board of Dentistry Update
Four courses have been approved by the State Board for the required training in connection with the proposed pharmacologic injectables regulation.
279 dentists have not been fingerprinted. They will not be eligible for renewal in November when re-licensure comes up. The NJDA will be getting out a letter regarding renewal. When you fill out the renewal, answer honestly. The question was raised as to whether periodontists can draw blood in connection with the practice of dentistry. Dentists are allowed; auxiliaries are not allowed.
Dr. Herbert Dolinsky was appointed President of the State Board of Dentistry and Dr. Peter DeSciscio was appointed President-Elect.
NJDA Journal
Dr. Harvey Nisselson reported that the Journal received an award from the International College of Dentist for its Vol. 81 in 2010. Students at a grade school in Franklin baked cakes in the shape of the 21 counties and put them together to create the shape of New Jersey. This was a learning experience on the ongoing study of New Jersey and NJDA featured a picture of the cake on the #1 2010 issue of the Journal. The next issue of the Journal should be received in mid-September.