Texas mulls CHIP cutbacks; CBCT poses orthodontic dose risks

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

Like many states across the U.S., Texas is grappling with a significant budget deficit that could dramatically affect its ability to continue to deliver Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) services. But if the program is cut, Texas risks losing up to $15 billion a year in matching federal Medicaid and CHIP funds. Will lawmakers be able to find another solution? Read more by clicking here or visiting the Practice Management Community.

And despite the combined lobbying efforts of several dental organizations, the dreaded 1099 reporting requirement that is part of the new healthcare reform law remains in place. So starting in 2012, small businesses must report any purchases over $600 to the Internal Revenue Service. Read more about this initiative that the ADA says will have a "significant adverse impact" on many dental practices.

In imaging news, with the majority of orthodontic patients being young teens who often undergo full-head imaging before, during, and after treatment, there is concern that using cone-beam CT (CBCT) in every case unnecessarily exposes these patients to dangerous amounts of radiation. Click here or visit the Imaging & CAD/CAM Community to read what one imaging expert recommends to minimize dose and maximize the quality of cone-beam CT imagery in orthodontics.

And in the latest Ask Marty, Dr. Martin Jablow answers a reader's question about what to do with lab work after a case is permanently cemented.