DrBicuspid.com Practice Management Insider

Dear Practice Management Insider,

CSHM, which owns 53 Small Smiles dental clinics in 19 states and the District of Columbia, has been excluded from participation in the Medicaid and Medicare programs for a minimum of five years by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Click here to read about the violations behind the decision.

In other news in the Practice Management Community, Serge Longin, co-founder of RevenueWell, explained why retaining and attracting new patients isn't "rocket science" during a well-attended presentation at the recent Yankee Dental Congress in Boston. Read about the fundamentals needed to keep your practice thriving in this latest installment of Leaders in Dentistry.

And Gregory Ewing, JD, MPH, president of Texas Dentists for Medicaid Reform, discusses the various phases of HIPAA enforcement and how they can affect small group practices. Click here to read his Second Opinion piece about the importance of having a risk management plan that avoids security risks and vulnerabilities.

In other news, more than 8 million low-income adults will become eligible for dental benefits this year, according to a new ADA analysis of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). But expanded Medicaid coverage doesn't guarantee increased access to dental care. Read why.

In a related story, early childhood caries (ECC) is a growing epidemic that could actually worsen under the ACA, according to a new report by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Click here to read who is most likely to have ECC and possible solutions for the growing problem.

Meanwhile, a Texas judge has upheld payment holds on Medicaid payments for Houston dental clinic Antoine Dental Center, citing credible evidence of Medicaid fraud. Read about the latest development in the state's ongoing Medicaid scandal, including clinics that billed about $8.1 million for orthodontic services in less than three years.

In a related story, Maine lawmakers are considering a bill to provide adult dental Medicaid benefits, a proposal designed to reduce dental emergency room costs. Click here to read about the change and a bill to authorize dental therapists.

In another Medicaid story, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has approved Michigan's new plan to provide dental coverage for adults and children. Read about the law, which extends benefits to 322,000 low-income residents and will ultimately cover nearly half a million residents.

Finally, Edward Zuckerberg, DDS, father of Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, has a unique perspective of social media. Click here to read how social media can help new and established practices, another interview in the Leaders in Dentistry series.