Align updates proficiency requirements

Sep 30, 2009

Align Technology has announced updates to its Invisalign Proficiency Requirements, including a new designation for doctors who meet the annual requirements and a six-month extension of the required qualification period in 2010.

The Invisalign Proficiency Requirements were launched June 1 to help ensure a baseline of Invisalign product experience and knowledge through minimum annual case and continuing education (CE) goals, according to the company. To maintain active provider status, doctors must achieve at least 10 shipped cases and 10 hours of Invisalign-specific CE each year.

Since the program was announced, the ADA and the Academy of General Dentistry have fielded numerous member complaints, prompting both organizations to issue alerts and contact the company to discuss the situation.

Even so, four months into the program, "I'm very pleased with the progress we've seen to date," said Dan Ellis, Align's vice president of North American sales, in a press release. "Key metrics, including Invisalign CE course participation, are up significantly and doctors are working with their Invisalign representatives to meet or surpass the minimum case and CE requirements by year-end."

As part of the proficiency requirements, Align has developed new ways to support doctors through the change, including a program to recognize doctors who achieve the annual proficiency requirements by year-end, the company said. Doctors who meet the requirements by the end of 2009 will benefit from a new addition to Align's consumer marketing programs, one that encourages prospective patients to seek out "Invisalign Preferred Providers."

Starting in January 2010, this new Invisalign Preferred designation will be highlighted on the Invisalign Web site and in TV ads, the company said. The Invisalign Preferred designation will then be awarded on an annual basis to doctors who meet the proficiency requirements for a given year.

For doctors who are unable to meet the proficiency requirements this year, but demonstrate a desire to continue using Invisalign, Align will offer a one-time, additional six-month qualification period that will enable them to secure their Invisalign provider status for 2010. The additional six-month qualification period stipulates the following:

Doctors who do not meet the proficiency requirements for 2009 but have at least one shipped case and at least one Invisalign CE hour at the end of this year will be allowed to maintain their active provider status through June 30, 2010.
Doctors who qualify for the additional six-month qualification period can secure their provider status for the second half of 2010 by meeting half of the annual proficiency requirements (at least five shipped cases and five Invisalign CE hours) between January 1 and June 30, 2010.
Doctors will still be responsible for meeting the total annual requirements of at least 10 shipped cases and 10 Invisalign CE hours by the end of 2010 to qualify as providers for the following year.

Doctors with zero shipped cases or zero Invisalign CE hours at the end of 2009 will be ineligible for the additional qualification period. They will be able to continue treating in-progress cases but will not be able to submit new Invisalign cases or use Invisalign branding or marketing resources.

Recently announced new features in all Invisalign products may give doctors greater confidence in Invisalign and address perceived limitations of Invisalign treatment, especially for those who have not used the product extensively in recent years, the company said. The new features, which will be available in mid-October, are designed to deliver better results across more clinical situations, particularly with extrusions, rotations, and root movements.

Align does not expect the Invisalign Proficiency Requirements to have a material impact on its fiscal year 2009 financial results, the company said.