Insurance exchange rules finalized; contraceptive ups periodontitis risk

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) yesterday issued final rules governing how states should establish and implement the new insurance exchanges that are required under the Affordable Care Act.

The insurance exchanges are designed to enable millions of families to purchase essential health benefits, including pediatric dental coverage. Click here to read details about what the rules require of states and dental insurance providers.

In other Practice Management Community news, the U.S. government is investigating whether Minnesota is overpaying the nonprofit healthcare plans that administer its Medicaid programs. The issue arose after UCare returned $30 million in excess reserves last year when lawmakers were facing huge deficits. Read more.

Meanwhile, over in the Hygiene Community, Depo-Provera -- an injectable contraceptive administered every three months -- may be putting women who opt for this method of birth control at increased risk for periodontal disease, according to a new study in the Journal of Peridontology.

And in the Restoratives Community, a survey conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan found that kids from low-income families drink much more juice than is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, putting them at greater risk of developing early childhood caries. Read more.

Finally, dental educators attending the ADEA conference next week in Orlando should stop by the TechExpo area on March 19 between 12:30 and 3:00 p.m. to see a short demonstration of a new online dental education tool called ADEPT (Applied Dental Education Practice Tool) that DrBicuspid has been developing with Dr. William Wathen at Baylor College of Dentistry.

If you're not going to be in Orlando, you can learn more about this innovative tool at touradept.drbicuspid.com or by contacting Roger Adams ([email protected]).