NADP On The Move

November 29, 2023

NADP continues to represent the dental benefits industry to key stakeholders in multiple arenas including policymakers, clinicians, and the media.

Meetings

Medicare Supplemental Benefit Innovations

NADP Members, Christina Tuller; Cigna, and Barbara Park, Delta Dental of CA, NY, PA & Affiliates, and Executive Director Mike Adelberg co-presented “Putting a Smile on the Face Plan Switchers: A Deep Dive on Medicare Advantage Dental Benefits,” during the Medicare Supplemental Benefit Innovations conference Nov. 6-7 in Scottsdale, AZ. The conference explored new, proposed Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regulation of supplemental benefit utilization; the pressure on “second tier” dental benefits; the application of flex-cards to dental benefits; and new Medicare Advantage reporting requirements for supplemental benefits.

American Academy of Periodontology (AAP)

NADP Deputy Executive Director Timothy L. Brown represented the dental benefits industry during the AAP Conference, Nov. 9-11 in Austin, Texas. Drs. Linda Vidone, Delta Dental of Massachusetts, and Robert Lewando, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, presented “Best Practices for Submitting Claims.” Brown also participated in this session and answered several questions regarding annual maximums and the use of diagnostic terms and coding issues.

NCOIL Annual Meeting

NADP Executive Director Mike Adelberg, Director of Government Relations Owen Urech, and State Affairs Manager Bianca Balale advanced the industry’s position regarding dental medical loss ratios at the National Council of Insurance Legislators Annual Meeting in Columbus, OH, Nov. 15-18.  NADP members also in attendance included AFLAC, BlueCross BlueShield MI, BlueCross BlueShield NC, Cigna, Delta Dental of MI, IN, OH, Guardian, Elevance Health, Equitable, Lincoln Financial, MetLife, Milliman, Principal, United Healthcare, and Unum. NADP advocated for model legislation like the bill recently passed in Colorado where insurers report loss ratios, providing regulators an opportunity to identify outliers and require remediation. For more information, see the related article in the Advocacy section of this edition of Monthlybyte.

DQA

NADP members, Dr. Linda Vidone, Delta Dental of Massachusetts, Drs. Craig Amundson and Mark Jurkovich, HealthPartners, and NADP Deputy Executive Director Timothy L. Brown served as the voice of the dental benefits industry during the recent Dental Quality Alliance meeting Nov. 16-18 at the American Dental Association Headquarters in Chicago, IL.  Read this month’s edition of Terminology Talk for details.

Media

Becker’s – – Ariana Portalatin in Featured Perspectives, interviewed NADP Executive Director Mike Adelberg regarding key industry trends including the growth of annual maximums, and enhanced benefits for insureds with chronic conditions. See How dental insurance coverage is evolving: NADP exec (beckersdental.com).

U.S. News & World Report – In response to a media request from Julia Wynn, NADP Executive Director Mike Adelberg provided an overview about Medicare Advantage plans, including information about cost sharing and provider networks.

Axios – – NADP Executive Director Mike Adelberg is quoted in Maya Goldman’s Nov. 21 article, “More Americans could get dental coverage under Biden proposal.” The article highlights the importance of oral health and the President’s proposal to make adult dental coverage an essential benefit under the Affordable Care Act.