Technology, Standards and Transactions (TST) 2025 Recap

The TST consists of the Clinical, Codes, Diagnostic Terminology, EDI and Operations Subworkgroups (SWGs).

The Codes SWG continued to suggest and review over 100 proposed changes to the Code of Dental Terminology (CDT) and shared the NADP CDT 2026 Change Document to volunteers and the NADP membership in early 2025. 

The Clinical SWG completed a process of realigning the volunteers into three Projects, i.e., AI Imaging, DQA, and Guideline Repository Projects, to focus the interest and activities of volunteers and increase the production of deliverables to NADP members, thereby enhancing the value of the work of these Projects.  The Clinical SWG will remain but will only meet quarterly to provide updates on the ongoing work of the Projects who will set their own meeting schedules based on work plans developed and confirmed at the 2026 Leadership Conference. The QA Project has already undertaken a plan to transition leadership and NADP’s representation on the DQA in 2027 to ensure continuous and efficient representation.

The Diagnostic Terminology (DT) SWG reviewed proposed changes to SNOMED diagnostic system via SNOMED International and the US Realm SNODDS system maintained by the ADA. Drs. Jurkovich, Vidone, and Mr. Brown represented NADP at the ADA SNODENT meeting, SNOMED Business Meetings, and SNOMED International Dentistry Clinical Reference Group (CRG). The DT SWG focused on increased visibility within the NADP membership via “Terminology Talk” newsletter columns and began working on a Crosswalk between ICD and SNODENT diagnostic codes with pilots in Utah and California. However, in early 2025, both the CA and UT programs’ funding was terminated, and both projects ended with only a few months of data collected. Educational materials from the pilots were reviewed by the DT SWG and will be maintained for use if additional projects are forthcoming.

The EDI WG continues to track and share ideas regarding improving the rate of Dental EDI transactions. The WG has multiple conversations around implementing VCC v EFT/ACH v paper checks. Many states are adopting regulations around VCC use and opt-in v opt-out. The WG is following the state changes, and the NADP GR WG has been instrumental in tracking the regulations. The NADP claims metrics survey questions were revised by the WG in 2025 to make the survey clearer and consistent with the plan responses. The report will be available soon.

The Operations WG formed another SWG to follow the two proposed dentist/hygienist Compacts. This included a 2025 Compact CONVERGE presentation. In 2026, the WG will be heavily involved with exploring a Dental National Credentialing platform. This concept is direct feedback from NADP members during the 2025 Consortium CONVERGE.