Obamacare's effect on your dental practice.
From the Academy of General Denistry
Medical Device Tax Regulations
On Dec. 5, 2012, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued final regulations
on a new 2.3 percent medical device excise tax. Created by the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2010, the tax went into
effect on Jan. 1, 2013. The IRS will tax manufacturers on the sales of
certain devices 
,
including dental cement and impression material. According to the
Organized Dentistry Coalition, this tax will increase the cost of
dental care in the U.S. by more than $160 million per year. The Academy
of General Dentistry (AGD) continues to work with organized dentistry
in attempts to repeal the excise tax, gain an exemption for dental
devices, or delay enforcement.
Other Effects of the PPACA
The medical device excise tax isn’t the only way the PPACA could affect your practice. The House Committee on Small Business has released a guide to help small businesses, including dental practices, learn more about PPACA health care provisions that take effect in 2013 and
2014 .
The PPACA in 2013
Get a full timeline of PPACA updates. Updates effective Jan. 1, 2013, include new funding to state Medicaid programs that choose to cover preventive services at little or no cost, and a pilot program of “payment bundling,” which groups services associated with a medical event together for payment.
Upcoming Insurance Coverage Changes
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued an FAQ
about state insurance exchanges, which will become fully operational
in January 2014. While each state has latitude in structuring its
program, this information can help AGD members prepare for what’s to
come. AGD members also should familiarize themselves with the proposed
Essential Health Benefits guidelines, which outline the benefits insurers must offer in policies sold after 2014.
Dental Practice Compliance Reminders
The American Dental Association (ADA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently updated their radiographic guidelines. Additionally, the ADA’s
CDT 2013 Dental Procedure Codes,
which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2013, include 35 new codes, 37
revised codes, 12 deleted codes, and seven subcategory changes. The ADA
also updated its
claim form
in July 2012. There do not appear to be any updates yet to the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or Occupational Safety and
Health Administration requirements for 2013.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or comments about legislative issues or other advocacy matters, contact the AGD Advocacy Department at advocacy@agd.org. If you need personalized assistance with your practice, including dental insurance, employment, or patient issues, email practice@agd.org.
Medical Device Tax Regulations
On Dec. 5, 2012, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued final regulations
on a new 2.3 percent medical device excise tax. Created by the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2010, the tax went into
effect on Jan. 1, 2013. The IRS will tax manufacturers on the sales of
certain devices ,
including dental cement and impression material. According to the
Organized Dentistry Coalition, this tax will increase the cost of
dental care in the U.S. by more than $160 million per year. The Academy
of General Dentistry (AGD) continues to work with organized dentistry
in attempts to repeal the excise tax, gain an exemption for dental
devices, or delay enforcement.Other Effects of the PPACA
The medical device excise tax isn’t the only way the PPACA could affect your practice. The House Committee on Small Business has released a guide to help small businesses, including dental practices, learn more about PPACA health care provisions that take effect in 2013
and
2014 .The PPACA in 2013
Get a full timeline of PPACA updates. Updates effective Jan. 1, 2013, include new funding to state Medicaid programs that choose to cover preventive services at little or no cost, and a pilot program of “payment bundling,” which groups services associated with a medical event together for payment.
Upcoming Insurance Coverage Changes
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued an FAQ
about state insurance exchanges, which will become fully operational
in January 2014. While each state has latitude in structuring its
program, this information can help AGD members prepare for what’s to
come. AGD members also should familiarize themselves with the proposed
Essential Health Benefits guidelines, which outline the benefits insurers must offer in policies sold after 2014.Dental Practice Compliance Reminders
The American Dental Association (ADA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently updated their radiographic guidelines
. Additionally, the ADA’s
CDT 2013 Dental Procedure Codes,
which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2013, include 35 new codes, 37
revised codes, 12 deleted codes, and seven subcategory changes. The ADA
also updated its
claim form
in July 2012. There do not appear to be any updates yet to the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or Occupational Safety and
Health Administration requirements for 2013.Contact Us
If you have any questions or comments about legislative issues or other advocacy matters, contact the AGD Advocacy Department at advocacy@agd.org. If you need personalized assistance with your practice, including dental insurance, employment, or patient issues, email practice@agd.org.
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