Pictured left to right: Drs. Salam Salman, Douglas Johnson, Dean Whitman, Nathan Eberle, Jason Portnof
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RP Funding Center
701 West Lime Street
Lakeland, FL 33815
Dental Plans Reducing Fees
Several dental plans including Delta Dental are reducing fees, some rather significantly. According to Gray Robinson (GR), our legal/legislative representatives, the practice’s rights will be governed by their Participating Provider Agreement with Delta Dental (or whoever the plan provider is). GR has negotiated these fees for some of our dental practice clients, but negotiates for a minimum of 120 days notice to change rates, in order to give the provider the right to terminate prior to the rate reduction if it is unacceptable to them. The standard proposal, however, coming from the plans is typically a unilateral right to change rates with 30 days notice, and which does not give the Provider any additional right to terminate other than the existing termination rights under the current term of the agreement.
As for Delta Dental, GR related that they have a reputation for this behavior on the west coast and seem unthwarted by lawsuits and judgements against them. According to GR, it seems that they are now carrying over the practice to the East Coast.
To have leverage to negotiate better terms and maintain rates, GR suggests that dental practices exercise whatever rights they have to terminate and go from there. It puts the practice in an uncomfortable position of potentially losing patients because the dental practice is suddenly out of network for, but necessary to have negotiating leverage. Otherwise, the practices risk more unilateral reductions year after year if not able to take that stance.
Links regarding the west coast litigation:
- https://adanews.ada.org/ada-news/2023/january/california-dental-association-files-legal-action-against-delta-dental-of-california
- https://dentalbilling.com/cda-wins-3-%C2%BD-years-battle-delta-cannot-reduce-premiere-plan
GR is not sure if there is a particular threshold, but believes Dental Plans may have to give notice or get approval of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FLOIR) to make significant reductions. That may be another avenue to push back if FLOIR should be reviewing or approving these reductions.
Our Team at AAOMS House of Delegates
Thanks to these members for representing FSOMS at the AAOMS House of Delegates meeting in San Diego (L-R) Drs. Lance Grenevicki, Dan Gesek, Chad Marshall, Tom Bowers and Jason Portnof.
Executive Director Hank Holderfield Awarded Honorary Fellowship
FSOMS Executive Director Hank Holderfield (L) was awarded Honorary Fellowship by AAOMS President Paul Schwartz (R) at the AAOMS House of Delegates recognizing over 40 years of service to the specialty.
FSOMS Mourns the Passing of Dr. Ramon Ruiz
It is with sadness that I write to inform you of the death of Ramon L. Ruiz, DDS, MD, Past President of the FSOMS. Dr. Ruiz’s career is nothing short of remarkable.
Cuban born; he lived in Spain with his family for a brief period before emigrating to the U.S. Miami was his home where he was educated before pursuing a baccalaureate degree at Florida State University, Dental School at the University of Alabama, Medical School and OMFS residency at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, fellowship training in Pediatric Craniomaxillofacial Surgery at the Posnick Center for Craniofacial Surgery at Georgetown University Medical Center. Dr. Ruiz spent time at several craniofacial units in England before he joined the faculty at the University of North Carolina in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery where he honed his skills in cleft and craniofacial surgery. He was named Chairman of the Division of Pediatric Craniomaxillofacial Surgery at the University of Central Florida and at the Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in Orlando in 2008. He served as Chairman of the Department of Surgery at the Arnold Palmer Children’s Medical Center, and he developed the first fellowship in pediatric craniomaxillofacial surgery for oral and maxillofacial surgeons in 2009. Since then, he has trained 14 “next generation” craniomaxillofacial surgeons.
Dr. Ruiz was very affable, humorous, and dedicated to his patients and trainees, as well as his interest in pediatric craniomaxillofacial surgery. He developed and promoted a central application process for oral and maxillofacial surgery residents wishing to pursue fellowship training.
We will all remember his easy smile and the warmth in his greetings. The kindness in his encouragement and wisdom of the advice he offered so freely.
He will be remembered as a gentle giant in his field, superb surgeon and educator who embodied all of the traits of excellence. A dedicated husband and father, he leaves behind his wife of more than 30 years, Laura, and 3 daughters, Julia, Maia, and Josephine, as well as his mother, Aurora, and a brother, Javier.
Dr. Ruiz’s funeral will be at 10:00 AM on Sept. 30. More details to follow.
Jason Portnof, DMD, MD
President, FSOMS
FSOMS 2023 Legislative Session Report
Following are links to two important legislative reports from our lobbying team at Gray-Robinson. The first is an “End of Session” report that gives a general overview of the past session. The second item provides more details on the specific bills referenced in the first report.
Thanks to Mike Huey, Jessica Love and George Levesgue for their continued excellent service to FSOMS and our specialty.