Thank You to Our Sponsors
Decoding DSOs: The Modern Dentist’s Masterclass
Thursday, November 21, 2024
6:00-9:00 PM
Free – OCDS Members Only
Dinner & cocktailswill be provided!
Workplace Violence Prevention Training
Leslie Canham, CDA, RDA
Thursday, December 5, 2024
6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
Virtual live CE Course
Vendor sponsorship
If you would like to become a sponsor or partner with OCDS, please click below.
News
Obtaining patient authorization for use or disclosure of health information? Check the expiration date
Under California’s Confidentiality of Medical Information Act, a patient’s consent for the use or disclosure of their health information is valid only for one year from the date they sign. This time limit also applies to a health care provider’s use of patient testimonials and photographs in articles, advertisements and other such purposes. CDA members can use our compliant patient consent and authorization forms.
CDA working with Medi-Cal Dental Program to resolve payment delays, other challenges
CDA is aware of the challenges some Medi-Cal Dental providers are facing as a result of delayed processing times and backlogs of unpaid claims in the wake of the Change HealthCare cyberattack earlier this year. We are working closely with Medi-Cal Dental to ensure numerous issues are resolved. Find resources and guidance below to help your practice address billing and payment delays now.
Dental practices must train employees on new hazardous chemical labeling
A final rule issued by federal OSHA updates the Hazard Communication Standard by improving the number and quality of labels and safety data sheets. All dental practices that have hazardous chemicals in the workplace must train employees on the new labeling and update the practice’s hazard communication plan no later than July 2026.
California’s minimum wage increases to $16 for all employers in January 2024
California’s minimum wage will rise on Jan. 1 to $16 per hour for employers of every size as a result of inflation. Wages in more than 30 California counties are already higher and most of them will rise again in either January or July. Employers always must pay the local minimum wage in the employer’s place of business if it is higher than California’s minimum wage. Dentists should familiarize themselves with their local government wage order and ordinances. A CDA member resource links to current city and county wage orders and ordinances.
New ADA guideline recommends acetaminophen, NSAIDs to manage pain in pediatric patients
A new ADA-endorsed guideline recommends acetaminophen and NSAIDs like ibuprofen as first-line treatments for short-term dental pain in children under age 12.
When used as directed, these medications can effectively manage a child’s pain after a tooth extraction or during a toothache when dental care is not immediately available.
L.A.’s new Freelance Worker Protections Ordinance should prompt California dentists statewide to review associate classification
A new Los Angeles city ordinance requires employers who hire and retain freelance workers to provide a written contract, provide timely payments and maintain written records. The ordinance also established rights for freelance workers, including the ability to seek recoverable damages. Practice owners throughout California should examine the legal relationships with their workers and ensure they are classifying and paying associate dentists correctly. Dentists employed as associates or who are considering associateship should similarly understand their job classification and expect or request a written contract.
Ensuring ethical dental care: Obtaining legal consent for nonverbal adults
Obtaining proper, legal consent for nonverbal adults is of paramount importance in the dental practice. By becoming familiar with local laws, employing effective communication strategies, involving caregivers and advocate, and maintaining documentation, dentists can provide ethical care for a vulnerable population.
CDA-sponsored bill signed into law, improves dental plan disclosures for dentists, patients
The new law addresses a common concern CDA hears from members who say they lack clarity on the type of dental benefit plan they are dealing with until the billing process has been completed and the plan has denied coverage or cited a billing exemption for services already rendered. The new law helps to resolve this concern by requiring plans, beginning in January 2025, to disclose in multiple ways whether a plan is state or federally regulated. The improved disclosure also will make it easier for patients and dentists to identify which regulatory entity to contact if a conflict occurs with a plan.
Employers must print and display two updated labor law posters
Dental practices must print and display in the workplace two revised posters issued by the U.S. Department of Labor. One poster pertains to lactation accommodation and the second to the Employee Polygraph Protection Act. Neither updated poster is included in the complimentary Required Poster Set CDA mailed in April to confirmed practice owners as a benefit of membership. Therefore, dentists will need to download, print and affix the updated poster over the poster currently displayed in their office.
California small businesses can apply now for state grant to reimburse costs related to COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave
Qualified California small businesses that incurred costs for providing COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave between Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2022, and had 26 to 49 employees during that period, can apply now for a one-time grant through the California Small Business and Nonprofit COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Relief Grant Program. Award amounts range from $5,000 to $50,000 based on the amount of leave provided. Read on for a summary of eligibility and documentation requirements and how to apply.
From free transportation to free language assistance: Connecting Medi-Cal Dental providers with patients
Learn how far the Medi-Cal Dental Program has come in the last few years. CDA has been at the center of the push to improve the program and is pleased with the historic improvements that include increased reimbursement rates, expansion of patient benefits and simplified provider enrollment. Learn about other services available to your Medi-Cal patients, including language translation and free transportation to and from appointments, as well as education and training to help dentists establish and care for patients and follow program policies and procedures.
New safety sharp available; some California dental offices should review it
A new safety needle, or safety sharp, is on the market and is now the fifth safety sharp available to California dentists. Dental practices that do not use safety sharps are required to document in their Cal/OSHA-required exposure control plan the reasons why the safety sharps are not used and why other brands or types of sharps are used. Dentists can use CDA’s sample form to evaluate the new NopoGuard as part of that required documentation.
California dentists should review C.E. requirements as dental board resumes audits
CDA encourages dentists to review continuing education rules and requirements as the Dental Board of California resumes conducting C.E. audits this year. The board will mail audit notices to randomly selected licensees who have 30 days to respond with all requested C.E. documentation. Common C.E. deficiencies include (1) licensee has not competed a mandatory C.E. course and/or the minimum required units for license renewal and (2) licensee did not take a mandatory C.E. course from a board-approved provider.
Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations take effect this month: What dentists need to know
The new Cal/OSHA regulations will remain in effect for two years. Some requirements remain unchanged while other new provisions are intended to help employers “provide consistent protections to workers” and provide the flexibility to respond to future changes in guidance issued by the California Department of Public Health. Employers still must maintain a written COVID-19 prevention plan that is either part of or an addendum to their injury and illness prevention plan. CDA has an updated COVID Addendum to the IIPP for dentists’ use.
Delta Dental contractual amendment takes effect June 2022: What you need to know
Delta Dental of California is revising its Delta Dental of California Participating Provider Agreement effective June 1, 2022. Although described as an “enhancement,” the contract amendment alters reimbursement for Premier or PPO contracted dentists who treat DeltaCare® enrollees (Delta’s closed network HMO product) as out-of-network providers.
The contractual amendment revises the reimbursement from the dentists’ submitted fees to the lesser of submitted, Premier and PPO fees. The amendment does not reduce existing approved fees for Premier or PPO dentists. It will only affect reimbursements for DeltaCare® enrollees treated by Premier/PPO providers.
benefits of membership
Advocacy
OCDS Board Members and Delegates advocate with CDA on state issues that can affect oral health, your patients and your practice.
Patient Referrals
Patient referrals can be done on our website www.ocds.org or by calling our office at 714-634-8944.
Social Events
Membership events such as dental professionals mixers, Angels Games, Hospitality Suite, Clay Shoot, Annual Installation of Officers, just to name a few!
Continuing Educational Opportunities
For the first half of 2021, all of our educational opportunities and events will be virtual and online.
Employment Job Board
OCDS members can post jobs and search for applicants all from our website! Please contact our office for additional information.
Classifieds
OCDS members can post items, practices, etc. for sale.
Continuing Education
OCDS offers two kinds of Continuing Education (CE) opportunities for our members – in-person and online.
OCDS also offers free online CE through Viva Learning. This online forum has hundreds of CE courses, live webinars and product trainings and cover a wide range of clinical topics. Online CE is also available to your staff members that become an ADHP component member for just $50 a year. To become an ADHP member, please click the button below.