IDA UPDATE
Indiana Dental Association | September 2022
In This Issue

  • Dr. Burns Brings Medicaid Reimbursement Concerns to FSSA
  • Join IDA Legislative Forums Around the State
  • ISDH Creates Monkeypox Dashboard and Resource Center
  • Five Ways to Reduce the Stress of OSHA Compliance
  • Upcoming OSHA/BLS Opportunities
  • Live CE Requirement Resumes for Indiana Licensure
  • IDA Members Receive Recognition from ICD
Upcoming Events

Fall 2022 Board of Trustees Meeting
Saturday, September 24, 8 a.m.
IDA Central Office

E-Learning Series
Increasing Patient Return Rates
Thursday, October 6, Noon-1 p.m. EST

2022 Center for Excellence
The Art of Endodontics in the Age of Minimally Invasive Endodontics
Friday, October 28, Plainfield

OSHA/BLS Recertification
Various dates and in-person locations

SAVE THE DATE
2023 Midwest Dental Assembly
May 19-21, Indianapolis
Dr. Burns Brings Medicaid Reimbursement Concerns to FSSA
IDA President Dr. Jill Burns has reached out to the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) with concerns about the review of Indiana’s Dental Medicaid fee structure.

Dr. Burns explained to FSSA that during this time of rising costs for dental staff, infection control and PPE, it would be disastrous to lower reimbursement rates that are already in need of inflation adjustments. In addition, lower Medicaid reimbursements discourage the majority of dentists from accepting new Medicaid patients.

An email sent to IDA members earlier today encourages dentists to contact members of the State of Indiana Medicaid Advisory Committee to express their own concerns about Dental Medicaid reimbursements. Click the link below to read the full email from Dr. Burns and to view her letter to FSSA.
Join IDA Legislative Forums Around the State
Advocacy is one of the IDA's most important services to members. Our Governmental Affairs Committee is scheduling legislative forums around the state, and we encourage all members to attend.

Legislative forums allow members to meet with state lawmakers, learn about upcoming legislative initiatives, and make their voices heard on topics related to dentistry and healthcare. Please join us at one or more of these important events:

Isaac Knapp District Dental Society
September 27, 6:30 p.m. EST
Fort Wayne Country Club

First District Dental Society 
September 29, 6 p.m. CST
Evansville Country Club

Eastern Indiana Dental Society
October 4, 6 p.m. EST
Forest Hills Country Club, Richmond

Indianapolis District Dental Society
October 5, 6:15 p.m. EST
IU School of Dentistry

Kosciusko County Dental Society
October 5, 6 p.m. EST
Mad Anthony’s Brewery, Warsaw

South Central Dental Society
October 20,  6:30 p.m. EST
Hard Truth Distillery, Nashville

Northwest Indiana Dental Society
October 26, time TBD
Innsbrook Country Club, Merrillville

Please email IDA Director of Government Affairs Shane Springer to RSVP for any of these events.
ISDH Creates Monkeypox Dashboard and Resource Center
The Indiana State Department of Health has developed a helpful online resource center for monkeypox information. The website includes an information sheet outlining the oral manifestations of the monkeypox virus and a monkeypox dashboard to track cases in Indiana. Click the link below to learn more.
Five Ways to Reduce the Stress of OSHA Compliance
With all the stress and details of running a dental practice, it’s easy to overlook regulatory compliance demands like OSHA and HIPAA, but doing so puts your practice and your livelihood at significant risk. OSHA has an aggressive stance toward violations that affect employee safety, and the fines assessed can be crippling.

The Compliancy Group, a training and resource company co-endorsed by the ADA and IDA, has five suggestions for reducing the stress of complying with OSHA for dental offices.
Upcoming OSHA/BLS Opportunities
IDA has a sixth way to reduce OSHA compliance stress: We offer OSHA/BLS opportunities around the state for members and their teams. The following classes are all in person and fulfill federal requirements for OSHA/BLS continuing education.

Each class offers OSHA in the morning and BLS in the afternoon. Attendees can choose to attend either or both sessions.
Bloomington
Friday, September 23, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Bloomington Country Club

South Bend
Friday, September 30, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Ramada by Wyndham

Fort Wayne
Wednesday, October 5, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Courtyard Downtown
Indianapolis
Friday, October 7, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Hillcrest Country Club

Lafayette
Friday, October 21, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
DoubleTree by Hilton Lafayette East
Live CE Requirement Resumes for Indiana Licensure
In January 2021, Governor Eric Holcomb issued Executive Order 20-21, which temporarily suspended the requirement for live continuing education for licensed professionals in Indiana. The suspension was in place for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2022, Gov. Holcomb ended the public health emergency in Indiana, thus also ending the live CE waiver. For the current licensure cycle of 2022-2024, dentists and hygienists are required to obtain half of their CE credits in live presentations. As a reminder, online courses are considered live if there is real-time interaction between the presenter and participants.
IDA Members Receive Recognition from ICD
Three IDA members have been recognized by the International College of Dentists (ICD) for their leadership and charity in the dental field.

Dr. Charles Simon and his wife, Alice, were awarded the 2021 Distinguished Humanitarian Award for their funding of multiple philanthropic, health, educational, and arts organizations.

Dr. John Williams was named 2021 Outstanding Dental Leader Award for his leadership positions at the IU School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, and University of Louisville School of Dentistry. Dr. Williams also consults with diplomatic missions and corporate advisory committees.

Lastly, 2018-19 IDA President Dr. Daniel Fridh is serving as President-Elect of ICD and has received national recognition for his charity work with veterans. We applaud all three of these members for their accomplishments in their communities and in the dental profession.