It is important that dentists and their teams know and understand their rights when appealing a claim denial and how the law can protect you and your patient. To minimize the frustration of dealing with a claim denial, it is important to understand how a lot of claims are processed today.

Employers in California can now visit a single website to help them understand their requirements under a new law that further restricts their ability to classify their workers as independent contractors. Launched late last year by the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency, the website provides employer-specific resources and FAQ summarizing AB 5 and the ABC test and more.

University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni's Joshua Goldfaden details how the COVID-19 pandemic has altered his experience as a dental student and his thoughts on how the dental profession will evolve. 

The new year and an expanded sales and service team at TDIC Insurance Solutions promise to deliver an enhanced, “more holistic” customer service experience for TDIC policyholders. In fact, policyholders who’ve called TDIC Insurance Solutions recently may have already noticed the change. Effective January, policyholders in California, Arizona, Nevada, Minnesota and North Dakota now benefit from having one dedicated agent and one dedicated account manager.

Delta Dental of California has announced a delay in implementing fee structure changes for endodontists, periodontists and oral surgeons. Due to uncertainty caused by COVID-19, Delta said it plans to delay the implementation date of Jan. 1, 2021, to July 1, 2021.

The Work Sharing program minimizes or eliminates the need for employers to lay off or furlough employees during periods when business demand is low. Under the program, employers can reduce hours and wages for individual employees, allowing those workers to receive partial unemployment benefits.

Sunstar Americas, Inc. has recalled its prescription oral rinse due to a possible microbial contamination. The product could be contaminated with the bacteria Burkholderia lata and may result in life-threatening infections.

The manufacturer of a decontamination system used to decontaminate certain N95 respirators for health care personnel received a warning notice last week from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for “failure to comply with regulatory requirements for medical device reporting.”

Get to know CDA’s February Student Spotlight, Shannon Walker from the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry class of 2023.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on April 8 issued a cyberthreat alert on the growing use of COVID-19 related online schemes to steal sensitive information from unsuspecting users, including individuals and organizations.

The California Consumer Privacy Act, which took effect Jan. 1, aims to give California consumers greater control over their personal information by imposing certain obligations on entities covered by the law. Although health care providers such as dental practices are exempt from this new law, it is important to understand that some of the law’s provisions are similar to those required by HIPAA and the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act.

For recent grad Peter Kim, DDS, having to finish this journey virtually was a disappointment, but he believes the changes may be beneficial in the future.

Tips on how to recruit and hire new employees during the COVID era. The following strategies can help practice owners recruit talent that best fits business needs while also remaining in compliance with legal and safety regulations.

Several companies have vowed to improve diversity, equity and inclusion within their organizations over the last few months. These steps can help practice owners create a welcoming environment for employees of all backgrounds and keep staff engaged. 

Start your new year on the right foot by auditing your human resources systems and records. To diminish the possibility of legal issues and to ensure that your practice seeks to comply with labor and employment laws, it is important to perform an HR audit. An audit can include timekeeping and wage statements and all of the following.

As a dental practice owner, annually reviewing your policies with The Dentists Insurance Company is an essential step to ensure the safety and success of your business and employees. As your practice evolves, you may find yourself in need of additional coverage to better protect your company from unexpected risks. The start of the new year is a good time to make necessary changes to guarantee you have the adequate protection for your company’s needs.

Beginning July 1, providers and employees of providers are prohibited from establishing on behalf of a consumer an open-end credit or loan application that contains a deferred-interest provision. Consumers who wish to access these products will need to apply directly with the credit company.

Get to know CDA’s July Student Spotlight, Jose Acevedo from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC class of 2023.

Get to know CDA’s June Student Spotlight, Pardis Vakili from the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, class of 2022.

Countless protections are in place to safeguard our private financial data. In the dental office, data encryption, anti-virus software and firewalls are the go-to preventative measures, not to mention the classic lock-and-key methods for securing hardware and other items of value. Unfortunately, smart thieves can, and have, found ways to outwit many of the most advanced security systems.

The U.S. Department of Labor has released the first of periodic guidance to help employers and employees understand their obligations and protections under phase II of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which will take effect April 1. Among other provisions, phase II will require most employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide 12 weeks of protected leave to eligible employees who are unable to work because their child’s school or place of care is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Get to know CDA’s March Student Spotlight, Pouya Ansari from the Western University College of Dental Medicine class of 2022.

Get to know CDA’s May Student Spotlight, Michael Nedjat-Haiem from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry class of 2020.

Practice owners should be cautious of the latest string of ransomware attacks targeting health care providers. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is warning providers to be aware of cybercriminals targeting the health care and public health sector for financial gain.

Dental board licensees are required to maintain their continuing education certificates for up to three renewal periods. But if you’re a licensee and you receive a C.E. audit in the mail, what happens next?