Changes to the “Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature,” commonly known as the CDT Code, have been released and will become effective for services provided on or after January 1, 2017.
The CDT Code is the current HIPAA-designated code set used in electronic dental data interchanges. It is the national standard for reporting dental services and is the principal means of communication between dentists and dental benefits payers.
Any dental claim submitted electronically on a HIPAA standard electronic dental claim must use procedure codes from the current version of the CDT Code. This is also true for dental claims submitted on paper.
The CDT Code is reviewed annually by the American Dental Association (ADA) and updated to reflect changes in dental procedures accepted by the dental community. Each revised version takes effect January 1 of each year.
A revised version of the CDT Code, as published by the ADA in the manual, “CDT 2017: Dental Procedure Codes,” will become effective January 1, 2017, for services provided on or after January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017.
The 2017 version of the CDT Code incorporates a significant number of procedure code changes with 11 new procedure code entries, 37 revised procedure code entries and one deleted code entry. The 2017 CDT Code also includes new subcategory and revised subcategory changes.
With all new code changes, we recommend that dentists and dental offices verify covered services for patients before rendering treatment. Details of individual coverage can be verified by calling our customer service department or by going online with the Dental Office Toolkit® (DOT).
Accurate coding promotes faster claim processing and fewer errors, so Delta Dental recommends that each dental office have a current copy of the CDT Code. To order a copy of the CDT Code, call the ADA at 800-947-4746, or go online at www.adacatalog.org.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires dentists to either enroll or opt out as Medicare Part D ordering or referring providers by January 1, 2019. This is an extension of the original deadline date. For more information and how to enroll, click here.
No. The contract amendment, which Delta Dental mailed to participating providers in June 2016, will automatically go into effect on January 1, 2017.
Prescribers of Part D drugs who are eligible to enroll must enroll in Medicare (or have a valid record of opting out). This includes eligible professionals including dentists.
It’s important to note that dentists, including oral surgeons, will not be able to participate in a Medicare Advantage plan if they choose to opt out of Medicare. Upon submission of an opt-out affidavit, a provider has 90 days to change his or her opt-out status. After 90 days, a provider is not able to terminate opt-out designation and will remain in an opt-out status for a period of two years.
Opt-out periods last for two years and cannot be terminated early unless the physician or practitioner is opting out for the very first time and the affidavit is terminated no later than 90 days after the effective date of the physician or practitioner’s first opt-out period.
Opt-out affidavits signed on or after June 16, 2015, will automatically renew every two years. Therefore, physicians and practitioners that sign valid opt-out affidavits on or after June 16, 2015, will no longer be required to file renewal affidavits. Physicians and practitioners that file valid opt-out affidavits effective on or after June 16, 2015, and do not want to extend their opt-out status at the end of a two-year opt-out period may cancel by notifying all Medicare contractors with which they filed an affidavit in writing at least 30 days prior to the start of the next two-year opt-out period.
If you elected to opt out of Medicare prior to June 20, 2016, you WILL still be able to participate with Delta Dental and WILL be listed as a participating provider in our Delta Dental Premier®, Delta Dental PPOSM and/or Delta Dental EPO directories that are used by our commercial clients.
However, because you chose to opt out, and per CMS requirements, Delta Dental cannot issue payment to you for any services provided to Medicare Advantage members, and we are unable to list you in Delta Dental’s directory for Medicare Advantage clients. According to CMS, your opt-out status is effective for two years. Delta Dental will monitor opt-out end dates. Once your opt-out period ends, if you would like to continue your participation agreement with Delta Dental, you will need to make a different Medicare selection (not opt out).
The Medicare enrollment file includes all providers who are currently enrolled in Medicare in an approved status or have a valid opt-out record.
Check out your status by clicking here.
As a reminder, all participating dentists will receive quarterly (four times a year) mailings asking you to confirm dental office information or to make corrections or additions as needed. This helps us ensure our provider records are accurate. If a participating dentist is added or removed from a practice, it is important that you contact us so we may update your record accordingly.
The Delta Dental Foundation (DDF) recently received the Partner in Leadership Award from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry during the school’s annual Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony and Awards Presentation in November.
The School of Dentistry’s leadership team created the Partner in Leadership Award this year to recognize organizations and individuals who have helped maintain and improve upon its standing as one of the best dental schools in the world.
The DDF has provided nearly $3 million to the School of Dentistry over the past five years for student scholarships, faculty support, scientific clinical research, community outreach programs, continuing education and many other projects and initiatives.
The DDF’s most recent $2 million gift will be used to build the Delta Dental of Michigan Integrated Special Care Clinic to serve dental patients with special needs at both the school’s Community Dental Center in downtown Ann Arbor and as part of the upcoming major renovation project at the school’s campus location.
Until the permanent dental center is completed, the temporary clinic currently under construction at the Community Dental Center will be funded by a portion of the $2 million gift. This clinic is expected to be operational by August 2017.