Dental Hygienists - How to Create a Patient Friendly Toolkit

Transcription

1 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CAREER OPTIONS TOOLKIT TEMPLATE This is a template you can use to build an instructional toolkit that will inform dental hygienists about the particular direct access practice opportunity in your state. Every state is different, so every toolkit will be different. The template format contains the essential elements you will need to include in the toolkit, plus some additional items that may or may not be pertinent for your state. Please note that the printed text is in one of four different colors, designed to guide you through the process. The RED text is an instruction, which will be deleted from the final toolkit. The BUE text is sample language that suggests how you might draft the correct information for your state. For example, there is a sample description of collaborative practice. Your state may or may not have collaborative practice you might have public health supervision or some other kind of direct access practice. Even if your state has collaborative practice, the exact details of the description will need to be crafted to fit your state s circumstances. Every state will need to replace the BLUE text with the correct information specific to their state. The GREEN text indicates that you must fill in specific information. Usually this will be state specific contact information or a state specific web address, etc. The BLACK text is explanatory material to include verbatim in the final toolkit. It is information that is the same regardless of state. Once you have created your toolkit, you decide how to distribute it perhaps add it to your state association s website and promote the link on facebook. Check the final toolkit to be sure the printed version is all black type. If you would like ADHA staff input on the project, need help locating information, or just want to chat about it, please call Governmental Affairs at

2 Choose a name for your toolkit. Be sure to include the name of your state! Starting your own Collaborative Practice/Understanding how to Practice as an RDHAP/LAP, How to be a Direct Access RDH, How to practice as a Direct Access RDH Insert your state association s logo & contact information

3 Collaborative Practice: Is it Right for You? Insert Language Explaining Direct Access in your State The following is an example, using a generic description of collaborative practice, of how you might construct some paragraphs describing practice, substituting the correct information for your state. It should include basic qualifications, settings, services, and a description of any legally required relationship with a dentist. Sample text: Have you ever wondered what direct access dental hygiene practice options are available that would offer you a professional challenge, open doors to new opportunities, provide the unique satisfaction that accompanies being able to provide services to people unable to obtain them? Then you may want to investigate practice as a (LAP hygienist, collaborative practice hygienist, public health hygienist, etc.) as a new career option, as a part-time vocation, or even on an occasional or volunteer basis. Collaborative practice means that the dental hygienist has established a written agreement with a dentist who has agreed to monitor treatment of patients and consult as needed. The dental hygienist and dentist jointly establish a protocol that describes the services the hygienist may provide without the dentist s authorization.

4 Educational & Experiential Requirements Settings Services Requirements for Practice as a Collaborative Hygienist Insert Specific Qualifications (i.e. must have 2,000 hours of active practice in last 5 years, Bachelors degree etc.) If additional coursework is required, describe If permit or specific state authorization is required, indicate Indicate what settings provider can work in (i.e. schools, nursing homes, etc) (Indicate any settings where practice is prohibited) TIP Use bullet points to list, for a user-friendly way to deliver information Specify what services are allowable (i.e. prophylaxis, sealants, fluorides, radiographs, etc) Indicate if your state allows for direct MEDICAID reimbursement of dental hygienists under Medicaid.

5 Practice as Collaborative Hygienist What Else Do I Need to Know? Fill in the correct name for Direct Access Practice in your state. The previous two slides described practice parameters, now use this area to link the reader to the policies and rules in your state that govern direct access practice. Below is an area where you can offer links to your state dental board website and other sites that have relevant information. Statutes & Rules Applicable Forms State Dental Practice Act: Link to Applications and Forms: Link to Dental Board Rules: Board of Dentistry Website: Other links

6 Business Considerations If direct access practice in your state implies or allows business ownership or independent contracting, you will want to offer some basic information about those issues. Text you can use with links follows, although you can supplement with additional state-specific information. If you are self-employed you will be responsible for paying your own social security and federal and state income taxes directly to the government. To learn more about income reporting requirements, visit: If you take the next step and become a small business (i.e. hire employees or do business as some kind of business entity) then you are also required to obtain a free employer identifier number (EIN) to use on tax and other business filings. For more information, visit: IRS - Employer ID Numbers (EINs) ; IRS - Employer ID Numbers (EIN) - How to Apply A "DBA" (also known as Doing Business As) is a legal name you decide to give your business. You may want to name your business to present a more professional image, heighten the visibility of your business and accept checks using a business account. For more business information check out the Small Business Association s Website.

7 Insurance & Liability Why you need professional liability insurance! Insurance coverage held by the employer is written to protect the employer and patients served by the employer. Individual employees have limited protection and limited access to the legal defense services provided to the policy holder. If you are self-employed you need individual protection for yourself and your business even more so. Professional liability insurance coverage is generally restricted to matters relating to patient care - it will not cover loss or damage to equipment, general negligence issues or other matters. ADHA offers great information on professional liability and other types of insurance for self-employed dental hygienists, as well as equipment replacement insurance at:

8 Payment: Reimbursement from Insurance Agencies You may want to offer additional information about reimbursement for services in your state. For example, if there is a specific statute/rule in place that requires insurers to reimburse dental hygienists, indicate that. If you are aware of other policies in your state that impact reimbursement, include that information. The text below offers some general information on reimbursement of dental hygienists by private insurers. You can use the information as written or modify to fit your state. Many, but not all, private insurance companies will reimburse dental hygienists. Some of these will reimburse patients, but not pay the dental hygienist directly. Some might limit the codes they will reimburse to dental hygienists. It is prudent to discuss with the patient that reimbursement can be withheld, leaving them responsible for payment, or that they may need to submit for reimbursement themselves. To order the CDT manual of dental codes see:

9 Payment: Reimbursement by Medicaid Currently, 15 states (AZ, CA, CO, CT, ME, MA, MN, MO, MT, NE, NM, NV, OR, WA, and WI) allow dental hygienists to be directly reimbursed by Medicaid. Each state Medicaid program has the reach to identify the types of providers it reimburses for services. If your state does not directly reimburse dental hygienists, omit this page from your document. The following text can be used as a guide for states that do allow for direct reimbursement. Medicaid will reimburse dental hygienists who (description of settings or of types of patients) for the following services: prophylaxis, sealants To apply to be a provider, contact the state Medicaid agency at: (Insert web link and name of agency and contact information to the provider services section)

10 Payment: NPI In order to file an electronic claim to a third party payer, whether private insurance or Medicaid, you need your own National Provider Identifier (NPI). An NPI is a 10 digit number, assigned for free by the federal government, that serves as a permanent identifier of you as a healthcare provider, even if you move or are relicensed in a different profession. Even if you do not anticipate billing third parties directly, it is probably a good idea to apply for the free NPI anyway because it may facilitate billing actually submitted by a health department or other entity for services that you provided. For more information about the NPI and how to obtain one, please visit the NPPES website or or contact NPPES directly by phone at (800)

11 Additional State Resources Insert information about state-specific resources that may be available to direct access dental hygienists, such as: Continuing education courses for direct access practice hygienists Contact information for experienced practitioners who are willing to mentor newcomers Associations or other allied groups of direct access practitioners, willing to assist newcomers Listservs, Facebook pages, LinkedIn groups etc for direct access dental hygienists Websites involved with direct access dental hygiene practice Contact information for your state association (website, address(es), phone number Insert your state association s logo & contact information

12 ADHA Resources The Working column in Access magazine highlights on dental hygienists who have pursued a variety of career paths: ADHA s Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice: ADHA s Public Health Listserv is a forum to exchange information about careers and practice in public health: ADHA on facebook: ADHA on Linkedin: