[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Each year, the IDA awards outstanding faculty at IUSD for their innovation, hard work and significant contributions to the field of dentistry. Congratulations to our 2023 recipients! Both are pictured below with 2023-24 IDA President Dr. Tom Blake and Interim IUSD Dean Dr. Lisa Lang.

 

IDA Outstanding Faculty Award

This year’s winner of the IDA Outstanding Faculty Award, Dr. Angela Bruzzaniti, has earned this distinction because she has proven to be an outstanding teacher, mentor, and researcher. Dr. Bruzzaniti is a sought-after mentor and to date has mentored over 100 student mentees and has played an integral part of the IUSD predoctoral biomedical sciences curriculum and the graduate curricula in both IUSD and the School of Medicine. She has authored over 50 academic publications and abstracts and has been connected to over 12 million dollars of funding, with nearly 4 million dollars of that funding total as a PI or co-PI, including a new NIH R01 awarded in 2022. Broadly recognized as an outstanding member of our faculty, Dr. Bruzzaniti has received the IU Trustee’s Teaching Award, the AADR 2018 National Student Research Group Mentor of the Year Award, The King Saud University Distinguished Research Faculty Travel Award, was a Fellow of the ADEA Leadership Institute, an IUPUI EMPOWER Mentor, the IUSD Alumni Association Distinguished Faculty in Research Award and provided the keynote address at the undergraduate research day at the Universidad del Valle School of Dentistry in Columbia.

 

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IDA Outstanding Teacher Award

This year’s IDA Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awardee, Dr. Vinicius Dutra, joined IUSD as a Clinical Associate Professor. He facilitates the planning and execution of eight courses within the DDS curriculum annually and has co-taught both the didactic and laboratory sections within their discipline to all level of the IUSD student population. His teaching focus has emphasized 3D imaging, imaging interpretation, and digital case planning. Dr. Dutra has played a significant role in introducing several critical innovations in the radiology curriculum, supporting the institution’s ability to embrace digital technology. Along with his contributions to the DDS curriculum, he has lectured extensively within various graduate programs, including endodontics, oral surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, and prosthodontics. Dr. Dutra has received external funding that will support transformative educational collaborations with international colleagues. In addition, he has recently been identified by the dental student body as an exemplar for innovative and engaging teaching acumen. Dr. Dutra’s forward thinking and curricular enhancements are a few examples as to why he was chosen to be this year’s awardee.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The IDA is pleased to announce Sip Tips videos, five short, entertaining videos to educate your patients about the dangers of sugary and acidic drinks and the importance of
regular dental care. These videos are available to every IDA member and are an exclusive benefit.

Suggested uses for the videos include:

• Practice websites
• Social media channels
• Office TV monitors.

 

To access the videos, visit our Sip Tips page. A login is required to access the link for the videos, which will take you to a Dropbox website, where you can view all five videos.

When you access the Dropbox folder, you can click the Download button for individual videos, or download all of them at once to your computer. There is a Word document in the folder with more detailed instructions on downloading the videos to your computer and adding them to your practice website, but you may need to contact your website administrator for specific guidelines for your website.

 

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The 2023 Midwest Dental Assembly begins on Friday, May 20. Join us and hundreds of other attendees at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, adjacent to the Indiana Statehouse and other downtown attractions. As always, the event will offer networking events, a vendor Marketplace, extensive CE opportunities and more.

Online registration is closed, but on-site registration will be available Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visit our MDA page to learn more . We look forward to seeing you this week!

 

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In December 2022, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency issued information about the Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act, which was part of the Omnibus Bill at the end of December 2022. As part of the MATE Act, the DEA is now requiring any medical practitioner with a DEA Registration to complete 8 hours of one-time training in opioid abuse and prevention before the next renewal. This new requirement is in effect as of June 27, 2023.

If you currently hold a DEA Registration, you should have already received an email with MATE Act details from the DEA. Click here to view ADA FAQs about the MATE Act. However, we are providing specific information about IDA opioid CE and Indiana requirements below.

When do I have to complete the 8 hours of CE?
You must have completed the 8 hours at your next DEA Registration renewal if the renewal takes place after June 27, 2023.

Can I use part of the 8 hours of CE to also fulfill my Indiana requirement?
Yes. The Indiana opioid CE requirement officially sunsets on July 1, 2025, but you can still apply your MATE Act CE towards your Indiana CE requirement if you wish.

Can I use previous opioid CE to fulfill the MATE Act requirements?
Yes. Past trainings can count towards a practitioner’s 8-hour requirement, provided that eligible training was from one of the designated training organizations prior to the enactment of this new requirement on December 29, 2022. A certificate of completion is required as proof. There is no statute of limitations on past training being used to satisfy the requirement, except for relevant training in dental school. Dental school training may only be used by those who are less than five years out of dental school. See current and previous IDA opioid courses below.

Will I have to complete the 8 hours of opioid CE each time I renew my CSR?
No. The DEA has stated that this is a one-time requirement.

Can I use dental school coursework fulfill the MATE Act requirements?
If you graduated from dental school less than five years ago, the ADA has clarified that relevant dental school coursework will count toward the federally required opioid.

How can I check on my past opioid CE through the IDA?
See instructions below.

Does any of this information apply to me if I don’t have a DEA Registration or CSR?
No.

IDA Opioid CE Courses 2019-2023

The IDA has offered numerous online and self-study options for opioid abuse and prevention CE in recent years:

• 2019-20 Self-Study Publication and Quiz (2 hours)
• On-Demand Webinars (2 sessions at 1 hour of CE credit for each) Click here to access the webinars
• 2021 Midwest Dental Assembly live class (2 hours)
• 2019-2025 Self-Study Publications and Quizzes
• 2022 Midwest Dental Assembly live class (2 hours)
• 2023 Midwest Dental Assembly live class (2 hours)
• 2024 Midwest Dental Assembly live class (2 hours)

 

If you have taken advantage of the IDA opioid CE courses listed above but can’t find a record of your study, below are instructions on how to access certificates.

• On-Demand Webinars: If you participated in our on-demand opioid webinars, you should have received email confirmation of your participation. If you cannot find this confirmation, email Judy Neuman.
• Self-Study Publications 2019-2025: You should have received a certificate of completion for these courses. If you need another copy, email Kathy Walden.

 

 

 

Ethical issues in dentistry aren’t always easy to navigate. The ADA’s Dental Dilemmas podcast recently welcomed IDA President Dr. Jill Burns, who discussed ethical obligations when a colleague has provided suboptimal care. Tune in to Dental Dilemmas to hear Dr. Burns and host Dr. Alex Mellion discuss this important topic.

 

Thank you for your continuing membership in the ADA, IDA and your local component society. Our community is stronger with every member! Renewal time for members is here, and we hope you will continue as a member of our community in 2023 and beyond. Check your email for CE and other promotions for those who renew by December 31.

Click here to renew your dues for 2023.

 

 

On October 20 the IDA presented two IUSD Teaching Conference awards to two outstanding IUSD faculty. The IDA presents the awards each year in recognition of IUSD instructors who have a continuous record of quality teaching, scholarly activity, and excellence in service. The awards were presented by 2022-23 IDA President Dr. Jill Burns.

Dr. Wei-Shao Lin

The 2022 IDA Teacher of the Year awardee is Dr. Wei-Shao Lin. Dr. Lin has played a significant role in educating predoctoral and advanced education students. In 2021, he was awarded 3 different teaching grants totaling over $100,000. Recognizing the need to proactively intervene to improve student success, Dr. Lin implemented a plan to monitor progress towards graduation to identify at-risk D4 students. He has played an instrumental role in his department though the successful development of the Virtual Prosthodontics Assessment of Competency for each prosthodontic discipline.

Dr. Lin also developed an online module, Prosthodontics Integrated Clinical Curriculum Tool (PICCT), which is a faculty calibration module for all prosthodontic and general clinical faculty that provides a living online resource to train and update clinical faculty regarding the IUSD Prosthodontics curriculum, demonstrating his commitment to the students and the faculty within IUSD. His excellence in teaching was recognized this year when he was awarded a Trustees’ Teaching Award and promoted to Professor based on his scholarship of teaching, service, and research. Dr. Lin is a prolific mentor of graduate students, participating on graduate students’ master’s Thesis committees. Several of his residents received national awards for their research efforts under his tutelage.

Since being named Interim Department Chair for Prosthodontics in 2020, the department has flourished under Dr. Lin’s leadership which lead to him being name the Prosthodontics Department Chair in June of this year.

 

Dr. LaQuia Vinson

The 2022 IDA Faculty Member of the Year awardee is Dr. LaQuia Vinson. Dr. Vinson received the IDA Faculty member award based on her innovative teaching, her impressive record of mentorship of students’ research, and her contributions to the Indiana University’s School of Dentistry’s constitution and bylaws and appeals committees in addition to serving on her specialty’s national committee on children with special health care needs. She successfully navigated the trials associated with a postponed CODA visit and the challenges of a pandemic, which directly resulted in the successful accreditation of her department’s residency program in 2021 and the residents’ completion of the program on time.

Dr. Vinson’s selection for this award may be best described by the words of her nominator who praised her teaching: “Her continued use of technology and curriculum reform have helped to maintain our department as a leader in Pediatric Dentistry.” Furthermore, they stated, “She is dedicated to the mission of the school and university and has made significant contributions to the specialty at the national level.” Dr. Vinson has demonstrated strength in leadership as a teacher and mentor for students.

 

Congratulations to Dr. Vinson and Dr. Lin on their tremendous achievements and contributions to dental education!

 

 

The Indiana Dental Association invites the IUSD Class of 2026 to a reception welcoming you to the dental profession.

IUSD students: FREE (enter the coupon code at checkout)
Dentists and guests: $35

 

Friday, September 16, 6–9 p.m.
Punch Bowl Social
120 South Meridian Street, Indianapolis (first level of Circle Center Mall)

 

• Meet Dentist members and leaders in the state
• Enjoy the casual setting of games, billiards, bowling, corn hole, bocce and private karaoke
• Partake of the food, refreshment and of course the punch

 

Class of 2026 students have a complimentary invitation but must reserve their seat. All other guests can register at $35 per person.

Click here to register

 

 

The Indiana State Department of Health has developed a helpful information sheet outlining the oral manifestations of the monkeypox virus. The information sheet details symptoms of monkeypox and the screening procedures that can help dental professionals detect the virus in patients. Click the image at left to view the flyer.

ISDH Monkeypox Resource Center

ISDH Monkeypox Dashboard

 

 

 

On July 1, 2022, Indiana’s Non-Covered Services (NCS) statute went into effect. When the bill passed, Indiana joined 41 other states in prohibiting insurance companies from setting fees for services that they chose not to include as covered benefits in their plan. This protection against insurance company overreach is great news for dentists, but it has raised numerous questions regarding how it will affect the claims payment process. And the answers to those questions are not as simple as we would like. Here are just a few of them:

 

If I’m not contracted with a PPO, how does it affect me?
It doesn’t. The bill only impacts you if you signed a PPO contract agreeing to the insurance company’s payment terms.

 

I participate in a PPO that limits what I can charge for Non-Covered Services. Does this mean that I can now charge my regular fee?
Maybe. The new law regulates plans subject to Indiana law. Many self-insured plans claim they are exempt from the state law and are instead regulated by federal ERISA law. So there may still be limits on what your contract allows you to charge patients covered by a self-insured plan.

 

How do I know if a plan is fully-insured and subject to the NCS rule, or self-insured and exempt from the new law?
You don’t. Self-insured plans are often administered by well-known insurance companies. Some companies indicate on the patient’s ID card whether the plan is self-insured, but not all of them. At least for the first claim after July 1, it may be worth calling the insurance company for each patient covered by a plan that has limited NCS payment. Once you determine whether the patient is a fully-insured or self-insured plan, you will better know if the NCS law applies.

 

Why doesn’t the ADA change federal law to make self-insured plans subject to NCS laws?
We’re working on it. In fact, the passage of Indiana’s NCS law gives the ADA a stronger argument in making its case to congress. Now that 42 states have implemented NCS rules, it’s time for federally regulated plans to do the same.

 

Are there other exceptions to the new NCS law?
Yes. The law only affects procedures that are not covered by a fully-insured plan. You may still be required to accept the discounted fee as payment in full if a service is covered, but exceeds plan limits. For instance, if a plan covers two dental cleanings per year and you provide a third, the insurance company can likely limit your fee for the third procedure to the amount prescribed in the provider contract. In this case, the procedure is covered, but subject to other contract limitations. Similarly, if a patient has maxed out their annual maximum benefit, the discount will likely still apply to procedures that were covered, but denied due to exceeding the maximum annual benefit.

 

Is there a rule of thumb?
Ask yourself the question, “Is this service ever covered, or never covered?” If the procedure is ever covered, it likely falls within the exceptions laid out in the law and the insurance contract can still limit the fee you can charge. This would include services that are not allowed because of plan limitations such as deductibles, copayments, waiting periods or annual or lifetimes maximum benefits. But if the procedure is never covered, for instance, for most cosmetic procedures, then the NCS law will likely allow you to charge your regular fee.

 

How can I learn more about Indiana’s NCS law?
The new statue may be found in its entirety here. For specific questions, contact IDA Director of Government Affairs Shane Springer or Director of Professional Services Ed Rosenbaum. Both can be reached at 800-562-5646.