Dr. Benjamin Chan
COUNCIL ON ORTHODONTIC BENEFITS: Leadership, Resources, and Industry Insights
We are pleased to announce that Tasha Hall has been reappointed as Chairwoman of the Council on Orthodontic Benefits (COB). Under her leadership, the Council continues to focus on providing valuable resources and support to our members.
Insurance Claims Resource Page
We encourage all members to visit the Insurance Claims Resource Page on the AAO website. This page offers essential tools and information to assist with navigating insurance claims effectively.
Dental Benefits Advisory Service (DBAS) Helpdesk
The Dental Benefits Advisory Service (DBAS) Helpdesk remains a vital benefit for members and their office teams. Available anytime, the Helpdesk offers guidance on common insurance issues. The phone number is located at the bottom of the Insurance Claims Resource Page. So far in 2024, the most frequent inquiries have revolved around dissatisfaction with in-network provider status. Many members have sought advice on how to leave their networks. In response, the Council is planning to develop additional resources on the benefits of both staying in and going out of network. Also, subcommittee has been tasked with creating detailed guidance on navigating the process of going out of network.
Industry Meetings and Key Developments
Over the past year, the Council attended several important industry meetings, including:
- Code Maintenance Committee Meeting: New codes related to orthognathic surgery were introduced. The Council will ensure that these new codes are included in the CDT At-A-Glance resource for our members.
- American Association of Dental Consultants Meeting: AI technology is now being used in insurance claims reviews. While AI can approve claims, any AI-assisted denials still require a dentist’s review.
Resource Development and AI Initiative
The Council, alongside AAO’s Member Career Programs Specialist, Lauren Carr, are developing new and updated resources for insurance coding. This initiative will likely expand into a cross-council effort, aiming to revamp all AAO member education materials.
Additionally, the Council will support the AAO’s AI initiative, currently in phase 1, by forming a subcommittee to help guide the development of AI tools for coding purposes.
We are excited about these developments and look forward to continuing to serve our members with up-to-date resources and guidance.