Updatea quarterly newsletter for dentists and staff

3 ProfessionalServicesSpotlight

4 SocialMediaTeam

5 ClassesandSeminars

6 PublicWillBuilding

8 ProperClaimsSubmission

IN THIS ISSUE

FALL 2012

Delta Dental of Colorado has named Michael Makoto Okuji, DDS, its new dental director.

Okuji, a private practice dentist who re-located to Denver in August from San Francisco, earned his dental degree from the University of the Pacific. He also has a master’s of public health degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s of business degree from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

As dental director, Okuji will work with the 3,000 dental providers who partner with Delta Dental of Colorado to care for more than a million members statewide. In addition to his private practice, Okuji also has worked as group practice director for the UCLA School of Dentistry and was an assistant clinical professor at the University of Southern California, teaching health promotion, disease prevention and epidemiology.

“We are pleased Dr. Okuji has joined our team,” says Kate Paul, Delta Dental of Colorado president and CEO. “He is uniquely qualified to understand the challenges dentists face in providing quality dental care at an affordable price, especially in light of health care reform.”

Q&A with Michael Okuji, DDSWelcome to Colorado. What do you think of our state compared to your hometown of San Francisco?

It’s different. It’s wide open with big skies. It looks like people enjoy the outdoors here. It’s a beautiful area.

continuedonpage2

Welcome Michael Makoto Okuji, DDS, Delta Dental of Colorado’s New Dental Director

“I hope you see me as

a colleague who can

help you. That would

make me very happy.”

Michael Okuji, DDS

delta dental of colorado update page 2

What will dentists need to do?

It will be important to adjust your practice to be more efficient. One obvious solution is to use the online tools provided by Delta Dental. They will help you and your staff work more quickly and efficiently and you’ll get paid more quickly. Delta Dental is in a position to help you adapt to these new realities.

How do you see health care reform impacting dentists?

If the Affordable Care Act is going to include a children’s portion, there aren’t enough dental specialists out there. So we need to get general dentists on board to deliver services to children and be comfortable doing it. Another possibility for dentists just out of school is to work for federally-qualified health centers. They’ll get wonderful experience, help in paying off their loans and have the opportunity to provide services in areas in which Colorado has zero dentists.

What will be your first steps as dental director?

I’m looking forward to meeting my colleagues in person to quantify and clarify your issues and concerns. I worked in an urban practice, so I will be particularly interested in learning about the rural areas of Colorado. I also want to work with the CDA (Colorado Dental Association). There are many issues the CDA and Delta Dental have in common. I hope you see me as a colleague or consultant who can help you – that would make me very happy.

Michael Okuji, DDS, is author of the book, Dental Practice:

Get in the Game, a primer for senior dental students and

recent graduates about to embark on dentistry as a career.

What made you want to move here?

In 2008, I had the opportunity to become a group practice director at the UCLA dental school and got experience in administrative oversight and treatment planning. It was very interesting work and it suited me. When I heard about the opening and read the job description, it was exactly what I wanted to do, a perfect fit.

How long did you work in private practice?

I’ve had an urban practice in San Francisco for more than 30 years. I worked in a 26-story medical/dental building and I ran a pretty typical private practice – three chairs, a dental assistant – the same type of set-up as about 90% of private practice dentists. I understand their concerns and they’ll understand who I am because we do the same things.

How do you view the current environment for the dental profession?

The regulatory environment and compliance issues have increased tremendously over the last 10 years. Modeling a practice is a little different than how I did it because of the cost structure. We don’t have as much control over the economic environment and that’s going to affect both mid-career and new dentists. It may not be as much of an issue for dentists who are five- to 10 years from retirement, however. But dentists who want to continue in private practice and fee-for-service have to adapt.

continuedfromcover

Q&A with Michael Okuji, DDS

delta dental of colorado update page 3

Delta Dental of Colorado offers unique services to its provider community through the professional services department.

The team is made up of three representatives who cover different Colorado territories. In addition, two other team members manage the paperwork and reports for the department.

“You can call on us in times of need, for education, training, if you need support or have a problem,” says Danette Moran, Delta Dental of Colorado’s professional services manager. “We are service oriented and want to bring the best value to our providers. We do that through the support of our team.”

Each representative travels to dental offices throughout their region to provide face-to-face visits. During a typical day, a representative visits 10-15 offices, meeting providers and their staff, listening to concerns and providing website training for the many tools Delta Dental offers that will save time and improve office efficiencies.

“All of these services are free for providers and are unique to Delta Dental,” Moran says. “No other carrier offers field representatives who go out to dental offices.”

Maureen Dunlap, Provider Relations Representative

MaureenhasbeenwithDeltaDentalforayear.HerterritoryasafieldrepresentativeincludesFortCollins,Loveland,Greeley,ColoradoSprings,PuebloandpartsofMetroDenver.

“Customerservice isso important tome.Weallwant tobetreatedwellwhendealingwithanybusiness,butparticularlywhenyouaretryingtohelpyourpatients.”

Maureen has a beautiful 22-year-old daughter, Megan, andcherishestimewithfamilyandfriends.

Danette Moran, Professional Services Manager

DanettehasbeenwithDeltaDentalforthreeyears.Herdiversebackgroundincludessalesandsupportofdentalimplantsandbone grafting products, laser CAD/CAM equipment to dentallaboratories, specialty software designed for orthodonticofficesandinfectioncontrolproductsforallmedicalcallpointsthroughouttheU.S.

Danette has two children who have recently moved out ofthe“nest.”Sheplanstotravelandphotographuniqueplacesthroughouttheworld.

Donna Phelps, Provider Relations Representative

Donna has been with Delta Dental 21/2 years. As a fieldrepresentative, she covers the area along the foothills andwesttotheUtahborder.

“ThepartofmyjobI likethebest isbeingabletosupportprovidersandtheirstaff.Ienjoyworkingwiththemtoresolveissues,dotrainingonourwebsiteandhelpthemgetbacktothemostimportantwork–caringfortheirpatients.”

Donnahasbeenmarriedfornearly30yearsandisamomtothreegrownboys.Shelovesspendingtimeathercabininthemountains. She also enjoys singing, sewing and a glass ofwinewithfriends.

Meet Your Professional Services Team

“You can call on us in times of need, for education,

training, if you need support or have a problem,”

Danette Moran, professional services manager

L to R- Danette Moran (Manager), Donna Phelps, Allegra Smith, Robert Zearing,Maureen Dunlap, Ericka Womack.

Allegra and Robert are Provider Records, Donna, Maureen, and Ericka are Provider Relations.

cont. page 4

delta dental of colorado update page 4

Leah Martinez and Heather Horsey Bring Social Media Expertise to Delta Dental of Colorado

Say hello to Delta Dental of Colorado’s social media analysts Leah Martinez and Heather Horsey. Better yet, send them a tweet.

Martinez and Horsey are not only in charge of managing social media for Colorado. They also are handling six other Delta Dental regions: Washington, Virginia, Missouri, Idaho, Arkansas and Iowa. Their goal is to create content and interact with consumers via social media channels – through Facebook, Twitter and blogging. These collaborative efforts are designed to strengthen brand awareness and position Delta dental as the local and national expert on oral health.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” says Martinez. “These days companies need to have a presence on Facebook and Twitter – it legitimizes an organization and provides greater transparency for customers and clients.”

Martinez grew up in Alcalde, N.M., what she calls “a one gas station town” between Santa Fe and Taos. She majored in chemistry and Spanish at the University of New Mexico, but soon became interested in digital management. Since she joined Delta Dental five months ago, the Arkansas region has gained 1,000 Facebook fans. Colorado has 700 fans and Iowa has 400 fans.

In August, Martinez and Horsey took on social media management for the other Delta Dental regions who joined the collaborative effort.

“What really appealed to me was being able to spread awareness for oral health issues,” says Horsey, who graduated from Grandview High School in Aurora and the University of Colorado, where she majored in communications with a minor in history. “There’s a great need for dental care and a lack of knowledge about the importance of oral health.”

If you haven’t yet, check out our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. We also have a blog, www.dentaldentalcoblog.com. If you have a blog idea for us, click the contact us tab, and let us know what you’re thinking about.

Allegra Smith, NPF/Provider Records Administrator

AllegrahasbeenwithDeltaDentalforfiveyears.Shemanages credentialing, updating and maintainingproviderinformationwithintheDeltaDentalsystemandtheNationalProviderFilestoensureaccuracy.Shealsoprovidesassistancewithproviderclaimissues.

“WhatIreallylikeaboutmyjobisbeingabletoworkwithmanydentalofficesandgettingtoknowthemonamorepersonalbasis.Ireallylovetalkingtothemandhelpingthemwiththeirproblems–toresolveanissueoransweraquestion.”

Allegra currently is engaged. When she marries, herfamilywillbemadeupofsixchildrenandonegrandchild,rangingfromageoneto20.

Ericka Womack, Provider Relations Representative

ErickahasbeenwithDeltaDentalnearlythreeyears.Asafieldrepresentative,shecoverstheDenverMetroareanorthofCommerceCitytosouthColoradoSprings.

“Ienjoymeetingwithmyoffices,helpingwithquestionsorconcerns.Ialsoenjoytraining,educatingandbuildingexcellent client relationships with our providers andtheirstaff.”

Ericka,amotheroftwo,enjoysspendingtimewithfamilyandfriends.ShehasatoypoodlenamedPumpkin!

Robert Zearing, NPF/Provider Records Administrator

RoberthasbeenwithDeltaDentalforfiveyearsandhasbeenpartoftheproviderrecordsteamforsixmonths.HeworkswithAllegratomanagecredentialing,updatingandmaintainingprovider informationwithin theDeltaDentalsystemandtheNationalProviderFiles.

“I enjoy working with the dentists and staff becausethey typicallyenjoywhat theydoand thatmakes forgreatconversations.Ialsoenjoycredentialing.”

Robert likes tospendhis free timewithhiswifeandtwo-year-olddaughter,GracieMae.

cont. from page 3

Heather Horsey & Leah Martinez handle Delta Dental’s social media outreach.

delta dental of colorado update page 5

Classes & SeminarsDelta Dental offers free educational seminars and CPR classes to participating dentists and their office staff. Space is limited and registration is required.

Dental office staff seminars provide timely and relevant information on “what’s new” at Delta Dental of Colorado.

All seminars/classes take place on Fridays at Delta Dental of Colorado, unless a location other than Denver is listed. For other locations, a Provider Relations representative will contact you with location information.

Denver Classes & Seminars

Delta Dental of Colorado 4582 S. Ulster Street, 12th Floor Denver, CO 80237

Please RSVP for classes and seminars at least 10 days prior by calling (303) 889-8677 or by downloading a registration form from the Provider section of www.deltadentalco.com.

Dental Seminars – What’s New at Delta Dental

Denver/ November 9 1PM to 4PM Delta Dental – 12th FloorOrtho Seminar

CPR Classes

Denver October 19 (Full) 1 PM to 4 PM Delta Dental – 12th Floor

Denver November 30 1 PM to 4 PM Delta Dental – 12th Floor

Get Your Free, Animated Video for K-2 from Delta Dental of Colorado

You know dental disease is a big problem. Cavities can make it difficult for a child to eat, grow, attend school or learn. Delta Dental of Colorado has created an animated video to help teach kids (Kindergarten through Grade 2) the importance of oral health. We’ve distributed more than 1,000 of the DVDs along with a lesson plan for Colorado educators. Now we’re reaching out to our dentist community to see if you would like a copy of the DVDs (one in English and one in Spanish) of The Cleaning, featuring Chopper, an animated cat, and the Tooth Fairy, who help a boy learn about the importance of good dental health. If you would like to see the video, go to the home page of our website, www.deltadentalco.com, and click on the About Us tab at the top of the website. Please email kbohland@me.com and include your name, address, email and quantity to get your free DVDs.

delta dental of colorado update page 6

Public Will Building for Children’s Oral Health

As we work to eradicate cavities in children, it is all too apparent that companies like Coca-Cola are experts in promoting products and influencing behaviors. So we wondered, can we use the same marketing tactics to promote good dental health?

This is the question the Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation Board of Directors raised last spring as it explored ways to makes its successful “Healthy Teeth, Happy Babies” campaign even more effective.

The Board brought together experts in consumer marketing (Customers Innovations, a former Coca-Cola ad agency) and in building public will for critical social issues (Metropolitan Group) to explore ways to reach our audience. So can we adopt Coke’s playbook? We believe we can change behavior and create lasting oral health improvements.

“Coca-Cola is relatively inexpensive, it tastes good, and it is easily accessible,” says Frank Capek of CI. Coke also knows its audience and uses that knowledge to create spot-on marketing campaigns.

The Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation asked MG and CI to help it gain similar audience insight, tasking the two firms with exploring low-income families’ knowledge, attitudes and behavior around dental health, and the values that drive them to make decisions. The goal? We want to determine the best way to reach our target population and create lasting improvements in oral health.

Through nearly 50 one-on-one interviews with families, we found that children’s health, education and prosperity are overriding values for families. There is a common agreement that healthy teeth play a meaningful role, influencing speech, self-esteem, first impressions and overall health. Many of the respondents are aware that healthy eating, brushing regularly, and visiting the dentist regularly are good habits to follow. Yet the pressures of daily living overwhelm families, and it is easy to lose focus on dental health.

This research informs our work to reduce dental decay by engaging families whose children are at high risk for dental disease – largely children living in poverty – to care for their teeth. By tapping into their core values and showing how healthy teeth can advance them, we hope to motivate families to prioritize dental health.

Reduce caries among low-income children by motivating and supporting parents and pregnant women to:

• Take care of their own teeth and brush with their kids.

• Keep sugary drinks out of sippy cups and bottles.

• Get their kids to the dentist.

Change systems and policies to support oral health by motivating funders, policy makers, and healthcare influencers to prioritize oral health by:

• Creating a highly visible, engaging, memorable campaign that brands children’s oral health that grabs attention.

• Establishing oral health as a top-of-mind priority.

We are proud to lead this work, because no one else in Colorado is able to invest the resources needed to communicate about this important health issue.

We look forward to working with a wide variety of partners and champions from health, education, and children’s advocacy.

The Public Will Building Campaign is currently in final development, and test messages will be out in communities by February 2013.

Goals of the Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation Building Public Will for Children’s Oral Health Campaign

delta dental of colorado update page 7welcome

ArvadaDr.JeffreyPatrician Prem/PPODr.JustinSmutz PremDr.JosephTaylor Prem/PPO

AuroraDr.FrancisBadejoko Prem/PPODr.EricBeckman(Perio) Prem/PPODr.VidyaPatuvilan Prem/PPO

BasaltDr.GeorgBagwell(Prosth) Prem

BoulderDr.GregoryHerzberg Prem/PPODr.KayeeHo Prem/PPO

BroomfieldDr.KarenHoffman(Perio) Prem/PPO

Canon CityDr.AshleyPinkard Prem/PPO

Castle RockDr.KyleBaker(Ortho) Prem/PPODr.AlanGerbholz PPODr.BrianHarward Prem/PPODr.ChristianaOltean Prem/PPODr.ScottRyan PPO

CentennialDr.MatthewWimmer Prem/PPO

Colorado Springs Dr.FrancisBadejoko Prem/PPODr.KyleBaker(Ortho) Prem/PPODr.CurtisBroeker Prem/PPODr.ChadDawson(Endo) PremDr.BrianElliott PremDr.JohnLorincz Prem/PPODr.BradleyRoss(Endo) PremDr.JamesThalken Prem/PPODr.JaneeleTonn (Pedo)

CortezDr.JosephVreeken PPO

Denver Dr.JaredAntrobus(Oral) Prem/PPODr.FrancisBadejoko Prem/PPODr.MatthewHawn Prem/PPODr.MarkKessler Prem/PPODr.LindaLudin Prem/PPODr.JenniferLundersScott Prem/PPODr.JeffreyPatrician Prem/PPODr.DavidThurman PremDr.MarjorieWilliams Prem/PPO

DurangoDr.BradyBichon Prem/PPO

EnglewoodDr.GavinTrogdon Prem/PPO

Fort CollinsDr.JessicaLee(Pedo) Prem/PPODr.AricMurphy(Oral) Prem/PPODr.MargerySzczerba Prem/PPODr.DavidWalton(Perio) Prem

FruitaDr.KrehlStegelmeier PPO

GlendaleDr.HamidKhanjari Prem/PPODr.DouglasSwell Prem/PPO

GoldenDr.MarcieFlack(Pedo) PPODr.DarbyBarfield(Pedo) Prem/PPO

GreeleyDr.FrancisBadejoko Prem/PPO

Highlands RanchDr.RobertMartinich PPO

La JuntaDr.RosaLacy PPO

LafayetteDr.MarkBelford PPODr.SallyGuyton PPO

LakewoodDr.RogerAnderson PPODr.JeffreyPatrician Prem/PPODr.VidyaPatuvilan Prem/PPODr.RonaldVanwechel Prem

LimonDr.GlenPeterson Prem/PPODr.MichaelRaizen Prem/PPO

LittletonDr.RichardBirkel Prem/PPODr.RobertDeloian PPODr.GregoryHerzberg Prem/PPODr.KayeeHo Prem/PPODr.RobertMartinich PPODr.JohnMcShane Prem/PPODr.JuliaPlevnia(Oral) Prem

Lone TreeDr.KoryWallin Prem/PPO

LongmontDr.JeffreyPatrician Prem/PPO

LouisvilleDr.StevenJohnson PremDr.BrettLopez PremDr.KendallSkinner Prem

LovelandDr.RichardHarrison Prem

MontroseDr.JeremyCox(Pedo) Prem/PPODr.ChristopherPatterson Prem

Pagosa SpringsDr.GarrettCambell PPO

Pueblo WestDr.AshleyPinkard Prem/PPO

ParkerDr.DennisBurgner PPODr.JuliaPlevnia(Oral) Prem

PuebloDr.CatalinaBotero Prem/PPODr.KristiCraig Prem/PPODr.BrendaLenser Prem/PPO

SilverthorneDr.MatthewTingey Prem/PPO

Steamboat SpringsDr.RichardSalyer(Pedo) Prem

ThorntonDr.FrancisBadejoko Prem/PPODr.AmyRoberts Prem/PPO

WestminsterDr.MelissaGoodpaster Prem/PPODr.HeathParry(Endo) Prem/PPODr.JeffreyPatrician Prem/PPO

Wheat RidgeDr.JosephFunderburk(Oral) Prem/PPODr.VidyaPatuvilan Prem/PPODr.StevenZapien Prem/PPO

Delta Dental’s Networks Keep Growing! }

DeltaDentalofColoradowelcomesthefollowingnewdentiststoitsnetwork(specialties are noted in parentheses when applicable):

PREM=DentistswhohaverecentlyjoinedtheDeltaDentalPremier®network.

PPO=DentistswhohaverecentlyjoinedtheDeltaDentalPPOSMnetwork.

PREM/PPO=DentistswhohaverecentlyjoinedtheDeltaDentalPremierandDeltaDentalPPOnetworks.

Update

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PAIDDenver, CO

Permit No. 336Delta Dental of Colorado

P.O. Box 5468

Denver, Colorado 802ı7-5468

If you’ve been putting the name of the treating dentist in the “Treating Dentist” section when you complete a claim, that’s correct. There’s no need to change what you’re doing. It’s incorrect if you put the name of the practice or a different dentist’s name in the “Treating Dentist Section.”

For care provided by a hygienist or dental assistant, please put the supervising dentist’s name in the “Treating Dentist” section.

Most dentist offices do submit their claims properly. Thank you for your cooperation as we continue our efforts to ensure all our dentists properly complete their claims forms.

Tips When Submitting a Claim

How Are We Doing? Delta Dental Update

is designed to provide use information

for providers and staff. Please email

your ideas, suggestions and comments

to the Delta Dental of Colorado editorial

team at updatenewsletter@ddpco.com.