Teledentistry

Michal RudnickProject ManagerAHCCCS Office of the Director

2

Teledentistry and Affiliated Dental Hygienists• Teledentistry – acquisition and transmission

of all necessary subjective and objective diagnostic data through interactive audio, video, or data communications by an AHCCCS-registered dental provider to a distant dentist for triage, dental treatment planning, and referralo Includes provision of preventive and other

approved therapeutic services by the AHCCCS-registered affiliated practice dental hygienist, who provides dental hygiene services under an affiliated practice relationship with a dentistReaching across Arizona to provide comprehensive

quality health care for those in need

3

Senate Bill 1282• Builds upon affiliated practice dental

hygienist legislation passed in 2004 (Sec. 32-1281 H, 32-1289)

• Gives authority to affiliated practice dental hygienists to utilize teledentistry services

• Mandates AHCCCS to implement teledentistry services for enrolled members who are under twenty-one years of age

Reaching across Arizona to provide comprehensive quality health care for those in need

4

Benefits of Teledentistry• Teledentistry is a tool to assist the dentist in

the forming of a preliminary treatment plan• Teledentistry is the collection of diagnostic

data (x-rays and intraoral photos) at a satellite location transmitted via email or video

• Reduces the number of visits by combining first treatment visit into one appointment

Reaching across Arizona to provide comprehensive quality health care for those in need

5

Billing• Dentist reviews the x-rays and sets up

an appointment to see patient at satellite clinic

• Dentist will complete an examination and finalize the treatment plan

• Dentist will bill for the exam at that time and may start treatment as well

Reaching across Arizona to provide comprehensive quality health care for those in need

6

AMPM, Chapter 300• Teledentistry applies to EPSDT-aged

members• Revises the code set available to

affiliated practice dental hygienists registered with AHCCCS

Reaching across Arizona to provide comprehensive quality health care for those in need

7

Teledentistry Limitations• Teledentistry does not replace the

dental examination by the dentist• Limited, periodic, and comprehensive

examinations cannot be billed through the use of teledentistry alone

• No billable code for teledentistry• Not a procedure

Reaching across Arizona to provide comprehensive quality health care for those in need

8

Questions?

Reaching across Arizona to provide comprehensive quality health care for those in need