Teledentistry
Michal RudnickProject ManagerAHCCCS Office of the Director
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Questions?
Reaching across Arizona to provide comprehensive quality health care for those in need