News

Washington—Suppliers of the technical component of advanced diagnostic imaging services for Medicare beneficiaries must be accredited to be reimbursed for the claim if the service is performed on or after Jan. 1, 2012. The accreditation requirement applies to suppliers of the images and not the physician's interpretation.

Sacramento, Calif.—Legislation approved by the state senate Jan. 26 would create a dentist-led Statewide Office of Oral Health within the state Department of Public Health charged with addressing the "significant human and financial costs" of unmet dental needs.

Washington—Quality improvement efforts in organized dentistry and throughout the health care system offer opportunities to increase access to care and “improve and maintain the oral health of the U.S. population,” says a report funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and DentaQuest Institute and intended to advance the national health policy dialogue.

The American Association of Dental Boards’ 2012 Mid-Year Meeting takes place April 22-23 at ADA Headquarters.

Indianapolis—Dr. Lloyd J. Phillips, a past ADA trustee who represented the 7th District from 1970 to 1976, died Jan. 15 here. He was 89.

Hyattsville, Md. – Seven percent of American children aged 17 and younger had unmet dental need in 2010 because their families could not afford dental care, the National Center for Health Statistics said in an analysis of data collected by U.S. Census Bureau interviewers and reported in the Vital and Health Statistics series.

NBA high five: Denver Nuggets guard-forward Jordan Hamilton greets a young patient at the TeamSmile dental care day held Dec. 17, 2011, at the Pepsi Center in Denver. More than 100 dental professionals and volunteers provided free dental treatment and preventive care to 125 underserved children from 10 local organizations.

Two new reports are now available by the ADA Health Policy Resources Center.

Members interested in running for ADA treasurer can go on ADA.org to find the information necessary for filing for candidacy.

Scottsdale, Ariz.—Registration is open for the 24th Annual Meeting on Special Care Dentistry, set for April 26-29 at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas.