Dental and medical plan cooperation is still in its infancy, but more carriers are offering benefits for patients with systemic disease. As these benefits become defined, hygienists can help their patients factor in how their insurance can contribute to the total cost of treatment.
by Carol Tekavec, CDA, RDH
Hygienists are often given the task of providing education to patients concerning the impact of oral disease on systemic disease and vice versa. Dental providers have long known about the relationship between the health of the mouth and the rest of the body, despite the fact that dental and medical benefits have separated the two. Now the rest of the world is catching up! Dental disease and diseases and conditions of the body are in the news. Research is backing up observations that bacterial infection and tissue inflammation in the mouth can be a factor in the development of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and other serious problems. Because of this, a few dental benefit companies have recently begun to offer additional “hygiene” service provisions, either as part of a dental plan or as part of a medical management plan.
For example, a few Cigna medical plans are offering extra “cleanings” for diabetic patients who are also enrolled in a designated “disease management” program. In other words, diabetics who have both a medical and dental plan through Cigna may be eligible to have an additional “cleaning,” which would be covered by the medical side. In addition, Cigna is said to now provide an additional “cleaning” beyond the typical two per year as an added benefit for pregnant women. ...
Disease Management
“Disease management” is another new focus. Managing general health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, has been shown to help control health outcomes and, therefore, health costs. Insurance companies have an interest in holding down costs, so many companies have expanded their disease-management programs. Because oral and general health issues are shown to be intricately involved, disease management that takes into consideration oral conditions is on the rise.
According to the March 2007 issue of the “Managed Dental Care Newsletter,” several studies are underway at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and the University of Detroit-Mercy (with support from Delta) demonstrating that when diabetics receive an adult prophylaxis, their blood sugar levels are easier to control for a period of time. ...
Read whole article: http://www.rdhmag.com/display_article/304255/56/none/none/Feat/Hygiene-Benefits-for-Patients-with-Systemic-Disease
