Red Flags Rule   Compliance Date extended until December 31, 2010

A Letter from the President......

^{Dear Colleagues,}

^{CAO has been working on a comprehensive training program whereby our member orthodontists’ staff can receive training to successfully complete the Orthodontic Assistant Permit exam. The application to have our OAP training course materials approved was placed with the California State Board in November, 2009 and as of yet we have not received approval. CAO has been asked by the California Dental Board to recommend an orthodontist to act as reviewer of the course material to ensure program thoroughness and completeness and we have done so.  Hopefully, this will expedite the process.}

^{The CAO Informed Consent brochure “You and Your Orthodontist” is printed and available. It is very thorough and will be an asset to your practice. Consider placing your order soon.}

^{Bill Emmerson D.D.S., an orthodontist, has served CAO members well as a 6-year member of the State Assembly. Term limits have forced him to leave the Assembly at the end of this year. Bill has a chance to run for the State Senate and has won the Republican primary on April 13th. Since the 37th district is a solidly Republican district, he is the favorite to win the seat and serve in the Senate.}

^{The Peer Review program provides an opportunity for disputes between an orthodontist and patient to be reviewed by peers who treat patients just as you do.  The program is administered though CDA and is a valuable service for our members. There is always a need for additional orthodontists to volunteer to serve on Peer Review committees.  In order to participate in the Peer Review process orthodontists must be calibrated on a regular basis to ensure competent evaluation. The next calibration is scheduled for August 13, 2010 in the Los Angeles area-please contact Ann Sebaugh at asebaugh@aaortho.org to schedule. Please consider lending a hand with this important process. (Read more about the Peer Review Program)}

^{I had the privilege of participating as an AAO delegate at the Annual meeting in Washington DC, representing PCSO. I was impressed with how well the process works to determine policy for the AAO. Our PCSO delegation was led very capably by Chair Gary Baughman and Trustee, Robert Varner. Good democratic decisions were made after resolutions were discussed thoroughly and passionately.}

^{The voluminous health care bill signed into law early this year has a provision that may affect all dentists and orthodontists, called the Red Flag’s rule. The Federal Trade Commission has delayed enforcement of this rule for the third time until December 31, 2010. The Red Flags Rule was adopted to protect consumers from identity theft by requiring businesses that provide lines of credit to implement written identity theft programs. Both the ADA and AAO have urged Congress to exempt some small businesses, including dental practices.}

^{Most of the reform package does not become effective until 2014. For Denti-Cal providers, eligibility will be increased for individuals with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, up from 100 percent today and will include childless adults for the first time. Unfortunately, the bill does nothing to decrease the administrative burdens or increase reimbursement rates.}

^{The Healthy Families program will be maintained until 2015. This bill reduces the cap on employee contributions to flexible spending accounts from $3,000 to $2,500, which could reduce their ability to use those account for orthodontic services.}

^Sincerely,

^{Tom Chin}

Healthcare Reform: Your
Guide to Understanding
the Reform Provisions
and Timeline

Newly Revised Informed
Consent Brochues are
Available in English and

Spanish....

Order yours today!

Infection Control Requirements
have been better defined.........

<Read more>

Read more about the Orthodontic Assistant Permit initiative  <Click Here>

Read Dr. Payne's account of  the Orthodontic Assistant Permit initiative and how it may expand the scope of 
duties performed by orthodontic assistants.  <Click Here>

Dr. Joel Brodsky
CAO Website Editor
Contact Dr. Brodsky at drjbrodsky@aol.com with any website questions or concerns.