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Ohio Department of Medicaid Proposes Changes to Dental Reimbursement and Coverage Rule

Client Alert

The Ohio Department of Medicaid is proposing amendments to Ohio Administrative Code rule 5160-5-01 to do all of the following:

  • Procedure Code Updates
    • Update covered services based on new procedure codes added to the 2024 American Dental Association Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature.
  • Frequency Limitations and Coverage Clarifications
    • Amend frequency limitations, coverage clarifications, and service descriptions for: Dental exams, Prophylaxis, Imaging, Pin retention, Re-cementing, Re-bonding, Orthodontic treatments, Biopsy, Application of fluoride varnish.
  • Imaging Payments
    • Allow reimbursement for multiple bitewings taken in conjunction with a panoramic image.
  • Vaccine Administration
    • Discontinue payment for the administration of COVID-19 and human papillomavirus vaccines.
  • Pin Retention
    • Reimburse pin retention per tooth, with a maximum of three pins per tooth.
  • Re-cementing and Re-bonding Crowns
    • Remove the frequency limit for re-cementing and re-bonding crowns.
  • Orthodontic Treatment Payments
    • Ensure payment for comprehensive orthodontic treatment (D8080) covers the initial placement visit and the first quarter of treatment.
    • Allows seven calendar quarters of periodic orthodontic treatment visits (D8670) per course of treatment.
    • Prohibits reimbursement for D8670 in the same quarter as D8080.
  • Partial Dentures
    • Removes the restriction stating "A partial denture with a resin base may be covered only for a patient younger than 19".
  • Dental Evaluations and Prophylaxis
    • Clarifies that periodic dental evaluations and dental prophylaxis are covered once per 180 days for several special groups, including but not limited to:
      • Pregnant women
      • Foster children
      • Employed individuals with disabilities, regardless of age
    • Prior Authorization (PA) Requirements
      • The PA Required column will indicate when procedures are paid by report.
      • Prohibits reimbursement for excisional biopsies of salivary glands in conjunction with another biopsy on the same date of service.
    • Topical Fluoride Varnish Application
      • Adds the Current Procedural Terminology code for "Application of topical fluoride varnish by a physician or other qualified health care professional when performed in a nondental clinic or facility setting".

There will be a hearing on these proposed rule changes August 12, 2024. Please contact BMD Healthcare Member Daphne Kackloudis at dlkackloudis@bmdllc.com for questions or to help you prepare comments on the rules.


Exposure to COVID-19 Flow Chart

Exposure to COVID-19 Flow Chart

Lessons Learned: Five Tips for Buying or Selling a Practice

If you are anticipating buying or selling a practice during the coming months, you are not alone. The healthcare industry is experiencing a wave of integration. In fact, it has been occurring for several years. Many transactional healthcare attorneys have negotiated and closed dozens of these transactions for clients. They have negotiated on behalf of the sellers in some cases and the buyers in others.

Ramping Up – A Quick Guide to Pressing COVID-19 Employment Law Issues

As the country continues to grapple with a global pandemic that now seems to be never-ending, businesses everywhere are waking up to realize that the calming of the COVID-19 employment issues over the summer has come to an end. As cases rise exponentially in all 50 states as we head into the winter months, the number of employment issues related to COVID-19 will also increase dramatically. For these reasons, it is important that we return to the employment law basics that were covered this prior spring, while highlighting the many lessons we have learned along the way. As COVID-19 matters and concerns continue to hinder the working environment of every business, it is important that you reference this review to guide you through these tough issues and questions.

Your Workplace Under Biden

This is my favorite recurring post – Predictions of How a New Administration Will Affect Your Workplace. Four years ago, we accurately called the emasculation of the 2016 proposed FLSA Overtime Rules (the salary exemption threshold was set at $35,568 in 2019, rather than $47,476 as proposed), we forecasted a conservative shift of the NLRB and its results (a roll-back of employee rights, social media policy evaluations, and joint employer rules), and we nailed the likelihood of multiple conservative appointments to the United States Supreme Court and its long-term effects (although I completely failed to predict that my ND classmate Amy Coney Barrett would fill the final vacancy during the Trump administration). This time, the L+E Practice of BMD has decided to make it a group effort at predicting what will happen, what probably happen, and what might happen under President Biden. As always, please save this in your important files and pull it out four (or eight) years from now to judge our accuracy.

HHS Provider Relief Funds Reporting Requirements: Important Updates Every Provider Should Know

HHS continues to revise its reporting requirements for the use of the Provider Relief Funds. Providers with more than $10,000 in Provider Relief Fund payments must report on the use of the funds through December 31, 2020. The reporting window will begin on January 15, 2021 and providers must complete reporting obligations for FY 2020 by February 15, 2021 through a portal designed by HHS. However, providers that have unexpended funds as of December 31, 2020, will have an additional 6 months to use the remaining funds through June 30, 2021. These providers must submit a second and final report no later than July 31, 2021.