Course Title: Payment Reform in Oral Health Care

Credits: 1 Continuing Education credit is available upon successful completion of this course.

Course Description:

The U.S. health care system is in the process of reforming its payment structure to incentivize quality, health outcomes, and value of care over volume of care. In this module, you’ll take a look at what has been happening in medicine and how it can be applied to dentistry. You’ll learn about payment reform priorities in both medicine and oral health care and the opportunities and barriers to implementing them. By the end of the module, you’ll have a better understanding of alternative models of reimbursement that can support a prevention-based model of care in your own practice, leading to improved patient experience, better oral health outcomes, and more manageable costs.

Educational Objectives:

After completing this module, you will be able to:

•  Describe payment reform priorities in both medicine and oral health care

•  Compare the fee-for-service and pay-for-performance models of reimbursement

•  Discuss how payment reform can support a prevention-based model of care

•  Identify opportunities and barriers to payment reform

Teaching Methods: Self-instructional


Authors and Reviewers:

The following people have contributed to the creation of DentaQuest Institute’s Payment Reform in Oral Health Care e-learning module:

Mark Doherty, DMD, MPH, CCHP
Executive Director, Safety Net Solutions

Mark Dr. Doherty joined the DentaQuest Institute in 2005 as Director of the Institute’s Safety Net Solutions (SNS) program. Dr. Doherty provides leadership and direction for the technical assistance consulting projects and regional trainings,ensuring that the program'swork is of the highest caliber. Under his direction, the program has grown from a pilot in three New England community health centers to a nation program serving over 450 safety net dental programs across the United States. Dr. Doherty represents Safety Net Solutions and the DentaQuest Institute with state, regional and national audiences. For nearly 30 years, Dr. Doherty served as the Director of Oral Health Services at Dorchester House Multi-Service Center in Boston, MA, where he built a safety net dental program that included three separate treatment sites, 18 dental providers, several specialty services, and a staff of more than 40. He currently serves as the Chief Dental Officer for the Taunton Oral Health Center and for Commonwealth Mobile Oral Health Services, which provides portable oral health care at sites throughout Massachusetts. He has served as a consultant for multiple organizations, including the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Massachusetts Department of Youth Services, and the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He has appointments at several institutions, including the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Dental Medicine and Lutheran Medical Center.

Susan Presnol

Susan is the Manager of Transformative Learning at the DentaQuest Institute. Susan is responsible to lead the development and implementation of all clinical training and technical assistance programs for the DentaQuest Institute. This role includes the translation of internally, and externally, developed clinical innovations into web-based, on-site and group training products and services that will support dental care providers in integrating prevention and disease management protocols into routine practice.

Reimbursed Consultants and Vendors:

Illumina Interactive

Additional Authors (Non-DentaQuest Institute Employees):

William Riley, PhD

Professor, School for the Science of Health Care Delivery

Director, National Safety Net Advancement Center

Arizona State University

Course Support: This course is supported by in-kind support from DentaQuest.

Cost: Free

Refund/Cancellation Policy: Not Applicable

Original Release Date: November 2017

Expiration date: November 2020

Pre-requisites: None

Target Audience: This e-learning module is designed for any oral health professional interested in learning more about oral health’s role in integrated care, in improving the quality of care, and in creating financial sustainability. It is designed to accommodate learners with different backgrounds and varying levels of expertise in integrated care.

Provider Contact Information: If you have any questions, please contact Susan Presnol at .

DentaQuest is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.

DentaQuest designates this activity for 1 continuing education credit.