We moved to wsda.org/blog
Thank you all for participating in this blog. We have now moved to wsda.org/blog and will post to that site only. Come read Dr. Tim Wandell’s “WDS Post Meeting” comments!
CDWS Responds to WDS’s Latest Communication
Click here to read the Concerned Dentists of Washington State’s response to Washington Dental Service’s letter to members titled “A Few Facts You May Not Know about WDS’s Governance”
WDS Special Meeting
Dental Colleagues,
Please make it a top priority to attend the upcoming WDS special meeting. What will it cost you if you have to cancel patients for one day, assuming you work on Fridays ? This meeting will not reverse the surprise and abrupt fee decrease from June 15, 2011. But it may help prevent similar surprises in the future which will cost you a lot more than one day’s overhead expense and income. See John Weaver’s post; he says it like it is ! The Concerned Dentists of Washington State want to thank everyone for any support you have so far given toward the cause.
Kal Klass, CDWS
Dr. John Weaver Urges You to Attend the WDS Special Meeting
To all my dental colleagues:
Many of you already know my position on WDS and the recent changes. It has been said that I “have it made” or “have made my money” or that “it is not your fight or going to affect you” or that “great for you to preach and say things when we are the ones living and practicing today.” I guess I have caused some resentment or suspicion of my motives for my writings and statements about WDS and the profession. I am and always have been passionate about the profession and it is unfortunate if this was the reaction. If so, happily this may very well be my final rant on the subject. However, for credibility’s sake, I must point out that I have lived through 3rd party intrusive attempts twice in my 33 years in practice AND that I am still in practice half time. So, I am still affected by all of this, but also have perspectives derived from years in the game that I hoped to make more valuable, more worth my struggles in obtaining them, by sharing them. Being threatened over a longer time span by WDS, I can understand the above reactions by those with more “time-skin-in-the-game” than myself, but discounting a message often is a strategy to lessen the distress the message may cause. But does that serve us very well?
I encourage each and every one of you to attend the upcoming WDS membership meeting on November 11th in SeaTac. Buses are coming from Spokane and around the State; getting to SeaTac for us should not be a burden. If you have plans, cancel them, if you have patients, reschedule them, if you have no interest or are apathetic or defeated, change that.
WDS has scheduled a room for 750 dentists (out of over 4000 members in the State). And they pointed out there is little standing room available. The available room size is another insult to our profession AND the membership WDS apparently respects so little. They expect to continue to see the apathy and lack of backbone that they have predictably counted on so far in this challenge. If we do not overflow this room and the meeting with incredible numbers, then the battle is over and the capitulation of the dental community for their profession and their patient’s best interest, that seemed to start right from the beginning when the majority seemed to accept WDS’ reasoning without a fight, will be complete. And at that point, without an overwhelming “Mad as hell and not going to stand being taken for granted anymore” turnout, the chance for “change we can believe in” with WDS will be over, forever. And at that point, there is nothing anyone can do to help us – as we will have willingly given away the farm and many of our ideals, especially which our patients are all treated the same – no class warfare in our delivery decisions and outcomes.
WSDA Offers Free Lunch Prior to WDS Special Meeting
In an effort to offer our members a convenient place to congregate prior to the WDS Special Meeting on November 11th, the WSDA will provide a free lunch buffet from Noon to 2:30pm. Non-WSDA members are welcome.
Details:
WSDA Lunch Buffet
Friday, November 11th
Noon-2:30pm
Northwest Ballroom 1 & 2
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Seattle-Airport
18740 International Boulevard
Seattle, WA 98188
(206) 246-8600
WDS Announces Special Meeting
Washington Dental Service Sends Notice of Special Meeting of Members
WDS has begun sending letters to its member dentists informing them of the Special Meeting as a result of the recently circulated petition. The Special Meeting will take place on Friday, November 11, at 2pm, in the Grand 2-3 Conference Room at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport. WDS is requesting that members arrive 45 minutes in advance to accommodate the credentialing process. Photo ID is required and only WDS members in “good standing” will be allowed to attend.
The purposes of the meeting, as stated in their notice, are:
1. “To consider and vote upon adoption of the proposed amendments to the Bylaws set forth in Exhibit A…”
2. “To consider and vote upon adoption of the proposed amendments to the Bylaws set forth in Exhibit B…”
3. “To discuss (but note vote or take any action upon) such other matters relating to the business , competitive circumstances, compensation practices and governance of WDS as may be useful to consider in connection with the foregoing items of business.”
If you are WDS member, you should receive notice of this special meeting with the enclosed proposed Bylaws Amendments (Exhibit A & B).
Insurer’s cuts leave dentists nursing $60 million toothache
Washington Dental Service, the state’s largest dental insurer, has slashed payments to dentists for the first time in its history, saying it needs to make dental insurance more affordable for businesses. But dentists say the cuts may force compromises in patient care.
Puget Sound Business Journal Reports on WDS Fee Decrease
Published online Friday, August 26 at http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/print-edition/2011/08/26/washington-state-dentists-feel-fee-cut.html
PETER NEURATH
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Dentists are reeling from stiff cuts in fees for dental care paid by Washington Dental Service, the state’s largest dental insurer.
But brokers say businesses can expect favorable effects in lower premiums charged by Washington Dental, and their employees may end up paying less out of pocket for dental care.
“Generally, it’s a two-thumbs-up situation,” said Peter Carpenter, CEO of ClearPoint LLC, a Seattle benefits consulting and insurance brokerage firm. “The employer reaction has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Though reduced fees paid to dentists by Washington Dental Service (WDS) may positively affect the cost of dental coverage, they may also mean sharp cuts in revenue for dentists, who warn this could affect the quality of patient care. Dentists with many patients covered by WDS will have less to spend on staff, materials, equipment and lab services. Some may have to lay off staff, work longer hours or more days or, in extreme cases, even go out of business.
“Any dentist who has a high WDS patient base and has seen a reduction in reimbursement of 15 percent to 22 percent is seeing a significant loss in net revenue,” said Dr. Doug Walsh, president of the Washington State Dental Association. “This is more prominent in areas such as Olympia, Everett, Pullman and Seattle, where there are high numbers of WDS subscribers.”
Old and Tired, I Worry About the Future of Dentistry - John Weaver, DDS
Reflections of an Olympia Dentist with 33 years of practice on WDS’ 15-22% fee cut!:
Having witnessed the events of the last few weeks and the reactions (fears) of the dentists around me, most of whom are of the younger generation, I am dismayed by the apparent lack of cohesiveness to the best interests of dentistry at large as a profession that has given so much to the betterment of our patients. I am also concerned about a perceived lack of resolve to our patient’s best interests as dental care trends becomes less professional & personal and more retail and “bottom line” oriented for the needs of the dental office or the needs of the insurance corporations to which we are increasingly being asked to tie much of our decision making. I am even more disheartened by the lack of loyalty to ourselves, our ideals, to the equality of the treatment and fees we provide to the patients who trust us so very much (read - equal treatment provided and not cost shifting to non WDS patients), and especially disheartened by the lack of insight as to what is being foisted on us, the sheep we are apparently expected to be? Who owns each of us and to whom do we owe our loyalty, responsibility, and self respect as the patient’s primary advocate for their dental health advice and treatment? If the WDS planned effort succeeds, it may very well not be ourselves or our trusting patients?
Does ANYONE feel that WDS has handled this in an above board and mutually respectful way? Did they consider any input from members on how to control costs? Did they consider eliminating or lowering some high end procedures or fees, which could aid in preserving the quality and emphasis on disease control as dentistry’s first responsibility, instead of an across the board rape of all of the fees? Does anyone feel that the “timing” was designed to push dentist’s hands and to not give them time to make informed decisions before the 60 day “drop out of WDS” clock started ticking? Does anyone feel that despite the fact that member dentist’s fees have been held at most to inflation increases for 16 years since 1995 (0% for the last 3 years despite the rise in all the precious metals dentistry uses), it is now equitable to unilaterally return my office to almost the exact fees that we functioned under 11 years ago in the year 2000?
We’ve got your back - Dr. Mary Jennings
One of the many reasons I chose to be a community health dentist was because I thought I would not have to discuss money with my patients. Foolish me. I discuss it all the time. The hard part is that some of my patients weep when they discover the high cost of dentistry.
In light of the recent WDS debacle, quite a few of us are discussing money and what is fair for patients, employers, insurance companies and dentists. It feels like war but it is not. It is business, and it is hard business.
I am hearing that in component meetings some of our members are upset that WSDA has not supported membership by fighting WDS the way we have fought so many difficult battles in the past.
What does the WSDA do for you? - Dr. John Divis
What does the WSDA do for you? Is it a source of leadership for the dentist of Washington state? Does it ceate a standard that members must reach to be a member in good standing? Does it provide a vision of the future for the practice of dentistry in Washington state? Is it a place where important debate can take place with the freedom to speak about legitimate concerns or has it become something else?
-John R. Divis, DDS
Wenatchee, WA
Dr. Scott Williams’ Response:
I sympathize with Dr. Divis’ concern but not with the object of his concern. In the aftermath of the decision by WDS to reduce the fee schedules of the Premier and PPO panel dentists it is tempting to seek out “who could/should have prevented this?”. The staff at WSDA as well as our officers and board have no ability to profoundly affect the decisions of WDS or any other carrier. The sentiment that WSDA was somehow “asleep at the wheel” is misguided. WDS’ decision is one that will affect most of us practicing in Washington. Clearly, any criticism/concern about this situation should be directed at the authors of this decision. Mr. Dwyer and Dr. Inge have addressed the dental societies in Spokane and the Yakima Valley. I would suggest Dr. Divis and any other of our colleagues who are understandably disappointed with the WDS fee reduction contact WDS. If the members of their respective societies are similarly concerned seeking redress with WDS would seem to be more appropriate than criticizing WSDA.
One of the aspects that keeps Dentistry strong as a profession is a robust professional association; national, state and local. Departure from this can only, in my opinion, harm (possibly irreparably) the profession to which we are devoted.
-Scott A.D. Williams, DDS
Yakima, WA
Dr. Divis Seeks Clarity from WSDA on Antitrust Laws
I believe it would be appropriate for WSDA’s legal counsil to cite the law with specific references to the extent to which dentist may speak to one another and (or) with practice consultants regarding fees and fee structures. In this instance misunderstanding of the law could result in prosecution or alternatively a major change in the practice of dentistry as we know it. I don’t understand how simply speaking about ones fee structure to a college could violate anti-trust law. That sounds like freedom of speech to me, not necsicarily price fixing. Some clarity from our leadership would be appreciated.
-Dr. John R. Divis, DDS
Wenatchee, WA
WSDA Response:
The blog entry of Dr. Divis asks that I clarify the antitrust law rules which could apply when dentists speak with one another, or with practice consultants, concerning fees. Dr. Divis’ central question is:
“I don’t understand how simply speaking about one’s fee structure to a colleague could violate antitrust law. That sound like freedom of speech to me…”
The two potential violations of antitrust law which should concern us are:
1. An agreement between or among competitors which is found to be a conspiracy in restraint of trade; and,
2. If separate competitors act together collectively in refusing to deal with a third party (such as an insurance company), that action may be found to be concerted action by competitors which amounts to a group boycott.
Watch KOMO’s Report “Local dentists cutting ties with Washington Dental Services”
“This was a tremendous struggle for us to accommodate within our internal processes,” said Inge. “One of the issues that we had, was that Washington Dental Service was paying higher fees for services than some of our competitors.”
Click here to read the article
Alan Wicks, WSDA’s Legal Counsel, Comments on WDS Fee Decrease
Recently, when WDS lowered their fees to dentists, some of you asked why we couldn’t do more. We heard your frustration, and were ourselves frustrated by our inability to move to your defense in a more concrete fashion. The truth is, anti-trust laws are extraordinarily clear in this respect: it is not permissible for us to intervene on your behalf, to organize or join with you in any action that might appear we were attempting to set or change fees, lest we face swift investigation and possible penalties by the Federal Trade Commission.* And to be clear: the same laws regarding organizing apply to you, as individuals.
In Review
Deep fee cuts have been made for most dentists participating in the programs of Washington Dental Service (WDS), Washington’s Delta Dental plan. The cuts are effective June 15. Actual changes vary by an individual dentist’s fee history and by the actual service codes. Many participants report projected effective reductions in overall WDS reimbursements of 15 percent, or more, when compared to their revenues from WDS reimbursement levels presently in effect. The dramatic reductions follow two years in which WDS reimbursement rates and filed fees have been frozen.
