Dental Group Practice Association changing it’s name to Association of Dental Support Organizations

What’s in a name? A brand.

Anyone besides me think the DGPA has gotten such a bad reputation over recent years, it needed a name change? Does it matter? Not really. They are who they are, not matter what they call themselves.

“Association of Dental Support Organizations” Unveiled as New Trade Association Name

(May 13, 2014) – NAME CHANGE REFLECTS EVOLUTION IN THE DENTAL PROFESSION AND ASSOCIATION’S FOCUS

DENVER, May 13, 2014The Dental Group Practice Association (DGPA), a nonprofit industry association representing more than 30 dental support organizations (DSOs), announced today that the organization has changed its name to the Association of Dental Support Organizations (ADSO).

“It’s important that our organization’s name clearly reflects our mission to support DSOs and all they do to ensure the delivery of innovative, high quality and cost effective care,” said Dr. Quinn Dufurrena, Executive Director of ADSO. “Our mission is to provide world-class business and technology support services to dentists, a partnership that lets dentists focus on what they do best, which is serving their patients.”

Dental Group Practice Association installed a new Executive Director last week. Will he work more than 8 hours a week?

Check out the uptick in legal, conference and lobbying expenses. I’m not sure how you can spend that much in a year and not work more than 8 hours a week.

Management fees have also skyrocketed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DGPA 2007 - 2013 Tax Return Data by Dentist The Menace

Dr. R. Quinn Dufurrena named Executive Director of that nasty Dental Group Practice Association (DGPA)

In the Welcome Letter from Dr. R. Quinn Dufurrena as posted on the Dental Group Practice Association (DGPA) and the DGPA’s press release, I think it’s clear what the plan is for the group; more “creative” dentistry —i.e. teledentistry (whatever the hell that is)—and changing state dental practice acts to be more revenue generating friendly, despite any loss in patient quality of care. After reading excerpts of several articles and interviews with Dufurrena published over the years, it appears he’s wishy washy on many issues, other than teledentistry. Other than that, he will be whatever they need him to me. Of course, I could be wrong.

From Dufurrena’s Welcome Letter at the DGPA:

• Nearly 20 years ago, I first learned of the dental support organization (DSO) model.
• DSOs financial benefits, administrative capabilities and group structure truly resonated with me.
• I’ve practiced dentistry in many different arenas, from the military and government to private practices and the non-profit sector.
• …dental professionals are still unable to circumvent the financial and time limits that have restricted them for years.
• …problem that requires collaboration and unity throughout the dental community.
• It has become a mission of mine to help answer the many challenges dentists are facing in this economic and regulatory environment, and my first step is creating awareness on the advantages of the DSO model.
• …my course of action for DGPA revolves around three key contentions: ethics, metrics and innovation.
• …build on the DGPA’s current code of ethics.
• …offer innovative ideas to dentists around the country
• I believe with the help of our member organizations, we can achieve a level of awareness for DSOs that will diminish the misinformation that has plagued our model and shed new light on the success DSOs

From the March 3, 2014 DGPA Press Release:

• “Much as the Affordable Care Act strives to increase patient access to quality care through innovative approaches to the health care system, the DSO model strives to do much the same.” – Doug Brown, co-president of the DGPA
• “…confident that Dr. Dufurrena will lead our association during an exciting period of evolution in the field of dentistry, one where more dentists are shifting from solo practitioners to group practices and the DSO model” – Doug Brown, co-president of the DGPA
• Use of the DSO model has shown success.
• "Dr. Dufurrena's background – ranging from work as a solo practitioner working on policy for the ADA to serving as executive director of a state dental association – provides him unparalleled insight into the role DSOs and their supported dentists can and must play in helping to bridge our nation's growing dental divide" – Steve Thorne co-president of the DGPA.
• Beyond his chair-side duties, Dr. Dufurrena served an associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine and worked at the ADA as a Hillenbrand Fellow.
• Dufurrena will officially begin his role as executive director on March 3 and will be based in Denver, Colorado.
• "I've been committed to promoting and providing affordable, high quality oral health care throughout my entire career. These are the same values shared by all members of DGPA and their supported dentists.- Dr. R. Quinn Dufurrena
• "I am honored to have been selected and look forward to working with all stakeholders at the state and federal levels to help them better understand the role and value a DSO plays in supporting quality dental care to millions of Americans every year." Dr. R. Quinn Dufurrena
• He is replacing Dr. Ed Meckler who served as executive director since DGPA's inception.

Doug Brown is president of Affordable Care, Inc. Steve Thorne is president of Pacific Dental Services. Neither are dentists.

Dr. Richard Quinn Dufurrena hasn’t been interested in the actual practice of dentistry in years; if ever. But he has been interested in the business of dentistry. So he is going to fit right in the DGPA and the DSO business modeling they promote.

From the June 2008 article about Dr. Dufurrena’s Hillibrand Fellowship and him taking the position as Executive Director of the Idaho State Dental Association:

• The 12-month program comes with a stipend and focuses on non-clinical organizational experience and education and allows fellows to select a special project and area of study. It provides fellows with an intensive orientation to all ADA agencies and departments, orientation to other organizations serving oral health, a basic orientation to federal and state government agencies playing key roles in oral health, academic courses and project experience

Dental One Partners commits malpractice for profit says Dentists and North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners

DentalWorks Chain Misdiagnosed for Money, Dentists Say
March 13, 2013, 10:28 am ET by Sarah Childress

DentalWorks, a national dental-care chain, is facing two lawsuits in North Carolina claiming that it unlawfully practiced dentistry and deceptive practices.

A lawsuit filed by the state dental board alleges that the company lied about its operations. A second lawsuit, filed by dentists who worked for the chain, alleges that it pushed staff to inappropriately diagnose patients in order to bill them for more costly procedures.

DentalWorks is one of several dental-care companies facing scrutiny of its practices recently.

In last June’s Dollars and Dentists, FRONTLINE and the Center for Public Integrity reported that Kool Smiles, which serves children covered by Medicaid, has been accused in several states of providing unnecessary treatment for children in order to bill more money. Kool Smiles has denied the allegations in an extensive response.

Last July, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) said his office was probing Kool Smiles, Small Smiles and ReachOut HealthCare America, which all serve poor children on Medicaid.

And Aspen Dental, one of the nation’s largest corporate dental chains, was accused in a class-action lawsuit in October of deceiving patients and illegally owning dental practices. Aspen Dental, which denies the allegations, filed a motion to dismiss the case. Attorneys representing former patients in January filed an amended complaint (pdf) in January that added 13 more pages of allegations, which Aspen Dental has since filed to dismiss.

The Latest Lawsuits

DentalWorks is the trade name of DentalOne Partners, Inc., a national dental company operating in 14 states. The suit filed by the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners accuses (pdf) DentalOne Partners of influencing clinical policies, including pushing for inappropriate diagnoses in order to bill for unnecessary treatment.

Dental Service Organizations in 2013–a Collage of Crap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who owns these Dental Service Organizations (DSO’s)?

Dental One Partners, is in the news in North Carolina; lawsuits from dentists and the North Carolina Dental Board. Today let’s look at Wal-Mart’s dip into dentistry. For years have I reported that a majority of DSO’s are owned by private equity and unlicensed corporate interests in direct violations of the Dental Practice Acts. It is a façade to bypass the law! Even if a genuine dentist wanted to own and operate a DSO in a legal and ethical fashion, is it hard or hardly possible?

A recent case filed in California against a dental service organization is a classic example on how these management front organizations are formed or owned to bypass the laws:

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/3/prweb9217698.htm

This lawsuit I posted alleges all sorts of misconduct, but the one that is most interesting to me, is the structural setups of the Wal-Mart dental offices.

http://blog.dentistthemenace.com/2013/02/conspiracy-lawsuit-files-against-wal.html

In this particular case, Wal-Mart was obviously not allowed to own dental offices due to Stark, Dental Practice Acts, and Federal Anti-Kickback Statues. So what did Wal-Mart do to get in on the lucrative business of dentistry and maintain full control? Under the guise of compliance, they decided to setup a management (DSO) entity in Delaware and locate the home offices in Nevada while setting up dental offices in California and Arizona, with their own crew.  Heck, even Smile Brands has hopping into bed with Wal-Mart. 

http://www.brightnow.com/pressroom/news/bright-now-dental-opens-new-dental-office-mesa-az

It is alleged that Kent Reeves was the former VP of New Business Development for Wal-Mart, now an executive of the fake dental management company. It is further alleged that Ken Antos owns a restaurant chain inside of Wal-Marts and is a private equity man, now another executive of this fake management company. The lawsuit states that after the idea was presented to Wal-Mart by Dr. Kianor Shah, a California Dentist, it was business as usual.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Family-Business-Took-on-Walmart-Over-Alleged-Patent-Infringement-181701451.html

Since neither of their two “de facto owners” are licensed dentists nor have any dental office management history at all, they needed a dentist to register all of the entities with those states in order to open the doors.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/99212359/Aspen-Dental-from-Senator-Grassley-Requesting-Management-Service-Agreements

It appears as they approached a politician, whom happens to be a dentist, to serve as their front man:

http://www.nevadanewsbureau.com/2010/03/30/state-gop-chair-resigns/

Does this story sound familiar to the private equity backed cases of Forba, Dental One, Aspen, Heartland, ReachOut, KoolSmiles, and others alike?

The FTC says that it has not seen any cases where there was an issue with competition for other dentists. Well how many more private equity backed dental scandals need to be uncovered before the federal government steps in and protects the public from harm and allow fair competition to dentists? The result is usually the same when these DSO’s enjoy immunity. Dentists are coerced to push for production and patient care becomes a second priority.

If you wanted to take the time, all of these trace back to a few “not so Good Men” and the DGPA’s president Edward Meckler; also top dog at Dental One Partners.

Bileca sells to Matzkin or Towncare affiliates with Dental Care Alliance, it’s the same either way.

So it was announced last week that Florida State Representative Michael Bileca’s Towncare Dental Partners d/b/a Towncare Dental and Main Street’s Children Dentistry and Orthodontics is now “affiliated” with Dental Care Alliance based in Sarasota, Florida.  Of course that means he unloaded the clinics. Who knows he may stay on as CEO, President or whatever he claims to be.  Wonder if Mr. Bileca has bigger political ambitions and needs to rid himself of the DSO?

So, who is Dental Care Alliance?  Beats the hell outta me!  There’s a timeline after the press release.  You figure it out. 

What I do know is Steven Matzkin and Michael Bileca , their respective CEO’s are founders of that nasty group the Dental Group Practice Association (DGPA). So swapping control of dental clinics they illegally operate among themselves is akin to one of those underground “swingers” clubs.

Dental Care Alliance Press Release

Dental Care Alliance Acquires Towncare Dental Partners

Posted on January 16, 2013 by dca

Sarasota, FL – Dental Care Alliance (DCA) announces the affiliation of Towncare Dental Partners (TDP).

“Towncare is an outstanding, well regarded company, and we are excited to have their team join DCA and expand our administrative resources to better support the needs of our affiliated dental professionals,” says Mitch Olan Co-CEO/COO of Dental Care Alliance. “Both DCA and Towncare place the same emphasis on quality care, provider support and patient satisfaction.”

The Florida-based companies have similar operating philosophies and more than 40 years of combined experience supporting the dental profession. The combined company will now manage the administrative services of 145 dental practices in 8 states.

Dental Service Organization (DSO) Affordable Care/Affordable Dentures Dentist Stripped of License

Affordable Care is owned by American Capital, the same Private Equity firm who invested in the disgraces and bankrupt Small Smiles Dental Centers. Affordable Care and it’s President, Douglas W. Brown, were behind the big push in North Carolina to make life easy for Dental Service Organization in that state.
Affordable Care and it’s “affiliated” clinics go straight to the top of the nasty DGPA organization and has so many tentacles that it would make an octopus jealous!


 

By DON DARE
6 On Your Side Consumer Investigator
MORRISTOWN (WATE) - Disciplinary action taken by the Tennessee Board of Dentistry against David Harrison has been swift and decisive.
The board revoked the Morristown dentist's license, stripping him of his ability to work in Tennessee. It was the most extreme punishment available to the state.
In the consent order, "unprofessional conduct" was cited as one of the grounds for taking such extreme measures.
June McClary was one of Harrison's first patients to call 6 On Your Side and one of the first to contact state investigators about Harrison's practice.

ROTFL–Aspen Dental propaganda quoting the group who promotes illegal practice of dentistry; The DGPA

From the Aspen Dental Blog

Dispelling misconceptions about Dental Service Organizations

March 5, 2012 by Bethany Tuzzolino

A recent online article¹ based on the results of an August 2011 survey of 1,500 dentists asked participants to rank what they consider to be their highest concerns as practitioners and small business owners. They identified “Growth and Influence of Corporate Dentistry Companies that Hire Dentists” as a high priority challenge to their success. The respondents ranked this “frustration” about the current state of the profession the third highest category in the Priority 1 section of the survey, right behind “Third-Party Dictation of Treatment Plans and Setting Fees” and mid-level or expanded-function dental practitioners, and right above “Overpopulation of Dentists and Hygienists.” The author notes that “some of these firms have moved into geographic areas already saturated with dentists.”¹ This situation is understandably concerning to private practitioners, who are essentially entrepreneurs trying to establish a territory and stable patient base. It is, however, a well-known fact that dental school does not teach graduates how to successfully find the ideal location for, or run, a private practice.

Just a wild guess, but I’m thinking the ADA and the DGPA are none too happy about the hearings on Corporate Dentistry in Texas

Yes, the ADA is a different group and as we know the ADA rules, since they have the gold. But honestly, they might as well be the one and the same.  If you dig deep enough everyone with the DGPA is with the ADA, right?

Just two short days before the Texas Hearings on April 11, 2012, the ADA issued this:

 

 

ADA explores growth of large group practices

By Karen Fox, ADA News staff
April 09, 2012

The ADA is taking steps to increase dialogue with large group practices and gather information regarding this rapidly expanding career option.

This sector of the dental workforce has experienced significant growth in a relatively short period of time. According to the ADA Health Policy Resources Center, in just two years the number of large dental group practices has risen 25 percent.

For now, it’s still a small piece of the overall dental delivery system pie. In a 2008 sampling frame, the Health Policy Resources Center concluded that solo dentist practices account for 92 percent of all dental practices, and very large group practices with 20 or more dentists make up only 3 percent.

However, in analyzing its data on individual dentists, the HPRC has concluded that the rate of solo practitioners is falling. In 2010, 69 percent of dentists were solo practitioners compared to 76 percent in 2006.

Kool Smiles files suit against law firm taking personal injury cases - I’m thinking this is NOT a good idea for Freidman Fleischer & Lowe; Doug Brown or Kevin Miller…

…Dentistry of Brownville, P.C. or NCDR, LLC, or KS TX, P.C. or  whatever name Kool Smiles dental centers are using.

You have a Private Equity firm behind the Kool Smiles name. You have a Private Equity firm basically practicing dentistry. You have a Private Equity firm setting up dummy professional corporations in many states, Texas included. You have a crooked dentist, Dr. Tu Tran with his name all over Dentistry of Brownsville, PC and he doesn’t even practice in Texas or any other state for that matter!  He lives outside Atlanta. According to Texas records, NCDR, LLC is “governed” by Kool Smiles Acquisition Corporation-400 EAST GALLERIA PARKWAY SE, STE. 800
ATLANTA , GA 30339

There are thousands of parents complain their children are being injured and abused with unnecessary and substandard dental treatment. These same complaints have been coming from Kool Smiles clinics across the nation for 5 years. The parents are claiming of harsh and brutal touching and manhandling of their children to deliver that dental care. All for the simple reason to bill Medicaid for as much as they can in as quickest amount of time. Maybe parents have taken photos, made audio and video recordings of the children screaming and have decided to take action against the dentist and the company responsible for it. Maybe some support staff at the dental centers have done the same.
So, what does the company do? It files suit against the law firm taking the cases, citing “Copyright Infringement”.  Seriously??!!

5:12 –CV-00036
Monday March 19, 2012
NCDR, LLC
Dentistry of Brownsville, P.C.
KS TX, PC
vs.
Mauze & Bagby, PLLC
George Watts Mauze, II
James Thomas Bagby, III
Texas Southern District Court
Tradmark Infringement
Kool Smiles v Mauze & Bagby

Original Complaint	Exhibit 5 [doc 1-6]
Exhibit 1[doc 1-2]	Exhibit 6 [doc1-7]
Exhibit 2 [doc1-3]	Exhibit 7 [doc 1-8]
Exhibit 3 [doc 1-4]	Exhibit 8 [doc 1-9]
Exhibit 4 [doc1-5]	Exhibit 9 [doc 1-10]

Friedman, Fleischer & Lowe (FFL)

FFL Partners Executive Investors
Kool Smiles Investment
Midwest Dental Investment

Dental Group Practice Association (DGPA)– Supporting the corporate practice of dentistry where executives get rich, dentists get the shaft and patient care is not even considered.

Dental Group Practice Association (DGPA)

“a non-profit industry organization representing Dental Service Organizations (DSOs).”

Collectively, practices serviced by DGPA members have:
-1,500+ dental practice locations in 46 states
-3,200+ affiliated/owner dentists
-5 million patient visits
-Projected revenue of more than $5 billion by 2015
So is this “group” going to be the “World Organization” to oversee all facets of dental care at a corporate dental clinic near you?  I hear they meet, and basically divvy up the country and decide who can take over where and set prices, as well as put the pressure on the insurance companies to had them the cash.  Of course they will give you some shitty dental treatment in the midst of it all, but that is NOT the goal.

Appears they are tight with the American Student Dental Association by sponsoring many of their events. Also the Student National Dental Association.  Gosh wonder why that is?
You must read on and learn about this bunch.