Pictured is Marissa and her still grieving grandmother, Mona.
Think of them today.
Friday, March 02, 2012
Remembering Marrisa
It was one year ago today that Marrisa Kingery went to Dr. Henry Mazorow of Lorain, Ohio and days later became the second patient killed by his irresponsible behavior.. Earlier this year, Dr. Mazorow’s insurance company settled with Marissa’s family for $1M.
Pictured is Marissa and her still grieving grandmother, Mona.
Think of them today.
Pictured is Marissa and her still grieving grandmother, Mona.
Think of them today.
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Could Texas Medicaid Dental Program Suck Anymore? Yes.
Just saying…
Big Changes in Medicaid Dental Coverage Could Mean Increased Wait Time 3/1/12
Shelley Childers
CBS 7 News
schilders@cbs7.com
March 1, 2012
ODESSA, TX - Big changes to the Medicaid dental program may mean some children in West Texas have to wait even longer to get treatment.
It's a change that came with very little warning or information from the Medicaid program.
Now it has pediatric dentists across the state scrambling to help their patients maintain their appointments.
"It was a very bad day for pediatric dentists across the state because we do serve the Medicaid population and a lot of patients went without being seen today," said Dr. Joel Edwards, the only pediatric dentist in Odessa who serves Medicaid patients.
He says Medicaid patients went without being seen because of big changes to their insurance coverage that all took effect Thursday.
For years Medicaid dental insurance was a state run program, but now it's being handed over to three different insurance companies Delta Dental, DentaQuest and MCNA Dental.
Yes, Senator, there is a crisis alright!
U.S. Senator puts spotlight on country's oral health crisis
By Mary Otto, DrBicuspid.com contributing writer
March 1, 2012 -- The witnesses called to testify before a U.S. Senate subcommittee February 29 brought stories of unmet dental needs across the country.
And Vermont Senator Bernard Sanders (I-VT), who called the hearing, said he had stories of his own -- some 1,200 of them, gathered from his constituents and other Americans. They were personal accounts, Sanders said, of the struggles that poor, elderly, and working Americans face trying to find and pay for dental care.
"We are in the midst of a dental crisis in America," said Sanders, who chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging and released a report to coincide with the hearing. "More than 47 million people live in places where it is difficult to get dental care. We don't have enough providers to serve all of those in need."
The hearing was called to explore the problems with the high cost of care and the lack of access to it, Sanders noted. The witnesses included oral health experts with sobering statistics and providers who said they had found innovative ways of reaching poor and underserved people within their communities.
“We are in the midst of a dental crisis in America.”
— Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-VT)
The lack of access comes at a high cost, not just in human suffering but in tens of millions of misspent state health care dollars, said Shelley Gehshan, director of the Pew Children's Dental Campaign. She cited a Pew study released this week that estimated that preventable dental conditions were the primary diagnosis in more than 830,000 emergency room visits in 2009, a 16% increase over 2006.
Grassley Seeks Information on State Rate-setting for Medicaid Managed Care Plans
http://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/Article.cfm?customel_dataPageID_1502=39308
For Immediate Release
March 1, 2012
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has asked each state for information to help determine whether the states and the federal government are conducting enough oversight of their rate-setting for Medicaid managed care plans.
“In light of the billions of dollars already spent on Medicaid, including managed care, and the planned expansion of Medicaid, it’s important to look at whether states are setting their managed care payment rates appropriately and in keeping with federal law,” Grassley said. “If the payment rates are out of whack, and scrutiny is lacking, Medicaid money could be ill-spent to the detriment of vulnerable beneficiaries and the taxpayers.
CSHM-Small Smiles Dental Unsecured Creditors Committee
The unsecured creditors meeting in the bankruptcy of Church Street Health Management had their first meeting today. The committee appointed Jim Moriarty of Moriarty-Leyendecker law firm in Houson, Texas as thier Chairman.
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell and Berkowitz, law firm in Nashville, Tennessee was chosen to be the counsel for the committee.
See the Appointment and Notice of Appointment Committee here
Senior Mobile Dental - Licensed Dental Hygiene Care
Senior Mobile Dental
Seniormobiledental.com and .org– website true owner hidden
Contact Privacy Inc. Customer 0117132607, seniormobiledental.com@contactprivacy.com
96 Mowat Ave
Toronto, ON M6K 3M1
CA +1.4165385457
Website says found is – Patricia Michelle Noblet – Vacha
Senior Mobile Dental – Colorado Secretary of State:
20071451146 – Filed 9-16-2009 True name - Dental Hygiene Professionals. Michelle P. Vacha 2604 Flintridge Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 80918
2010163317 – Filed 10-12-2010 True name – Licensed Dental Hygiene Care. P. Michelle Vacha 2604 Flintridge Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Licensed Dental Hygiene Care dba -Senior Mobile Dental. Logo registration in Colorado – Senior Mobile Dental with a toothbrush and swirl of toothpaste. Patricia Vacha 2604 Flintridge Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 80918.
Licensed Dental Hygiene Care – Patricia Michelle Vacha and Michael David Vacha. Date of Non-Profit incorporation 7-27-2006.
Executive Director – Patricia Michelle Vacha, RDS
President – Dr. Sandra Swing, DDS 5410 Powers Center Point,Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Vice President – Nicole Spurgeon CDS 3860 Half Turn Road, Colorado Springs, CO. 80917
Secretary – Grace Wolf Trujillo E.D.D.A 6465 McNichols Ct., Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Treasurer – Tammi Moore, Accountant 8235 Chochise Rd. Colorado Springs, CO. 80908
Member - Dr. Kenneth Pollary, DDS 5815 Mesa Mtn. Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80923
Member - Sherri Thompson, RN 2955 Leoti Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 80922
Texas dental centers recruiters solicit Medicaid patients outside food stamp offices promising ipods and more
WFAA
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 10:03 PM
Updated yesterday at 10:49 PM
NEWS 8 INVESTIGATES
Thousands of kids get free dental care under Medicaid in Texas. Texas taxpayers foot the bill, including putting crowns on the teeth of toddlers who don't yet have their permanent teeth.
A News 8 investigation finds that some dentists want that Medicaid business so badly, they hire recruiters to bring in patients.
At a Texas Health and Human Services Office on Masters Road near Dallas, a man quietly stands in the parking lot, waiting for mothers who've just received food stamps to emerge from the waiting room.
He is a recruiter. He's handing out cards for Happy Teeth Dental, just two doors down in the same complex.
At another HHS office across town, two women also wait for new food stamp recipients. They're handing out cards for Lancaster Dental a few miles away.
And at another HHS office just up the road, Bear Creek Family Dentistry has a small kiosk set up to recruit new patients.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
WANTED - Kool Smiles Dental Centers Pictures
If you have a Kool Smiles near you, I’d very much appreciate if you would stop by and take a picture of their front door and send it to me.
Thanks!
David Milton Lewis, DDS- Barred from practicing dentistry until allegations are resolved. He’s accused of unnecessary root canals and offering rewards for referrals!
Board accuses Sacramento dentist of unnecessary work
By Darrell Smith
dvsmith@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee
By Darrell Smith
Published: Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012 - 12:00 am
Last Modified: Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012 - 11:20 amA Sacramento dentist has been suspended by the Dental Board of California on allegations of performing unneeded root canals and fillings on the healthy teeth of at least 17 of his patients and collecting insurance payments for work he did not do.
David Milton Lewis was barred by the state board from performing dentistry until the case against him is resolved, officials said.
In addition to causing damage to patients' healthy teeth, the board alleged Lewis submitted numerous bogus insurance claims and offered cash rewards to United Parcel Service employees for referrals.
According to allegations filed by the dental board, Lewis targeted UPS employees because Delta Health Systems, the firm's dental insurer, covered 100 percent of dental treatments with no maximum payment or co- payment.
According to board filings, insurance investigators believe Lewis began performing the unnecessary work as the recession worsened in 2008, with claims soaring from an average of $154,000 a year before 2009 to about $870,000 per year afterward.
A hearing is pending against Lewis, who has a practice at 4350 Marconi Ave.
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/29/4299094/board-accuses-sacramento-dentist.html#storylink=cpy
Parents complaining about Kool Smiles Dental and have been for years I might add–socks over their hands, tied down and blindfolded.
This is the crap you get when you get Private Equity firms, or as I call them, “Lenders for Criminals” are involved in medical care. It’s about the bottom line, not whether treatment is needed, nor is it delivered in professionally acceptable standards!! It’s illegal on so many levels and so far, we’ve not seen an Attorney General with the balls to stop it!
Hey, all you AG’s out there, I’ve got a back up set I’ll loan you! Give me a call!
Pro8News
Hey, all you AG’s out there, I’ve got a back up set I’ll loan you! Give me a call!
Pro8News
Parents Complain About Kool Smiles
By KGNS News
Story Created: Feb 28, 2012 at 10:12 PM CST
Story Updated: Feb 29, 2012
A dental office with a local branch could be in a lot of trouble.
Parents complained about what they call ‘unprofessional treatment’ their children received at Kool Smiles.
They described their kids having their hands covered with socks and tied up while a dental procedure was being done.
[I suppose this is somehow deemed better than Dr. Steven Adair’s Superman Cape idea!]
Some even complained of having procedures done without the proper sedatives.
[I’ve been told over the years, when giving nitrous, they only turn on the oxygen to give the appearance of giving nitrous to parents, bill for nitrous but save on nitrous. I’d like an audit of amount of Nitrous billed and the amount of Nitrous purchased at each clinic!]
Now a San Antonio law firm says all Kool Smiles locations in south Texas are being investigated.