Hey, Church Street Health Management-Small Smiles, NCDR, LLC-Kool Smiles and other dental mills fake owners, listen up:
Ohio AG Announces Sentencing for Cincinnati area Dentist for Medicaid Fraud!
6/22/2011
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that Dr. Jeffrey Glenn, of Cincinnati, has been sentenced to five years of community control and ordered to pay restitution of $225,000, after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated theft, a third-degree felony.
Dr. J. A. Dean is announced as the new Executive Director of the ABPD replacing Arthur J. Nowak, who currently is on the Advisory Board Member of Church Street Health Management.
Word is that upper management at Small Smiles Dental/Church Street Health Management is quite happy about this announcement, saying “…he’s from Indiana and we know him…”, referring to Dr. Dean.
Evidently they are hoping to get Dr. Dean to do what he can to make things favorable for CSHM. Hold you’re ground Dr. Dean. Just be forewarned.
Promoting a fellow crusader
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced Thursday that Dr. Jeffrey Glenn, of Cincinnati, has been sentenced to five years of community control and ordered to pay restitution of $225,000, after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated theft, a third-degree felony.
An Ohio Department of Job and Family Services review of Glenn's billing indicated an unusual pattern. That triggered an investigation within the Ohio Attorney General's Health Care Fraud Unit.
Investigators interviewed Glenn and employees of his office, Bond Hill Dental Center, sifted through almost 3,000 patient records obtained through a search warrant, interviewed dentists that subsequently treated Glenn's former patients and interviewed Glenn's patients. The results indicate that over the course of four years, beginning in 2006, Glenn repeatedly billed Medicaid for dental work that was not done.
$50,000 in restitution was paid on Thursday. The balance, $175,000, is due within five years.
The money will be repaid to ODJFS and four of Ohio's Medicaid managed care organizations that were also falsely billed.
I hope the folks at “Straight Smiles” are paying real close attention to the Medicaid Orthodontics scams being exposed in Texas, since I’m sure that is exactly what this is as well, if not worse.
[honestly I can hardly even say “straight smiles” since I immediately think of “straight face” and how they keep one I’ll never know]
In the article below the “Lead Orthodontist” said about the patient she was examining:
“ Zulanihs had a loose tooth and small signs of a posterior cross bite. Although she was not ready for braces, interceptive treatment would widen the upper arch of her palette”
(her licenses say she is a “general dentist, searching the Dentaquest site for MA Orthodontists, there is only 2 in a 30 mile radius, and she is NOT one of them)
[she means a palatal expander as seen here and here ]
“If this wasn’t found or not acted upon, it could result in trauma as well as recession of her lower anterior teeth.”
[trauma! really? well dang good thing the child got in there in time to prevent such a trauma]
It really means we found something, ever so tiny and insignificant but I think I found something so we can bill the taxpayers of Massachusetts.
Is it legal? Well, of course not. However I asked a dear friend, a dentist, living in Massachusetts about having to be a “real” orthodontist and advertising as a “specialty” when you are NOT a specialist? Here is their reply:
As for the ortho question, you are going to just love my unclear and muddled answer! In the wacky state of Massachusetts, general dentists can do ortho, provided that they can "perform to the same standards" as specialists. (If that truly is the case, then why would any Orthodontist spend the extra 2-3 years in residency?)
In medicine, that is almost like your ear/nose/throat guy deciding he'll take a swing at open heart surgery.
The regulations, as far as I'm aware mostly have prohibitions against advertising to the public as a specialist. This pretty much falls in line with the ADA position. Hope this helps.
by BYRON HARRIS
Bio | Email
WFAA
Posted on June 19, 2011 at 9:51 PM
Updated yesterday at 4:17 PMNews 8 Investigates
From the air, it looks like there's a shark in swimming pool of the 13,000-square-foot mansion in Frisco. Turns out the shark is only painted on the bottom, complementing the water slide, next to the tennis court, which gives the place the look of a resort.It all belongs to owner of Smiley Dental Clinics, which last year collected at least $1.9 million in Medicaid orthodontics (MO) fees, according to state records.
While the shark in the dentist's pool may be an illusion, it's not imaginary that Texas dentists have been swimming in a sea of Medicaid money over the last three years.
Before I get into this, let me say the following is not even close to being based on anything other than my observations. Maybe that sounds a bit odd to admit. But according to the covey of “artful dodgers” at Small Smiles Dental Centers and Church Street Management, everything on this blog has no basis and is pure hogwash. So I don’t know why they visit here forty ‘leven times a day.
Super Pages
Carecredit
Facebook
According to Molar Magic’s facebook page, they opened in August 2009.
Must be a Medicaid clinic, at least it’s not a mill, but never forget he was trained by Dr. Eddie DeRose,
“Molar Magic is a comprehensive general dentistry and orthodontic for children and young adults ages 1-20. At Molar Magic we believe oral health care can and should be fun, comfortable, and easy. Stop in anytime for a tour! Let us work our magic!”
Dental Group Practice Association (DGPA)
I would really like to hear from any of you. Please contact me at cckaddie@yahoo.com
Here is a listing for a job opening at Church Street Health Management dated June 17, 2011. Pity the poor fool who takes this job! YIKES! I hope any applicant takes time to read the Corporate Integrity Agreement this company has signed with the Department of Justice and Inspector General’s Office. Read it carefully! Smell the jail?
Duties include:
Reporting to the SVP, Chief Compliance Officer, the selected individual will be responsible for recording, remedying, and responding to comments, concerns and complaints by patients of CSHM Associated Dental Practices. The Patient Advocate is also charged with ensuring that patients and, for minor patients, patients' parents and/or legal guardians are informed of CSHM's commitment to quality care and provided with contact information for submitting complaints. The Patient Advocate will report to the Chief Compliance Officer. The Patient Advocate will also be a key member of the Compliance Department and a member of CSHM's Compliance Committee.
Angela has been the topic of conversation of late at CSHM due to her prior association with Universal Health Services (UHS) and it’s string of “youth education” treatment centers. UHS has complaints out the wazoo about the abuses that goes on behind the doors to pre-teens and young adults.
My point in sharing these links is to point out that even though kids are dying from teeth extractions performed by DDS and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons... standards are being lowered still !
States where dental hygienists may administer locals
http://www.adha.org/governmental_affairs/downloads/localanesthesiamap.pdf
States where dental hygienists can administer nitrous
http://www.adha.org/governmental_affairs/downloads/Nitrousmap.pdf
Dental Hygiene Practice Act Overview:
Permitted Functions and Supervision Levels by State
http://www.adha.org/governmental_affairs/downloads/fiftyone.pdf
Comparison of Tasks: Dental Therapist vs Advanced Dental Therapist
http://www.dentalboard.state.mn.us/Default.aspx?tabid=1165
The principles, competencies, and curriculum for educating dental therapists
(American Assoc of Public Health Dentistry Panel)
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1752-7325.2011.00263.x/full
New Office Marks Extension of Successful Public/Private Partnership Inaugurated in Gary, Indiana
EAST CHICAGO, Ind., June 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- East Chicago residents will soon have something new to smile about. Kool Smiles, a leading dental health provider dedicated to expanding access to quality dental care for children and families in underserved communities, is opening a new office in East Chicago in partnership with the East Chicago Community Health Center (ECCHC).
The new location will open June 20 and is located within the East Chicago Community Health Center at 1313 West Chicago Avenue. It will be the company's third office in the area, bringing East Chicago residents a convenient option for quality dental care. The grand opening was celebrated on June 15th. Attendees included State Representative Earl Harris, State Representative Charlie Brown, State Senator Lonnie Randolph, Ms Gilda Orange, Chairman East Chicago CHC and East Chicago Councilwoman, Frank Mrvan Township Trustee, Mayor Anthony Copeland, Ms Te-Reika Chambers, representing Congressman Visclosky, Mark Vanderheight, Primary Healthcare Associates, Dr. Gerri Browning, East Chicago CHC Chief Medical Director, Mr. Dwayne Mitchell, CEO East Chicago CHC, Dr. Ricardo Hood, East Chicago CHC Medical Director and Health Commissioner of the City of Gary.
This new office aims to replicate the success of the 2010 launch of a similar center in Gary, IN which is celebrating its one year anniversary. In only 3 months after the Gary public/private partnership was established, dental patient access more than doubled from 12 patients receiving oral health care to over 30 patients receiving oral health care each day. To establish a similar access opportunity for East Chicago residents, the new office will increase access to the area's residents who need it the most, offering families a centrally located resource for dental care that will complement the existing medical offices. The East Chicago Community Health Center is funded by taxpayer dollars through the federal Health Resources and Services Administration.
Read the entire Press Release
cckaddie@yahoo.com
Here is the sign off highway US41 in Terra Haute, Indiana pointing to one of the Kool Smiles Dental Centers.
I recently took this during one of my stops on my “where in the world is the next illegal dental clinic” tour which I began in April.
I also took the time to check out the clinic and even spoke with the next door business owners, who had a lot to say.
There was a cute little shop right next door that two lovely grandmother type ladies owned. I was in need of a wedding gift so I went in to see what they had. After I picked out a couple of nice items, the graciously offered to gift wrap them, which gave me time to ask them about the dental clinic next door.
Immediately the woman scowled. I knew that she knew it was a bad bad place. Just a few inquisitive questions got her to talking. She told me about the horrible and terrifying screams they hear through the walls. She told of the many times her patrons who would be shopping would look at her and gasp. She told me there are times where customers have become extremely upset hearing the shear terror in the tiny screams coming through the walls.
She said her and her partner had stepped out back earlier and listened at the back door of the Kool Smiles and it made them both sick. They had called in a complaint a time or two but nothing was ever done, it’s a dentist office, that treats children, who cares if there are screams she was told.
Who cares? I do. Don’t you?
If you are a former employee please contact me, send me what evidence you have, your identity is strictly confidential. I couldn’t know all I know if I didn’t keep my informants identity a secret. Heck, just send me some documents anonymously, that’s fine too.
cckaddie@yahoo.com
Is Church Street Health Management-Small Smiles Dental- the current World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS)? What about NCDR.LLC-Kool Smiles Dental?
WWASPS billed itself as an “umbrella organization” of independent institutions for education and treatment of troubled teenagers. So does CSHM. CSHM insists it only manages independent dental clinics.
WWASPS mistreats minor for federal dollars. So does CSHM. In fact CSHM’s top management, who are 4 of it’s board members, operated the same kind of facilities WWASPS does, under the name Keys Group Holding,LLC. Isn’t that odd.
WWASPS sued a mom who spoke out against their cruelty to children. So did CSHM. - Me.
WWASPS sued for mistreating children. So is CSHM.
WWASPS expose’ was featured by PBS.
Related:
Crimes and Corruption
Romney, Toture and Teens
Over The GW , by Nick – film about these camps for abuse
Much like the DeRose family built their crooked empire then sold out, the current Small Smiles Dental Centers management created these horribly torture facilities and sold to Universal Health Services. Current patient advocate for Small Smiles Dental Centers came over from UHS to work with her old friends - Angela Newberry
Rick Santorum And Universal Health Services: Presidential Hopeful Serves On Board of Hospital Chain Being Sued By DOJ
Huffinton Post
Attention former residents and employees – the HP wants to hear from you. Email them! jason.cherkis@huffingtonpost.com.
June 7, 2011
WASHINGTON -- Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who announced his bid for president Monday, has spent the past four years serving on the board of Universal Health Services Inc. (UHS), one of the country's largest and most troubled hospital chains.It turns out Santorum may have had a more personal stake in railing against President Barack Obama's signature health care legislation and beating the drum for less government intrusion in our health care system. Both federal and state officials have routinely cited UHS for a seemingly endless number of violations, ranging from Medicaid fraud to patient neglect and abuse. Investigations have uncovered everything from riots to rape to homicide at UHS facilities.
AED REQUIREMENT
201 KAR 8:550, only dentists who perform general anesthesia/deep sedation and moderate sedation would be required to have an automated external defibrillator in their office.
General Dentists and Minimal Sedation permit holders would not be required to have an AED.
*******************************
General Anesthesia/Deep Sedation - A drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients cannot be easily aroused, but respond purposefully following repeated or painful stimulation. The ability to independently maintain ventilatory function may be impaired. Patients may require assistance in maintaining a patent airway and spontaneous ventilation may be inadequate. Cardiovascular function is usually maintained.
Value: $1,329,000
5,746 sq. ft.
1652 Jacobs Drive
Gallatin, Tennessee
Sumner, County
Chad administrator McDuffie assured DHS that Chad was a "nurturing and positive environment." He said the facility had hired more staff and made children's safety a priority. The former owners of Chad also said it was a safe and therapeutic place for children when they handed over the keys to Universal Health in October 2005. "Our goal was to effect treatment in as nonphysical a way as possible," former chief executive officer Michael G. Lindley said. Al Smith, another former top executive with Chad's former owner, said: "Did untoward events happen? Absolutely. But was it a culture? I don't believe so."
DHS staffer Haiying Xi reported, a youngster had been cut on the chin in a restraint, requiring stitches. Chad had not reported this to regulators, DHS learned. Finally, DHS official Stephen Rosenberg wrote to Chad. "The investigation could not determine any pattern for the use of illegal physical restraints," Rosenberg wrote. But children died.
by BYRON HARRIS
Bio | Email
June 8, 2011
Last year, lax state regulations allowed dentists to legally collect nearly $200 million to straighten the teeth of poor children in Texas at taxpayer expense.
That's more than the rest of the United States combined.
Orthodontic treatment for children is generally an elective, cosmetic procedure that many parents spend thousands of dollars on for their children. But Texas pays for orthodontics under Medicaid like no other state in the country.
In 2010, Texas spent $184 million on Medicaid orthodontics.
Medicaid is designed to provide health care for the poor.
To serve as a resource by providing a national forum for exchange, development and dissemination of information to assist dental regulatory boards with their obligation to protect the public.
Values Held by the AADB
AADB values protection of the public whenever it seeks dental health care.
AADB values collaborative relationships within organized dentistry among educators, accreditors, examiners and regulators.
AADB values meeting the needs of all its members.
Really??
I’m hearing is only temporary, hope to reopen in the fall. I hope that is NOT possible by the time fall gets here!
Isn’t Oklahoma where that waterboarding dentist, Megann Scott worked?
Someone found this on the Internet and sent it to me. I felt it absolutely should be reposted as it is yet another picture of what is happening right under our noses and we all need to wake up from our peaceful slumber:
We will soon see a massive influx of foreign-trained dentists. While everything else has been outsourced, the last majorly unaffected areas of the American economy are health care and the service sector. By virtue of the logic that health care not be outsourced, we as a profession were complacent.
2007 $399,000,000
2008 $768,000,000
2009 $961,000,000
2010 $1,235,000,000
In essence, Medicaid expenditures in Texas for dental services have gone up 300% in 4 years. I suppose it’s a case of out of control kids going to sleep with Sippy cups. Or theft on a monumental scale. No wonder every dentist in the country wants to come to Texas to make his/her fortune!
Actually you don’t have to actually be a dentist to profit, just hire one. I’m packing now, look out Texas, here I come.
Section 5 page 6 of Texas Medicaid and CHIP 8th edition – January 2011
Yet today, Texas announced it was “expanding” it’s Medicaid spending for dental care! Texas taxpayers, your Texas government has lost it’s ever lovin’ mind!
Here ya go, Texas, bend over! Oh wait, sorry, you already are bent over, well, stand back up and do it again.
May 29, 2011 4:10 PM CDT Sunday,
May 29, 2011 5:10 PM EST
By DAN SEWELL
Associated Press
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) - Herman Williams came home safely after fighting in the jungles of Vietnam as a Marine. He was shocked to learn four decades later that his military service had again placed him in jeopardy - this time, because he got a tooth pulled.
Williams is among 13,000 U.S. veterans who have been warned in the last two years that their blood should be tested for potentially fatal infections after possible exposures by improper hygiene practices at five VA hospitals in Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Missouri and Tennessee. This Memorial Day finds the Department of Veterans Affairs under political fire and numerous veterans upset after enduring fear and uncertainty over their health.
California Population 36,961,664
Texas Population 24,782,302
Difference 12,179,362
How do you explain this!
How do you explain how one Texas dentist, all by himself, was paid $22 million. This is 1.16 times as much as the entire state of California has budgeted! One dentist!!
Yes, Carlos Navarro, and his Orthodonix center brought home 1.16 times as much of your tax dollars as the whole state of California used.
“Centers that achieved business performance bonuses must verify Compliance criteria, A/R criteria, and supply budget criteria.”
I have a whole lot of problems with the above. Don’t you? First, even having a bonus program structured on production breaks all Compliance criteria!!!! Get this, they are starting a pilot program in one of the Ohio clinics to base the hygienist pay on production.
Second, is the “supply budget criteria”. This is where they don’t change rubber gloves, reuse disposable nose pieces for the Nitrous. Like use only 3 a day!! This is where the tubes used for suction, which are also disposable, are reused throughout the day! This is where the infection starts and this is where this shit needs to end!
It’s a damn shame he’s retiring and not having his dental licenses revoked as it should be.
Friday May 27, 2011
By KELLY METZ
kmetz@MorningJournal.comELYRIA — Dr. Henry Mazorow, the dentist performing oral surgery when a 13-year-old patient became ill and later died, has announced he will voluntarily retire from practicing effective Sept. 1.
Marissa Kingery died from the lack of oxygen to the brain, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office spokesman Powell Caesar said. Powell could not provide further comment about the results, but did say the death was accidental.
Kingery, of Elyria, was having baby teeth removed in Mazorow’s office on Dec. 21, 2010, when she was rushed to Mercy Regional Medical Center. She was later taken to Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital in Cleveland and placed on life support, but never recovered. She died Jan. 3.
Mazorow, who has an office at 209 W. 21st St., Lorain, appeared before the Ohio State Dental Board this week and announced he would be retiring, according to dental board records. While his official retirement date is set for Sept. 1, he has also agreed to limit his dental practice by not administering any form of general anesthesia or conscious sedation to any patient in the interim.
According to the voluntary retirement form, Mazorow made the decision to retire last month.
Mazorow announced he would stop using general anesthesia in January following Kingery’s death, his attorney Ron Mingus has said. Mingus could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Mazorow has been practicing since 1956. There are no disciplinary actions on his record.
Mazorow’s office declined comment yesterday.
Are you a Small Smiles office manager? I’m told you are being graded as we speak.
A’s – you will get a promotion and be called a “Practice Administrator”, I know your dentists are going to love you even more.
B’s- you will be promoted to A’s.
C’s- expect termination
Don’t waste your time and call HR – Brandon Dyson, he’s resigned I’m told.
WFAA TV
Report Byron Harris
May 20, 2011
Illegal dentistry entrenched in North Texas
MESQUITE - Illegal dentistry performed by unlicensed dentists used to happen in back rooms with makeshift equipment, where vulnerable customers gambled on low-quality care.
While the problems with quality are still there, what used to be an underground business is becoming an entrenched business.
Illegal dentistry is now an institution, with thriving permanent clinics practically daring authorities to take action.
Just off Central Expressway in Richardson, a neon "open" sign blinks for new customers. Inside, a dentist from Coahuila, Mexico requires cash up front, even though she's not licensed to practice in Texas or the United States.
In Mesquite, smack in the middle of a residential neighborhood, a three-bedroom house has been an established clinic for five years. It has security fencing, a parking lot and surveillance cameras - in part to insure the safety of the all-cash business. Inside, there are three dentist chairs and patients say at least one X-ray machine.
The property is owned by Rogelio Esparza. His brother, Arturo, said he is a dentist in Mexico, but does not practice here. That does not account for a bag of what appeared to be dental waste found in the parking lot.
In case anyone needs to know anything about her:
ALLISON K. LUKE, JD, CHC *** *th Avenue N. #***
Nashville, TN 37203
(404)***-**** (mobile)
wzetss@r.postjobfree.com
Primary Areas of Expertise
All aspects of healthcare compliance, generally, and strong knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations affecting healthcare providers, facilities and systems, including Federal and State False Claims Acts, Federal Anti-kickback and Stark laws, Medicare and Medicaid Regulations, HIPAA, and others;
Corporate compliance program development and implementation, including Corporate Integrity Agreement implementation; compliance investigations, resolutions, and development/implementation of corrective action plans; development of compliance audit programs, including creation of audit tools, and determination of audit criteria and implementation of compliance audits; policy development and training for healthcare providers; and
Representation of hospitals, healthcare systems, home health agencies, dental practices, and other healthcare providers in compliance investigations before federal and state authorities.
I don’t know why, other than they have not been reading this blog! Otherwise they would know exactly how to set it up!
May 23, 2011
There is a problem with high levels of exposure to Nitrous Oxice. Two studies done along with the ADA showed a higher incidence of hepatic, renal and neuralgic disorders among exposed personnel. More importantly it showed an increase in spontaneous abortions in chairside assistants and the wives of dentists. It also showed an increase in congenital abnormalities in children of assistants. These two studies pointed to a problems for females who were pregnant and working in dental offices where nitrous oxide was used.
Cohen et al., 1980; Brodsky et al., 1981
In another study, Swedish midwives exposed to nitrous oxide showed they had trouble getting pregnant if they were exposed to Nitrous Oxide more than 30 times a month. G Axelsson, G Ahlborg, Jr, L Bodin Occup Environ Med. 1996 June; 53(6): 374–378.
Mom of 6 year-old Plans to Sue VCU Medical Center - wtvr
RICHMOND, VA (WTVR) - The mother of a 6-year-old boy who died after a dental procedure last May says she plans to sue VCU.
"People say it gets easier day by day. No, it doesn't", says Crystal Lewis.
One year later, Lewis, the mother of 6 year-old Jacobi Hill still wonders why a simple dental procedure killed her son.
"It's always going to be a question in the back of my mind like, what happened, but I guess we'll never know until I get to the bottom of things", she says.
An Intelligible Principle To Restrain Unelected Government Officials
Leave out the adjectives and adverbs and it’s informative and shows exactly what is happening from Congress all the way down to your local City Counsel, stopping at state agencies and boards, like your state Dental Board, along the way.
By Kellie Woodhouse kwoodhouse@patuxent.com
The state Medical Examiner’s Office is investigating the death of a 17-year-old Marriotts Ridge High School junior, who died last week after complications arose during routine wisdom tooth surgery.
Jennifer “Jenny” Michelle Olenick, of Woodstock, an aspiring professional singer, went to a Columbia oral surgeon on March 28 for a tooth extraction procedure and went into cardiac arrest during surgery, her mother said.
She was taken by ambulance to Howard County General Hospital and then flown to Johns Hopkins Hospital, in Baltimore, where she died 10 days later, on April 6.
Cathy Garger, Olenick’s mother, said her daughter’s sudden death was baffling.
“Her heart tests at Hopkins showed normal functioning of her heart. She was in the best of health,” said Garger, who accompanied her daughter to the surgery with Olenick’s father, John Olenick.
Dr. Domenick Coletti, the Columbia-based oral surgeon who performed the operation with the assistance of an anesthesiologist, said he was “deeply saddened” by Olenick’s death.
Posted at 11:48 AM ET, 05/13/2011
By Maria Glod
A Loudoun couple who allegedly ran a dental office in the basement of their Leesburg home have been charged with practicing dentistry without a license, officials said.
Nelson A. Castro-Diaz, 47, and Matilde A. Lindarte-Vargas, 35, had a full-service office in their home in the 1200 block of Tennessee Drive that included a dental chair, waiting room and a receptionist desk, according to Loudoun Sheriff’s officials. Authorities said the office catered to the Latino community.
The couple told investigators they had worked as dentists in their native country, according to sheriff’s spokesman Kraig Troxell. Troxell said he didn’t know what country the couple were from.
Castro-Diaz and Lindarte-Vargas were released on their own recognizance, authorities said.
I can’t answer that.
But I can tell you that the nasal spray of “midazolam” along with nitrous oxide gas- inhalation sedation (IHS) - was studied on 100 children between the ages of 3 and 13, who were originally referred for “general anesthesia” and 96% of the required dental treatment was completed successfully. There was no need for general anesthesia and parents were present with the children during the procedure.
The National Institute of Health recommends this technique instead of Dental General Anesthesia. (DGA)
You can read the study for yourself here:
The safety and efficacy of intranasal midazolam se... [SAAD Dig. 2010] - PubMed result
Of course skilled dentists and staff as well as life saving equipment and medication is a must!
I can tell you general anesthesia is close to death, and I’ve lost count of the number of children who have died in the last two years. (8) and rising.
I can tell you seven studies of Inhalation sedation, using nothing but nitrous oxide (along with local numbing), without the nasal spray have taken place. These studies also used children who had been referred for general anesthesia.
The studies were reported to have a “remarkable degree of consistency in the reported treatment effectiveness despite other differences in patients”.
What were the results?
Washington State HB 1493–Signed Into Law April 22, 2011, Effective July 22, 2011
What is it?
It provides greater transparency into health professional’s disciplinary actions taken by state licensing boards, such as the Washington State Department of Health Dental Board.
HB - 1493
The Original Bill – 1.5 Simple Straightforward pages of meaningful legislation
The Final Bill – Instead of watering down it seems to have been strengthened
The Bill had NO impact on the state budget. None. Nada.
There was a substitute bill presented by the Senate. Compared to the Original Bill:
On March 1, 2011 the Third reading of the bill took place in the House and a vote was called. Twenty-nine (29) representatives voted no, all Republican.
They are:
| Gary Alexander - R Jan Angel - R Mike Armstrong - R Katrina Asay - R Barbara Bailey - R Vincent Buys -R Cary Condotta - R Larry Crouse - R Bruce Dammeier - R Richard DeBolt - R Susan Fagan - R Larry Haler - R Mark Hargrove -R Paul Harris - R Norm Johnson - R | Brad Klippert - R Joel Kretz - R Dan Kristiansen - R Jim McCune - R Jason Overstreet - R Kevin Parker - R Kirk Pearson - R Charles Ross - R Matt Shea - R Joe Schmick - R Shelly Short - R Norma Smith - R David Taylor - R Hans Zeiger - R Bill Hinkle - R was “excused” |
By April 7, it was voted on by the Senate. One “Lone Ranger” Senator voted no. Who you ask? That would be Senator Doug Ericksen (R) of Washington state.
There is another child death for 2011, I believe that makes 4 so far. Miciah Bonzani from outside Pittsburgh died May 5, 2011. Story plus video at the link below.
Mr. Meyer is their talking head
So who is Don Meyer? Well according to Source Watch, he helped craft the Pentagon’s Public Affairs strategy on September 11, 2001 after the WTC attacks. “Meyer devised public affairs tactics to support military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
In May 2004 he left Donald Rumsfeld side and returned to H&K (Hill & Knowlton as VP. Meyer worked to promote the United Arab Emirates owned company, Dubia International Capital. Funny how he now promotes another Arab company, Arcapita who owns the CSHM/Small Smiles Dental Centers. He also spent 6 years on Capital Hill.
No big surprise is it? Midlevel care providers were simply out lobbied.
Full Medscape Story:
May 3, 2011 — After making strides in recent years, advocates for midlevel oral health provider programs ran into setbacks this year in both state legislatures and the US Congress.
The law allocating spending for the US government through September 30, 2011, prohibits spending on alternative oral health provider pilot programs, and some bills in state legislatures have stalled or died in committee in recent months.
Much of this legislation has pitted hygienists associations and oral health foundations against the largest organizations of dentists.
At the national level, proponents are pushing to fund the "alternative dental health care providers demonstration projects" authorized by last year's healthcare reform law. President Barack Obama has asked Congress to fund 6 such programs with $800,000 each in 2012.
The midlevel providers in these pilot programs could be community dental health coordinators, advance practice dental hygienists, independent dental hygienists, supervised dental hygienists, primary care physicians, dental therapists, or dental health aides.
They would be evaluated for their ability to "increase access to dental health care services in rural and other underserved communities."
Congress debated funding the pilot programs while working on the continuing resolution that allocated money for the US government through September, but in the end they specifically prohibited such funding.
In a written statement, American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) President Caryn Solie, RDH, said her organization was working with "more than 60 others" to get the funding for 2012 "and beyond."
"ADHA is disappointed with the inclusion of a provision in the Continuing Resolution prohibiting funding for the Alternative Dental Health Care Provider Demonstration Grants this year," she said.
She argued that the programs would allow hygienists to help Americans who currently are not able to get oral healthcare.
The American Dental Association (ADA), in contrast, has lobbied against the pilot programs. "We have a long-standing position against any pilots for any program that involves nondentists doing irreversible procedures," said Matthew J Neary, DDS, a New York City periodontist who chairs the ADA's Council on Governmental Affairs.
He said there are better ways to improve access to oral health, such as preventive health programs and dental residency programs in underserved communities.
The ADA does support one model of new oral healthcare provider: the community dental health coordinator, trained to help people in underserved communities navigate through the healthcare system, Dr. Neary said.
However, that proposal falls short of a new practitioner "midlevel" between a hygienist and a dentist, as advocated by the ADHA and some activist groups.
"The more professionals look into folks' mouths and provide education the better, but the fact is that folks need treatment," said David Jordan, director of the Dental Access Project of Community Catalyst.
With funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Community Catalyst is organizing coalitions in 5 states to advocate for midlevel providers who can prepare and place fillings and extract teeth, in addition to doing educational and preventive work.
Such providers — dental health aide therapists — are already doing this kind of work in Alaska through a federal program for indigenous people, and dental therapists are also being trained along similar lines in Minnesota as a result of a 2009 law.
Community Catalyst supports new dental therapist legislation in 5 other states, Jordan said. He gave the following overview of state legislation:
- Kansas: A dental therapist bill is under consideration in both the state House of Representatives (HB 2280) and the (Senate SB 192).
- Washington: HB 1310 is stalled in the House of Representatives Healthcare and Wellness Committee and is unlikely to be heard until next session.
- New Mexico: HB 495 bill died in the business committee of the House of Representatives.
- Vermont: HB 398 is in the House of Representatives Human Services Committee, but is unlikely to be heard until next year.
- Ohio: A bill has not yet come to the legislature, but on April 27 a public opinion poll funded by Catalyst showed two thirds of Ohio voters in favor of starting a dental therapist program in that state.
Although the group could not claim any clear victories, "We're happy that there was attention, and the need was brought to light," said Jordan.
