AAOMS
Volume 1, Issue 2
March /April 2003
In This Issue
In My View .........................2
Capitol Connection............6
Health Policy ......................7
Practice Management
Matters.............................12
Coding Corner.................13
Treasurer’s Account ..........17
Calendar ..........................18
News Briefs
PAGE 3
We offer some travel tips to
consider as you make your
plans for this year’s annual
meeting in Toronto.
PAGE 4
Approximately one-third
of new dentists are women,
but where are the women
in OMS? Meet a few of
them here.
PAGE 9
Avoid charges of patient
abandonment. The
Commission on Professional
Conduct offers suggestions
for properly ending the
OMS/patient relationship.
PAGE 14
Nominations are being
accepted for AAOMS
officer positions.
TODAY
AAOMS Provides OMSF $120,000 to
A publication of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Support Clinical Surgery Fellowships
Goal one of the AAOMS Strategic
Plan pledges to “promote competency
in oral and maxillofacial surgery
through pre- and postdoctoral
education.” It was with this goal in
mind that the AAOMS Board of
Trustees voted to disburse a
supplemental $120,000 so that four
clinical surgery fellowships could be
fully funded in 2003. Their
commitment to research echoes the
Foundation’s belief that research is
essential to the future success of the
specialty, and that in the absence of
new scientific and clinical information,
practitioners will be limited in their
ability to expand the type and quality
of patient care they provide.
OMSF Executive Director Dr. James
Kelly was particularly pleased to
learn the Foundation would be able
to fully support the fellowships in
2003. “The educational fellowships
that the OMSF offers have been very
effective in providing enhanced
surgical skills to the supported
fellows,” he noted. “Each fellow is
obligated to serve three years in an
Brevital is Back!
Brevital® is back in production and on
its way to suppliers’ shelves after an
absence of almost one year. Like an
early spring thaw, the return of this
fast-acting anesthesia drug is welcome
news for many oral and maxillofacial
surgery offices around the US who
sought alternative therapies as they
exhausted their supplies of Brevital.
According to King Pharmaceuticals
Public Relations Director John Cole,
the first shipments of Brevital were
to leave the manufacturing plant
Wednesday, March 26, and reach
distributors within 24 to 48 hours.
ASI approved partner Southern
Anesthesia & Surgical, one of the
largest distributors of Brevital and
other drugs to oral and maxillofacial
surgery offices, is filling in-house
orders relative to quantities received
as soon as their shipments are
delivered. Southern Anesthesia &
academic position following
completion of his/her fellowship year.
As a result they have been able to
pass on the clinical perspectives
gained via their fellowship experience
to numerous OMS residents.”
Dr. Robert A. Ord, professor of
dentistry and head of the Division of
Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery at the
University of Maryland School of
Medicine, is the program director of
the University of Maryland
Maxillofacial Oncology Fellowship,
one of the research programs that will
benefit from AAOMS support. “The
shortage of academic surgeons in the
specialty is an acute problem that can
only be addressed in the long term by
academics making this career path
more attractive to trainees.” He
notes, “One of the functions of our
fellowship is to train future teachers
and show them how rewarding
academic surgery can be. Without the
financial support from AAOMS and
the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Foundation these fellowships would
not be possible. If we are going to
Surgical will continue taking and
filling orders as product is received
from King Pharmaceuticals. You can
reach their customer service
department at 800/624-5926.
Brevital’s availability, which became
compromised shortly after Eli Lilly
& Company sold the drug’s
production and marketing rights to
King Pharmaceuticals in 2001, was
further exacerbated by the FDA’s
prolonged but necessary inspection
and review process. As uncomfortable
as the delay was, everyone concerned
agrees that without the help of the
AAOMS Committee on Anesthesia,
the staff of the association’s
Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
and Education and Professional
Affairs divisions, and the efforts of
the many members who contacted
members of Congress and the FDA
about the problem, the inspection of
the King Pharmaceutical facility
grow oak trees from our acorns we
need the water that AAOMS and the
foundation provide.”
In addition to the University of
Maryland’s program, the following
fellowship programs will now be fully
funded as a result of the AAOMS
Board of Trustees’ action: Legacy
Portland Hospitals, Head and Neck
Surgery, Eric Dierks, DMD, MD,
program director; Posnick Center
for Facial Plastic Surgery,
Craniofacial/Maxillofacial/Cleft Lip-
Palate/Facial Plastic Surgery, Jeffrey
C. Posnick, DMD, MD, program
director; and Facial Esthetic Surgery,
T. William Evans, DDS, MD,
program director.
The areas of surgical practice on
which the fellowships focus, such
as cosmetic and head and neck
surgery, are defined within the scope
of practice in AAOMS’s Parameters
and Pathways: Clinical Practice
Guidelines for Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery (ParPath ’01). ■
would never have been placed on the
FDA’s expedited approval list.
In addition to thanking our members
for their activism during this difficult
time, AAOMS would particularly like
to acknowledge the efforts of Georgia
Congressman Charlie Norwood,
Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon and
the late Senator Paul Wellstone of
Minnesota. Without their continued
calls to the FDA and King
Pharmaceuticals, this happy ending
might not have been possible.
As we go forward, you can depend
on AAOMS, its committees and staff
to continue monitoring regulatory
and other practice-altering activities
on your behalf, so that you may
concentrate on providing your
patients with the benefits of the most
advanced and life-enhancing oral and
maxillofacial surgery practice of any
nation in the world. ■
AAOMS Today • March/April 2003 1
 AAOMS TODAY IN MY VIEW
Volume 1, Issue 2
March/April 2003
AAOMS Today is published six times a year
by the American Association of Oral and A Specialty Under Attack
Maxillofacial Surgeons.
Unless specifically stated otherwise, the opinions
expressed and statements made in the AAOMS I do not mean to sound like an Surgery. Upon learning of these
Today do not imply endorsements by, nor official
policy of, AAOMS. alarmist, but I do mean to sound an advocacy efforts, I requested a
Daniel M. Laskin, DDS, MS, Editor alarm—a very loud alarm. Oral and meeting between the officers of
Robert C. Rinaldi, PhD, CAE, Executive Director
Janice K. Teplitz, Associate Executive Director
maxillofacial surgery is currently in AAOMS and the American College of
Janie K. Dunham, Manager, Editorial and Production the midst of a battle on numerous Surgeons. This critical meeting is
Julie A. Carr, Senior Staff Associate, fronts with groups outside our scheduled for late April.
Design/Production
specialty. We are on the verge of
AAOMS losing political ground as well as As activity escalates in the state
9700 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue clinical practice areas that we thought regulatory area, we now also see
Rosemont, Illinois 60018-5701
847/678-6200, fax 847/678-6286
had been secured long ago. But, as trends developing in the hospital
www.aaoms.org has become blatantly clear, all things arena. Efforts to block privileges President Larry W. Nissen, DDS
are subject to change. We extend to all OMSs,
OFFICERS
Larry W. Nissen, DDS, President
now find that even ...events are in motion regardless of degree or and H&P privileges. A recent
321/452-5500 800/625-2474 longstanding alliances do that, left unchecked, training. Individual meeting with JCAHO staff appears
Fax: 321/452-2125
E-Mail Address: jwsrgn@aol.com not command the loyalty battles for specific to have solved this concern, but we
280 N. Sykes Creek Parkway, Suite C could affect every
Merritt Island, Florida 32953 they once did. Much like privileges based on have not seen the agreed-to revised
Elgan P. Stamper, DDS, President-Elect the ripple effect of a aspect of our specialty. education, training, wording as this issue of AAOMS
818/240-1805 Fax: 818/240-2844
E-Mail Address: epstamper@aol.com stone tossed into water, experience and current Today goes to press.
1370 Foothill Blvd., #200
La Canada, CA 91011
events are in motion that, left competence have been a way of life
Daniel J. Daley, Jr., DDS, MS, Vice President unchecked, could affect every aspect for oral and maxillofacial surgeons Even those who do not maintain
610/623-4211 Fax: 610/623-2850 of our specialty. and we have had extensive supporting active hospital practices would not
E-Mail Address: daleyjro@aol.com
2300 Garrett Road documentation on our side. Most remain unscathed. Restricted hospital
Drexel Hill Medical Bldg
Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania 19026-1102 You have read periodically within persuasive has been the Joint privileges would ultimately affect
Jay P. Malmquist, DMD, Treasurer these pages of challenges to OMS Commission on Accreditation of emergency room transfer agreements.
503/292-8824 Fax: 503/297-7810
E-Mail Address: jmalmqu950@aol.com scope of practice in various states. Healthcare
5415 S.W. Westgate Drive, Ste. L-7
Portland, OR 97221-2409 Such challenges are becoming more Organizations’ Many within our specialty And so it goes – until
Boyd J. Tomasetti, DMD, frequent and appear more and more (JCAHO) are choosing to withdraw a narrowed scope of
Immediate Past President
303/798-4553 Fax: 303/798-2208 to be coordinated on a national Accreditation Manual practice carries back
E-Mail Address: bjtrmoms@aol.com rather than state level. I know that in for Hospital Medical from trauma call; some are to the ability of our
7889 S. Lincoln Court, Suite 201
Littleton, Colorado 80122 the beginning it was easy to discount Staff Standards. For even electively relinquishing accredited residency
Robert C. Rinaldi, PhD, CAE,
Executive Director and Secretary
the importance of these actions; they over 20 years, the hospital privileges. programs to meet the
847/678-6200 Fax: 847/678-4302 were viewed as applicable only to the standards have established training
E-Mail Address: brinaldi@aaoms.org
9700 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue minority who perform cosmetic promoted the objective granting of standards. A situation which then
Rosemont, Illinois 60018-5701
procedures—-no big deal since the hospital privileges, and even provided leads to the undesirable outcome of
Larry W. Nissen, DDS
Speaker Pro-Tem, House of Delegates rest of the specialty’s scope remains specific mention (and thus, fewer accredited programs or revised
undisturbed, right? Wrong. These recognition) of oral and maxillofacial (read “lowered”) training standards.
TRUSTEES efforts have progressed to challenging surgeons as qualified to admit
Lee D. Pollan, DMD, MS, District I and even blocking adoption of the patients and perform the H&P on Throughout the history of our
585/594-1122 Fax: 585/594-1870
E-Mail: ldpoms74@aol.com American Dental Association’s (ADA) them. specialty, trauma management has
4415 Buffalo Road
North Chili, NY 14514-1024 definition of dentistry and have the been the foundation of our presence
Edwin W. Slade, Jr., DMD, JD, potential for far-reaching effects on JCAHO standards, however, are in hospitals and the evolution of our
District II
215/345-7373 Fax: 215/345-0242 both what we practice and where. under revision for 2004 release. contemporary scope of practice. It
E-mail: eslade@comcast.net
101 Progress Drive
One of the more disheartening Currently, the proposed revisions allowed us to develop and refine our
Doylestown, PA 18901-2509 developments has been the American reflect much less prescriptive critical care and medical management
Donald L. Seago, DDS, District III
601/366-7324 Fax: 601/366-0228
College of Surgeons’ (a longstanding standards that would leave more of skills as well as interact with
E-Mail Address: dlseago@aol.com friend of the specialty) development the internal processes to the physician colleagues. These physicians
971 Lakeland Drive, Ste 225
Jackson, Mississippi 39216-4609 of an advocacy kit that discretion of individual were our supporters when we
W. Mark Tucker, DDS, District IV “deals with the scope of As activity escalates in hospitals, provided they requested admitting and H&P
813/972-2000 Fax: 813/978-5864
E-Mail Address: w.tucker@med.va.gov practice – specifically meet the regulations in privileges. Our early facial trauma
13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd
efforts by single degree the state regulatory the various states and management skills and the
Tampa, Florida 33612
R Lynn White, DDS, District V oral surgeons (DDS) to area, we now also see that there is no development of innovative
Austin OMS Associates
7800 Mopac Expressway expand their scope into trends developing in challenge to the scope of reconstructive procedures,
Suite 270 cosmetic surgery of the practice. The word particularly in times of military
Austin, TX 78759 the hospital arena.
512/246-7949 Fax: 512/ 346-9427 head and neck by “challenge” is not yet conflict, taught us the requisite
E-mail: rlynnwhite@austin.rr.com
Richard A. Crinzi, DDS, MS, District VI
legislatively redefining the practice of defined. Could it include a dental surgical skills to perform
425/881-3255 Fax: 425/885-1366 dentistry.” Included in this kit are board seeking a legislative change of orthognathic surgery and, more
E-Mail: drcrinzi@aol.com
15955 NE 85th Street, Suite 104 various statements to dental boards the definition of dentistry? If so, recently, facial cosmetic surgery.
Redmond, WA 98052-3550
that understate the training of oral AAOMS and our entire membership Many within our specialty are
AAOMS ASSOCIATE and maxillofacial surgeons and could be battling 5,000 accredited choosing to withdraw from trauma
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS overstate that patient safety is their hospitals in 50 jurisdictions. call; some are even electively
Randi V. Andresen, Advanced Education
and Professional Affairs, ext. 4337 primary concern. I must point out relinquishing hospital privileges. To
Scott C. Farrell, Business and Operations, that this is a collaborative effort of The proposed standards have do so for selfish or economic reasons
ext. 4352
Laura M. Jelinek, Continuing Education
the American College of Surgeons eliminated the specific language is, in my judgment, a breech of
and Editorial Affairs, ext.4309 (ACS), the American Society of relative to H&Ps by oral and professional responsibility. It also
Carol L. O’Brien, Esq, Advocacy and
Governmental Affairs, ext. 4351
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons maxillofacial surgeons, and would shows disrespect for the many of our
Janice K. Teplitz, Communications and and the American Academy of leave the door open to blanket specialty’s pioneers whose activities
Publications, ext.4336
Otolaryngology, Head and Neck exclusion of OMSs from admitting Continued on page 9
2 AAOMS Today • March/April 2003
 Join Us in Toronto!
Vertical Augmentation, Full-Face Cosmetic
OMS Lead Off Annual Meeting Symposia
Concurrent symposia on challenges in
vertical augmentation and full-face
cosmetic oral and maxillofacial
surgery lead off the major program
schedule for the AAOMS 85th
Annual Meeting, Scientific Sessions
and Exhibition. The meeting will
convene September 10-13, 2003 in
Toronto, Ontario, Canada and will
be held in conjunction with the
Canadian Association of Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgeons, which is
celebrating its 50th anniversary
this year.
These two symposia, which will be
held from 8:00 am to 10:00 am on
Thursday, September 11, are two of
the 11 major sessions planned for
the annual meeting. Other symposia
topics include distraction
osteogenesis, imaging advances,
impacted non-third molar teeth,
maxillary reconstruction, obstructive
sleep apnea, anesthesia techniques
and pharmacology, maxillofacial
trauma, pediatric oral and
maxillofacial pathology, implant
reconstruction in the growing patient,
and a morbidity and mortality
conference on anesthesia. Surgical
and practice management clinics,
surgical mini-lectures, abstract and
poster sessions, OMS staff programs
and an extensive exhibition will
round out the week.
Watch for the advance program and
registration information coming to
you in May!
Embrace the future! Register early for
this exciting educational event!
As you make your annual
meeting plans, please consider
the following:
Citizenship and Immigration
Requirements for Visitors
If you are from the United States, the
following applies to you;
• Citizens or permanent residents of
the US are strongly encouraged to
carry a passport or visa for
admittance to Canada; a valid or
expired US passport or an original
or certfied copy of a birth
certificate or naturalization
certificate are necessary to return
to the United States. If you do not
carry a passport, you will need to
carry evidence of citizenship, such
as a state birth certificate, a
certificate of birth abroad,
certificate of citizenship, or
certificate of naturalization. If
these documents do not contain a
photograph, you may also be
asked for a driver’s license or other
identification. Permanent residents
of the US who are not citizens
should carry their Resident Alien
Card (I-151 or I-551).
Returning to the
United States
• The following forms of
identification are acceptable as
proof of US citizenship:
• A valid or expired US passport;
or
• An original or certified copy of a
birth certificate or naturalization
certificate.
If you are from a country other than
the US, the following applies to you;
• If you are a resident from another
country, you need a valid passport
or travel document. Citizens of
some countries also need visas to
enter Canada. Visitors should ask
about visa requirements and valid
travel documents at the Canadian
embassy, consulate, or mission in
their home country before
departing.
Things to See and Do
in Toronto
Toronto, the capital of Ontario, is the
largest city in Canada and fifth
largest in North America. Named by
the Huron people for “meeting
place,” Toronto is a vibrant and
exciting metropolis.
AAOMS Day on
the Hill Canceled
Due to the current political
climate and the uncertainty
surrounding travel, in particular
to the Washington, DC area, the
AAOMS Board of Trustees
decided to err on the side of
caution and cancelled the 2003
AAOMS Day on the Hill meeting
scheduled for Wednesday, March
Take a stroll along the world’s longest
26. Nearly 70 doctors planned to
street, Yonge Street, or zip to the top
participate in this year’s event
of the CN Tower, the world’s tallest
and meet with more than 100
building. Toronto offers a wide array
members of Congress. Scheduled
of unique attractions and fascinating
speakers included US Senator
museums, such as the Royal Ontario
Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), US Rep
Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario
Mark Kirk (R-Illinois) and US
and Casa Loma. Toronto is also
Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Georgia).
famous for terrific shopping. From
AAOMS and OMSPAC planned
renowned shopping galleries such as
to co-host a reception and dinner
Eaton Centre, to the ‘down under’
for all participants on Tuesday,
shops in the Underground City, you’ll
March 25, which would have
be able to take advantage of the
included a special presentation to
favorable exchange rate on the
US Rep Charlie Norwood
Canadian dollar.
(R-Georgia) of the AAOMS 2002
Legislator of the Year Award, and
For a different kind of tour, indulge
keynote speaker and political
in the amphibious Hippo Tours. This
pundit Charlie Cook. We
continuous journey on both land and
appreciate the preparation and
water offers 90-minute guided tours
dedication of this year’s Day on
of the downtown sites and the
the Hill doctors, who
magnificent waterways of Ontario
participated in two preparatory
Place. Ontario Place is a family
conference calls and scheduled
entertainment complex featuring
their own congressional
rides, attractions, IMAX films and
appointments. AAOMS
great live entertainment. Be sure to
Advocacy Staff is already
visit Nathan Phillips Square, the
working to schedule next year’s
official heart of the city. If you have
Day on the Hill and will advise
the urge to roam, Niagara Falls is a
members as soon as a date is
short one-and-a-half hour drive—
chosen. ■
a spectacular site to see if you’ve
never had the pleasure.
For more information, please visit:
www.torontotourism.com
Currency
Most Canadian businesses will accept
US currency. International currency
exchanges are available at the
Pearson International Airport,
downtown banks and outlets
throughout the city. Meeting
registration fees are in US dollars and
registration must be paid in US funds.
Goods and Services
Tax Rebate
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is
a 7% tax that is charged on most
goods and services sold or provided
in Canada. Foreign visitors to Canada
can apply for a rebate on the GST
that is paid on accommodations (up
to 30 nights per visit), and on goods
purchased in Canada and exported
within 60 days of the purchase.
AAOMS Today • March/April 2003 3
I
n the specialty of oral and
maxillofacial surgery,
Elaine Stuebner, DDS, is a
pioneer in almost the same
sense as the women who helped
drive wagon trains and mule
teams across a brave, new
world.
A Chicago OMS for more than
40 years and the first female
member of AAOMS, Stuebner
encountered resistance when she
began her professional training
shortly after the end of World
War II. “In dental school I was
told, ’You’re taking a space from
a veteran,’ ” she recalls. “I was
told people wouldn’t [refer]
patients to a woman, that it’s a
man’s profession, and no one
would trust me.”
The negative comments, says
Stuebner, “were just enough to
aggravate me, but not enough to
discourage me. It made me
resolved to enter the field.”
Stuebner estimates that less than
1% of the students were women
during her days in dental school.
Actually, the proportion may
have been a little higher. An
article in a 2001 special issue of
The Compendium of Continuing
Education in Dentistry indicated
that in the 1920s, about 3% of
practicing dentists were women.
By 1999, according to the
American Dental Association
(ADA), 15% of all
professionally active dentists
were women.
4 AAOMS Today • March/April 2003
One-third of new
dentists are women
An increase from 3% to 15% in
nearly three-quarters of a century
probably won’t elicit a chorus of
“wow” from women’s
groups across the country.
But consider the shift in
gender balance in the
ADA’s figures for “new”
dentists, those who
graduated from dental
school in 1990 or later: in
1999, 33.5% were
women.
In fact, women appear to Darlene M. Chan, DDS
be the future of dentistry.
Figures in the ADA census indicate
that roughly 75% of women in
private practice dentistry are under
the age of 45, while nearly two-
thirds, or 63.5%, of men in private
practice dentistry are 45 or older. In
2000, 37% of new dental students in
the United States were women.
Women also make up about a third
of students in advanced dental
education, according to the ADA.
But is the gender shift in dentistry
affecting oral and maxillofacial
surgery, too? Not to the same extent,
at least not now. OMS represents a
small piece of the whole of dentistry,
and it takes time for trends to trickle
down. In 1999, the ADA figures
show that 2% of the nearly 30,000
new private practice dentists
specialized in OMS, and overall,
3.7% of private practice dentists are
OMSs. Among women in private
“It is not just men who raise barriers.”
JULIE GASKILL, DDS
practice dentistry, only 0.8% are their biological clock,” says Seattle
OMSs, compared with 4.2% of men OMS Darlene Chan, DDS.
in private practice. AAOMS
membership statistics show that of Chan is among many women who
5,318 active fellows and members, have made personal and family
154 are women. During sacrifices for the specialty. “I trained
the past five years, Mary in Oregon, so I only saw my family
“I’ve heard various groups actually search out women
as partners because they attact certain patients...
who may be more receptive to a woman.”
DARLENE CHAN, DDS
Allaire, AAOMS manager on weekends,” she says. When her
of advanced education and youngest daughter was born 14 years
resident affairs, estimates ago, Chan didn’t take much of a
the number of women maternity leave. “I did an open
entering OMS residency reduction of a fractured mandible
training has increased by 2%. three days after delivery,” she notes.
Residency training, says Allaire, is “a “While I was in the hospital, there
long, hard four years. It’s just not for was a walkway between my second
everyone.” office and the hospital. I walked to
my office in my robe to check
messages.”
Long residency
is a drawback Julie Gaskill, DDS, found that after
Leaders in OMS cite a couple of spending four to five years
reasons why more women aren’t establishing her Bowling Green, KY,
attracted to the specialty. “One of the OMS practice, becoming pregnant in
biggest drawbacks for women is the her mid-30s wasn’t as easy as she
time commitment of the residency thought it would be. “I had my child
program,” says AAOMS Immediate with in vitro fertilization,” she says.
Past President Boyd J. Tomasetti, “But I didn’t want to take off my
DMD. Completing residency at age
second year in practice to have a
30 or 31—32 or 33 for those who child.” She took a brief maternity
pursue a dual MD degree—and then leave, then brought her baby to work
taking a few years after residency to so she could continue to breast-feed.
establish herself in practice doesn’t “I didn’t miss a trick,” she says.
leave a woman OMS much time to
start a family. “We’re When Chan attends
asking women to defeat professional meetings, she
tells her male colleagues
Julie Gaskill, DDS

what an advantage it is to have a
wife. “I don’t mean a spouse,” she
explains. “I mean all the things a wife
means—a wife is the campfire around
which everything in the family
happens.”
“Being the first [woman in her residency program]
was a great experience and honor. I was treated
positively, like everyone else.”
CYNTHIA TRENTACOSTI-FRANCK, DDS, MS
After Eve Bluestein, MD, DDS, set up
a solo OMS practice in Louisville,
CO, and gave birth to two sons
within two years, her attorney
husband left his law firm to work
independently and become their
family’s “campfire.” Says Bluestein,
“He pulls everything together. He’s
raising our kids part time and they’re
in day care part time. Most
relationships are not like that—I’m
blessed.”
Even so, Bluestein agrees that the
time it takes to complete training is
an obstacle for many women who
might consider OMS as a career. “I
think women in dentistry are looking
for a field that is not as demanding
[as OMS], time-wise,”
she says. “It’s incredibly
difficult in any surgical
residency, whether it’s
OMS, ENT, plastics, or
general surgery.”
Comfort zone
Given their small
numbers in the specialty,
how comfortable is it for
women to pursue training
and careers in OMS?
AAOMS Vice President Daniel J.
Daley Jr., DDS, MS, acknowledges
that it hasn’t always been easy. “I
can’t say that I heard this specifically
verbalized to me, but in the past I
think there has been an attitude that
maybe this is not the specialty for
women,” says Daley. In the mid- to
late-1970s, Daley was an adviser to a
dental fraternity. “There were a
number of people in that organization
who felt that women shouldn’t be in
dentistry.”
Daley and Tomasetti say they believe
that today, women in OMS aren’t
treated any differently than their male
colleagues. “I think women feel
accepted by their peers—they get a lot
a referrals and there is a lot of
collegiality,” says Tomasetti. “There
has been change in a meaningful
way,” Daley adds.
“It probably was viewed a generation
ago, when Elaine Stuebner started
out, as an old boy’s network,” says
Andrea Schreiber, DMD, who teaches
full time at New York University and
has a part-time OMS practice.
“When I was in dental school in the
late-1970s and early-1980s, there
were male mentors who encouraged
me.” She says that during the years
she was in training, the fact that
women were pursuing careers in
dentistry and OMS was looked upon
as “unusual but not impossible.”
But that’s not to say Schreiber’s career
has been untouched by the “old boy’s
network” way of thinking. When she
applied to residency programs, one
interviewer asked what assurances
she could provide that she wouldn’t
leave the program to get married and
have children. Insulted, Schreiber
Elaine A. Stuebner, DDS, the
first female AAOMS member,
received the William F.
Harrigan Award from the
Bellevue Hospital Alumni
Association in December
2001.
walked out of the interview. “I didn’t
want to train there,” she says.
Like many of her female colleagues,
Cynthia Trentacosti-Franck, DDS,
MS, was the first woman in the OMS
residency program at her educational
institution, The Ohio State University.
She completed her training there in
1994, and she enjoyed being a
trailblazer. “Being the first was a great
experience and honor,” she says. “I
was treated positively, like everyone
else. The screening and interview
process to get into the program are so
intense that if they choose you, they
will be receptive to you.”
Other women have had less positive
experiences. Gaskill finished her
residency in 1989, an associateship in
1990 and opened her practice in
1991. For a number of years, Gaskill
Active AAOMS
fellows and members
was the only woman OMS in 6000
Kentucky. “It wasn’t until I was
president of the state society of OMS 5000 5,318
that a few people recognized, hey, this
person has a brain,” she says. 4000
Generally, Gaskill says she feels 3000
women are discouraged in OMS, and
that it’s not just the men who raise 2000
barriers. “Maybe I was naïve,” she
says. “I knew there was a good old 1000
boy’s network, but I thought there 154
0
would be a bond among the women, Active Female
even with general dentists, but there Members Members
isn’t. There isn’t one woman dentist
in my area that will refer to me. My
best referral source is the patients.” Female
practicing dentists
15%
False bravado vs true
15%
competency
12%
In fact, women in OMS appear to be
split into two distinct camps. Some
feel that even mentioning the 9%
differences between men and women
in the specialty is unnecessary, that it 6%
will suggest women be treated
differently when equality is the goal.
3%
Others say there are inherent
differences in men and women that 3%
not only should be recognized, but 0%
1920s 1999
appreciated.
“I’ve heard that various groups Private practice dentists
actively search out women as partners under age 45
because they attract certain patients,” 80%
says Chan. “Children and individuals 75%
70%
who have had a bad experience with
a male practitioner may be more 60%
receptive to a woman. Men have a
50%
different way of approaching patient
care in some aspects from a woman 40%
because of the socialization that 36.5%
30%
women receive.”
20%
Gaskill says surgical training often 10%
attracts assertive, aggressive
personalities. While the rigors of 0%
Women Men
training may encourage camaraderie
among hard-charging men, she says it
can cause some women to become
harsh. “You don’t have to look and
act like a man to be in a male-
dominated field,” she says.
Chan says students and residents
develop perceptions of what is
expected of them in the training
“By the numbers, there is a definite male dominance,
but there are unlimited opportunites for women.”
ANDREA SCHREIBER, DMD
environment. “There is a certain
bravado that goes with any surgical
training,” she says. “But there is a
difference between false bravado and
attitude and true competency, and
Continued on page 11
AAOMS Today • March/April 2003 5
 Capitol Connection
Federal Issues
Medicare
On February 13, Congress
approved an appropriations
bill (HJ Res. 2) to provide
$54 billion to increase Medicare
reimbursement to physicians over
a 10-year period. Without this
increase, services paid under the
Medicare physician payment
schedule after March 1 would
have been cut by 4.4%. The
additional funds also provide a
1.6% increase for these services for
the remainder of 2003. The bill
also requires the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS) to correct errors in the
Medicare reimbursement formula
to address the use of inaccurate
data in past years. President Bush
signed the bill on February 20. ■
State Issues
Negative Scope of Practice Bill Derailed in South Carolina
A quick response by several OMSs in
South Carolina curtailed
advancement of a detrimental House
bill that could have significantly
limited the scope of practice of OMSs
in that state. South Carolina House
Bill 3421 would have amended the
Dental Practice Act to limit
procedures to those “relating to oral
health, but which exclude medical
surgical procedures including, but not
limited to, blepharoplasty,
rhytidectomy, otoplasty, liposuction,
chemical peel, dermabrasion, and
removal and aesthetic reconstruction
of benign and malignant lesions on
the head and neck.” The bill was
introduced at the request of a plastic
surgeon. Using the AAOMS scope of
practice video and other resources,
Drs. James Mercer, Larry
Chewning and several
other OMSs—joined by
South Carolina Dental
Association lobbyist
Richard Davis—met with
the sponsor to educate
him about OMSs’
education, training and
trauma care experience.
Based on this activity, the
sponsor has since decided
not to pursue the bill. Dr. Larry Chewning Dr. James Mercer
Other states that have seen the
introduction of definition of dentistry Connecticut. AAOMS is providing or
legislation include Colorado, New has provided active assistance and
Hampshire and Tennessee. A support to the state societies
definition of oral and maxillofacial advancing or supporting these
surgery bill has been introduced in proposals. ■

Patient Protection New Hampshire Dental Practice Act Hearing

Representative Charlie Norwood,
R-GA, introduced two patient
protection bills on February 5. The
“Patient Protection Act” (HR
597) includes all of the patient
protection provisions that were in
Norwood’s patient protection bill
that passed the House during the
last session of Congress (HR
2563). In particular, HR 597
requires health insurers and group
health plans providing health
insurance coverage to have
approved utilization review
programs, claims procedures, and
appeal procedures concerning
claims denials. It also contains
stipulations that would guarantee
patient access to information and
protect the “Patient-Doctor”
relationship by prohibiting
discrimination against healthcare
professionals based on licensure
and any improper incentive
agreements. The second bill, “The
ERISA Clarification Act” (HR
596), clarifies the Supreme Court’s
Rush v. Moran decision by stating
that ERISA does not preempt a
state cause of action arising from
an insurer’s determination of
medical necessity. ■
The New Hampshire
Dental Board in early
February introduced HB
201, with the goal of
changing many aspects of
their dental practice act,
including adding a new
definition of dentistry to
more closely resemble the
American Dental
Association’s Definition of
Dentistry. Due to drafting
problems with the pro- Dr. Richard Rosoto
posal and other issues
identified at the February 5 legislative
hearing, the proposal died at the leg-
islative subcommittee level. However,
the hearing provided an excellent
opportunity for the New Hampshire
OMS Society and AAOMS to inform
a key legislative committee of the
important contributions of oral and
maxillofacial surgeons.
The New Hampshire OMSs, led by
state society president Dr. Richard
Rosato, undertook a remarkable and
successful effort to provide an OMS
presence and testimony at the hear-
ing. This activity proved to be crucial
to counter the fairly negative testi-
mony presented by witnesses for the
state medical association, where one
of their witnesses, an ENT doctor,
testified that the ADA
definition was just a
subterfuge to allow den-
tists to perform facelifts.
Dr. Rosato presented
information explaining
the education, training
and scope of procedures
performed by OMSs.
He also diluted NH
Medical Association tes-
timony by agreeing with
the medical association
that “we also support the principle
that procedures should be performed
only by those surgeons with the req-
uisite education, training and experi-
ence…and our surgeons demonstrate
that….” Dr. Rocco Addante provided
key information on oral
and maxillofacial
trauma care provided at
Dartmouth-Hitchcock
Medical Center, and the
collegial and supportive
relationship, including
sharing resident training,
between the OMSs and
plastic surgeons on staff
at the medical center.
Dr. Mark Hochberg pro-
vided similar testimony Dr. Rocco Addante
Dr. Mark Hockberg
on the trauma care he provides and
the breadth of facial treatment, such
as soft tissue laceration repair, he pro-
vides as a team doctor for the
Manchester Monarchs, a professional
hockey team located in Manchester.
Carol O’Brien, AAOMS
general counsel and asso-
ciate executive director
for Advocacy and
Governmental Affairs also
provided testimony.
Demonstrating the com-
mitment to the specialty
Dr. Mark Scura, Dr.
Marshall Baldassarre, and
Dr. Robert Wilson were
also present at the hearing
and prepared to provide
testimony if needed. ■

6 AAOMS Today • March/April 2003

H E A LT H P O L I C Y P E R S P E C T I V E S
Answers to Common Reimbursement Questions
Question:
I treat many federal services patients
insured by Tricare and have been told
that I may not balance bill a Tricare
patient. Is this true? May I balance
bill if I decide not to participate?
Answer:
The answer to the first question is
yes. It is true, you may not balance
bill Tricare patients. The billing pro-
cedures and reimbursement for serv-
ices rendered to Tricare patients are
very similar to handling Medicare
patients. While there is no formal
contract involved with Tricare, partic-
ipating physicians are those physi-
cians that accept assignment on
Tricare claims. If you accept assign-
ment, you are agreeing to accept the
Tricare allowed amount and agree to
write off any difference between your
actual charges and their allowed
amount. If you do not accept assign-
ment, you will still be subjected to
limiting charges, as you would be if
you did not accept assignment on a
Medicare claim. As with Medicare, if
you do not participate you may
charge 115% of the Tricare allowed
amount and must write off the
remaining balance.
In addition, as with Medicare, if you
agree to treat a Tricare patient you
must submit claims for covered serv-
ices. You may not enter into a private
contract. OMSs who refuse to abide
by Tricare’s billing policy could lose
their status as an authorized Tricare
provider and risk other fines and
penalties, including exclusion from
other federal health programs.
Question:
If a Tricare patient has double cover-
age, how do I determine if Tricare is
primary or secondary?
Answer:
Again, coordinating benefits when
Tricare is involved is similar to coor-
dinating benefits when Medicare is
involved. Tricare is always considered
the secondary payer, except when
Medicaid is involved. Tricare is pri-
mary over Medicaid. Furthermore,
Tricare will be primary in the event
the Tricare patient has purchased a
supplemental insurance policy to
cover their Tricare deductible or cost
share. Keep in mind the following
limitations when Tricare is secondary:
• Tricare will not pay more as a sec-
ondary payer than it would have
in the absence of other coverage
and will not pay more than the
patient liability.
• Benefits cannot be paid for services
provided prior to Tricare eligibility.
• Services must be covered by Tricare.
Question:
How do I determine which parent’s
insurance is primary when the patient
is covered by both parents’ plans and
the parents are divorced?
Answer:
Determining whose benefits are pri-
mary can be very tricky. There are
two issues to take into consideration
when determining benefits of parents
who are divorced or separated: 1)
Which parent has custody of the
child, and 2) The provisions of the
divorce decree.
There are several states that have
adopted a “joint custody” rule. When
joint custody has been awarded,
divorce decrees usually do not address
order of benefit determination.
Therefore, when dual coverage exists,
the “birthday rule” may be used to
determine which parent’s insurance
plan is primary. The birthday rule
identifies the primary insurer as the
parent whose birthday falls first in the
calendar year. For example, if the
patient’s mother’s birthday is April 5,
1957, and the patient’s father’s birth-
day is October 20, 1953, the mother’s
insurance would be primary.
On the other hand, when joint cus-
tody has not been awarded, the
divorce decree may state that one of
the parents is responsible for the
child’s healthcare expenses and that
patient’s health plan has knowledge
of those terms and, therefore, agrees
to be the primary plan. Many times
the parent who is financially responsi-
ble for the child and the child’s health
care may not be the same parent that
presents the child for care. This may
place you in an uncomfortable posi-
tion, especially as some custody bat-
tles turn bitter and the financially
responsible parent requests his carrier
to refuse to provide information to
the custodial parent, placing you in
the middle. Therefore, it is imperative
to know your state’s coordination of
benefits laws as well as review the
parent’s divorce decree before decid-
ing which insurance plan to bill first.
Establishing an office policy address-
ing these issues will assist your office
staff when they face these often-chal-
lenging experiences. For instance, if a
child presents with the custodial par-
ent but not the financially responsible
parent, you may decide not to get in
the middle and notify the parent at
the visit that the treatment may only
be rendered when the co-payment
and deductible or other determined
amount is paid. While it may not put
you in a favorable position with the
parent, your financial risk is too great
not to have a firm policy in place.
Question:
I submitted a claim to Medicare for
an excisional biopsy, which revealed a
malignancy. However, Medicare
denied the procedure, stating “this
procedure is not covered for this type
of provider in this type of specialty.”
However, this procedure clearly falls
within my scope of practice. What is
my recourse?
Answer:
As an OMS, the procedures that you
may legally perform are addressed in
your state’s dental practice act. If, in
fact, the procedure falls within the
types of procedures that you may
legally perform according to your
state’s dental practice act, the reason
you are being denied may be due to
the Provider Category in which you
were placed when you enrolled in the
Introducing our
newest public
awareness video
and DVD!
NEW AAOMS SCOPE OF PRACTICE
VIDEO AND DVD
You know what you do. “Saving Faces,
Changing Lives” is for those who don’t.
This 10-minute video (also available on
DVD) graphically illustrates the
comprehensive training that leads to the
broad scope of oral and maxillofacial
surgery practice. Primary areas of OMS
practice discussed include trauma care,
anesthesia, orthognathic surgery and
elective cosmetic surgery.
Tell your story — buy your copy today!
Member: $50; Nonmember: $150;
Institution: $100
Order Codes: SCOPE.V (Video)
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Medicare program. There are two cat-
egories in which OMSs may be
placed: “19-Oral Surgery (Dentists
Only)” and “85-Maxillofacial
Surgery.” While it may not be the case
in every state, often single degreed
OMSs may be placed in Category
“19” and dual degreed OMSs may be
placed in Category “85.” While
OMSs in both categories are trained
to perform the same procedures, some
local Medicare carriers may not reim-
burse OMSs in Category 19 for some
of the procedures for which those in
Category 85 receive reimbursement.
Therefore, if you find that the proce-
dure billed clearly falls within your
scope of practice and may be sup-
ported by your state’s dental practice
act, your next step should be to verify
the Category in which you were
placed. If you find you have been
placed in Category “19,” you are
encouraged to request that your local
Medicare Carrier place you in
Category “85,” citing your state’s
dental practice act. Changing cate-
gories may be as simple as completing
a new enrollment form. Rest assured,
AAOMS is aware of this problem and
is developing recommendations to
rectify the category placements for
OMSs. ■
TO ORDER, CALL 800/366-6725
OR 770/442-8633
FAX 770/442-9742 OR ORDER
ONLINE WWW.AAOMS.ORG
American Association
of Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgeons
AAOMS Today • March/April 2003 7
 Capitol Connection continued
Two AAOMS
Members Named to
State Dental Boards
AAOMS members John Sheets,
DDS, of Missouri, and Herbert
Dolinsky, DDS, of New Jersey,
were appointed to their state den-
tal boards in January. Dr. Sheets,
a diplomate of the American
Board of Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery, was appointed to the
state’s dental board by Missouri
Governor Bob Holden. Dr.
Dolinsky, also a diplomate of the
American Board of Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery, was
appointed by New Jersey
Governor James McGreevey.
With these appointments, 31 oral
and maxillofacial surgeons now
sit on 25 state dental boards. ■
Enteral Sedation
Information Kit
AAOMS has developed an
enteral sedation information kit
in response to the numerous
states considering enteral seda-
tion legislation/regulation. This
kit provides insight on the Dental
Organization for Conscious
Sedation (DOCS), emerging
enteral sedation regulatory trends
as well as ADA/AAOMS sedation
guidelines. The kit is available to
members who need information
to present to state legislators or
administrative board authorities
considering enteral sedation
guidelines. For a copy of the kit,
please contact Bruce Blehart,
manager, Government Relations,
at 800/822-6637, or by e-mail at
bblehart@aaoms.org. ■
8 AAOMS Today • March/April 2003
State Issues continued Regulatory Issues
AAOMS Challenges Virginia Cosmetic Surgery Permit Regulations
Florida BCBS The Virginia Board of Dentistry cosmetic procedures, with
Anesthesia announced that cosmetic surgery certification based on the OMS’s
Reimbursement permit regulations adopted in 2002 education, training and experience.
became effective February 26, 2003. For certification to perform aesthetic
The rule establishes requirements for or cosmetic procedures, applicants
AAOMS leaders and staff met with
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Florida the registration and profiling of oral must: hold an active, unrestricted
and maxillofacial surgeons and for license from the dental board; submit
(FL BCBS) to convince the carrier to
change its policy of bundling the certification of OMSs to perform a completed application and fee;
certain cosmetic procedures. The rules complete an oral and maxillofacial
OMS team’s administration of anes-
thesia into the global fee for the asso- were the result of Virginia’s definition residency program accredited by the
of dentistry bill (SB 801) that was Commission on Dental Accreditation;
ciated surgery. Since some Medicare
carriers permit OMSs to bill patients enacted in 2001. hold board certification by the
American Board of Oral and
separately for anesthesia—recognizing
it as a bona fide separate expenditure The regulations require that every Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS) or
OMS register his/her practice with the board eligibility as defined by
and procedure—AAOMS asked
BCBS to adopt the same policy to dental board by April 28, 2003 and ABOMS; and have current privileges
allow separate billing. During the pay a fee. OMSs must be certified by on a hospital staff to perform oral
the Board to perform aesthetic or and maxillofacial surgery. ■
meeting, association representatives
presented information on the unique
anesthesia training of OMSs, as well
as the specialty’s unparalleled record
of safety, cost-effectiveness and
patient satisfaction. Negotiations with
FL BCBS continue. ■
Pictured left to right: Ms. Carol O’Brien, AAOMS associate executive director, Advocacy
and Governmental Affairs; Dr. Frank DiPlacido, AAOMS past president; Dr. Lanny
Garver, member of the Committee on Health Care and Advocacy; Dr. Larry Nissen,
AAOMS president; Ms. Karin Wittich, AAOMS director of practice management and
reimbursement and director of operations, Advocacy and Governmental Affairs; and Dr.
Richard Mufson of the Florida OMS Society.
Ending a Relationship with a Patient —
How to Avoid Being Charged with Abandonment
By James R. Ingrassia, DDS,
Commission on Professional Conduct
You may be surprised to learn that
you could be sued for malpractice
based on your decision to stop pro-
viding care to a patient. While all
healthcare practitioners are familiar
with the concept of malpractice,
many fail to realize that a decision to
discontinue care can be considered
malpractice and abandonment. A
claim of abandonment has serious
implications since there could be a
claim of unprofessional conduct made
to AAOMS, the American Dental
Association and the state dental or
medical board. This article will
explain what is meant by abandon-
ment and provide you with sugges-
tions to help you avoid such a charge.
Abandonment has been defined as the
unilateral severance of the profes-
sional relationship between the OMS
and patient without reasonable notice
to the patient and at a time when
there is still the need for continuing
treatment. A relationship has been
established when a patient reasonably
believes that an OMS will provide
care. This could be through a tele-
phone call where an OMS agrees to
see and treat the patient or when the
patient comes to the office.
Abandonment needs to be distin-
guished from an OMS’s withdrawal
from treatment. An OMS who wishes
to withdraw from a case must give
reasonable notice of the withdrawal
to the patient. An OMS acts accord-
ingly if he/she provides reasonable
notice so that a patient requiring fur-
ther treatment can obtain such treat-
ment without suffering adverse
medical consequences. What consti-
tutes reasonable notice depends on
the facts and circumstances of the
particular case. It is generally recom-
mended that an OMS provide a mini-
mum of thirty (30) days notice.
Factors to be taken into consideration
include the condition of the patient,
the size of the community and the
availability of other OMSs in the
community. Greater caution may be
required where the patient is seriously
ill or has a medical condition making
it extremely difficult for the patient to
seek treatment elsewhere.
In the written notice, the OMS
should inform the patient that he or
she intends to end the relationship,
specify the type of continued care the
patient may require, provide names of
alternate OMSs who can provide nec-
Commission on Professional Conduct Seeks
Advertising Samples and Inquiries
The Commission on Professional inquiries and samples of advertising
Conduct (CPC) will hold a session to the CPC in advance of the
on advertising issues during the session. Advertising samples or
2003 Annual Meeting. The CPC inquiries can be regarding your
essary care
receives frequent inquiries regarding current or proposed advertising or
and advise
the appropriateness of our that of your colleagues. All
that emer-
members’ advertising and will questions and advertising will have
gency treat-
utilize the session to address names and other identifying
ment will
members’ questions, along with information (e.g. phone numbers,
be provided
common advertising complaints addresses, websites) edited prior to
for the con-
and concerns. Advertising issues the session to ensure confidentiality.
dition for
frequently brought to the CPC The CPC and AAOMS attorneys
which the
James R. Ingrassia, DDS include, but are not limited to, will respond to the inquiries and
patient
utilization of multiple titles and comment on the appropriateness of
sought
degrees, use of patients’ laudatory the advertising samples, but will
treatment during the notice period.
statements, improper solicitation, not issue any official advisory
To obtain sample letters from
deceptive advertising, false or opinions or sanctions as a result of
AAOMS, contact Beth Nardiello at
misleading advertising and use of submitted inquiries. The session is
800/822-6637 ext. 4357 and/or con-
the AAOMS Seal. for informational purposes only; to
tact your malpractice provider. The
assist AAOMS members in their
OMS should also advise the patient
As a rule, members who wish to pursuit of ethical and legal
regarding the procedures for transfer-
seek the counsel of the CPC advertising.
ring the patient’s medical records and
regarding an advertising issue must
the need for written authorization.
submit a written and signed request At this time, the CPC is requesting
The notice should be sent to the
for an advisory opinion or file an that members submit inquiries and
patient using certified mail with a
official complaint with the CPC. advertising they would like to see
return receipt requested. While this is
The request or complaint will addressed during the 2003 Annual
not required, certified mail enables
then move through the CPC Meeting session to Meesh Leiker,
you to have appropriate evidence of
review process, which could take Esq. at the AAOMS. Please
the notice. If the certified letter is
six months to a year for a final mark all correspondence
returned for any reason by the postal
disposition. CONFIDENTIAL. Materials
service, keep it unopened in the
can be submitted via fax
patient’s file and send another copy of
The CPC session during the annual (847-678-4619), e-mail
the original letter to the patient by
meeting will give members the (michelleL@aaoms.org) or mail
regular mail.
opportunity to bypass this process (9700 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
and simply submit anonymous Rosemont, IL 60018-5701). ■
While OMSs have the right to treat
patients of their choice, within the
bounds of the law, it is important to
remember that it is illegal and unethi-
cal for an OMS to refuse to treat a IN MY VIEW
patient solely on the basis of disabil- A Specialty Under Attack, continued from page 2
ity (e.g. the individual has AIDS or is
HIV seropositive), race, color, creed,
over decades created the environment challenges head on and will continue
ethnicity, gender or age. In addition,
that allowed the evolution and to do so. We will, however, need to
you cannot refuse to treat a patient
maturation of our specialty’s broaden our perspective on the issues
of record in need of emergency care
contemporary scope. before us and their probable impact.
simply because the patient owes
you money.
Combine this with the organized We will seek the ADA’s support, as
efforts of competing specialties to many of these issues have the potential
This article presents a fundamental
limit the hospital and surgical to affect the entire dental profession.
summary of the issues surrounding
privileges of oral and maxillofacial We will soon meet with ACS to
patient abandonment, but by no
surgeons and I hope you can see that address our concerns with their
means addresses the numerous situa-
we are rapidly moving toward a advocacy policies. We will contact
tions that could arise in your office.
situation that could find our specialty state dental boards to alert them to
You can obtain additional informa-
confined to the office performing only activities of non-dental organizations.
tion regarding patient abandonment
dentoalveolar procedures.
issues by contacting your malpractice
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is at a
provider or Meesh Leiker, Esq. at
I urge all active OMSs to renew their critical point in its evolution. We know
AAOMS (800/822-6637, ext. 4302).
commitment to the management of more, treat more, and teach more than
■
facial trauma and become active in at any other point in our history. Our
their community hospitals. It is every clinical and laboratory investigations
This article is not intended as legal
member’s obligation to our specialty, are opening new vistas at the same
advice nor is it advice on the law of
as well as our professional obligation time our outcomes studies validate our
any state. If legal advice or other
to the public that we serve. more traditional practice. We have
expert assistance is required, the
every intention of maintaining our
services of a competent professional
As an association of dedicated forward momentum. We have no
should be sought.
individuals, we will not be passive intention of taking a step back. ■
observers. We have always met our
AAOMS Today • March/April 2003 9
 Continuing Medical Education and Continuing Dental Education — What’s the Difference?
This question is often asked, but
rarely answered with accuracy.
Although subtle, there is a difference
between the two types of continuing
education that AAOMS provides.
Under the auspices of two separate gov-
erning bodies, AAOMS provides both
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
and Continuing Dental Education
(CDE). The Accreditation Council for
Grow your practice with cost-saving programs
approved by AAOMS/ASI
APPROVED BY
If you have
any questions or
comments about any
of the programs,
please contact
AAOMS Services, Inc.
at 800/822-6637,
ext. 4319.
www.aaomsservices.org
10 AAOMS Today • March/April 2003
Continuing Medical Education can be found in the printed programs ciation following guidelines and stan-
(ACCME) accredits AAOMS to pro- of all AAOMS conferences at which CE dards that have been formulated by
vide CME, while the American Dental credit is offered, usually in the “General the ACCME. Credit obtained by
Association Continuing Education Information” section of the program. attending these educational sessions is
Recognition Program (ADA CERP) used not only by individuals who
accredits AAOMS to provide CDE. The So, what is the difference between hold medical licenses to maintain
ADA CERP was established, at the CME and CDE? those licenses within the state in
request of dental specialty societies, which they practice, but also by
based on the requirements and stan- Educational sessions offered by members in general for hospital privi-
dards of the ACCME. Statements refer- AAOMS that carry CME credit are leges. The majority of hospitals
encing AAOMS’s accreditation status developed by committees of the asso- require CE credit provided by
ACCME-accredited sponsors. Credits
used to maintain a medical license
must be designated for CME credit
by an ACCME-accredited provider in
order for them to be considered valid.
As a result of the ACCME guidelines
that AAOMS follows when develop-
ing educational programs, not all ses-
sions offered at an AAOMS meeting
or conference are eligible for CME
credit. The educational sessions that
do not offer CME credit are noted as
such in conference programs.
Educational sessions offered by
NEW! Professional Apparel: Now AAOMS members and their staff can AAOMS that carry CDE credit are
purchase quality scrubs and protective medical apparel at a special also developed by committees of the
discount. Look for the catalog and price list in the March/April issue of Association following a set of guide-
AAOMS Today, or call AAOMS Services, Inc. at 800/822-6637, lines and standards that have been
ext. 4319 for more information. developed by the ADA CERP. In most



Office Depot: AAOMS members experience up to an 80% discount cases, these are the same sessions that
on a core list of office supplies and 3% on other items whether have been developed for CME credit.
ordering on-line, by fax or phone. For detailed instructions on how to Credit obtained by attending these
enroll call AAOMS Services, Inc. at 800/822-6637, ext. 4319. educational sessions is used by indi-



Corporate Credit Card: No annual fee, low APR, high credit line. viduals to maintain dental licenses
AAOMS Platinum Plus® for Business MasterCard®. Sets individual credit within the state in which they prac-
lines for staff and simplifies tax preparation with free quarterly reports. tice. However, the ADA CERP guide-
Call 800/598-8791. Priority Code NCV5. lines and standards allow a wider



AmeriBank Credit Card Processing Services: 1.65% swipe rate for range of educational sessions to qual-
MasterCard/Visa; Call 888/480-6804 for fees and how to enroll. ify for CDE. As a result, nearly all



CareCredit: Patient Financing Programs with no recourse. Call educational sessions offered at an
800/300-3046, ext. 519. AAOMS meeting or conference are
eligible for CDE credit.



D.R.E., Inc.: Purchase refurbished and new medical equipment at a
special AAOMS discount of 3%. Call 800/499-5373 to speak with a
D.R.E. representative about your specific equipment needs. Additionally, even though the ADA
CERP accreditation recognition



DRx – A Division of Wellinx: Pre-packed Prescription Dispensing statement is included in AAOMS
Service; Call 800/999-9379 for FREE DRx Demo-Kit.
conference programs and on the



Southern Anesthesia & Surgical: Receive discounted pricing on In- “Verification of Participation in a
Office Sedation and Surgical Supplies. Call 800/624-5926. Continuing Education Activity” state-
ment that participants receive follow-
P E R S O N A L L I F E S T Y L E P R O G RA M S : ing an AAOMS conference, the CDE



Personal Credit Card: No annual fee, low APR, earn points towards decision is usually made by the indi-
travel and merchandise. AAOMS Platinum Plus Rewards® MasterCard®. vidual states. When an individual sub-
Apply on-line at www.aaomsservices.org or call 866/438-6262. mits continuing education activity for
Priority Code NBT3. re-licensure, each state makes its own



MBNA Deposits Program: Offers preferred rates to AAOMS determination as to which activities
members for CDs, Money Markets and IRAs. Call 800/900-6693, qualify under state dental guidelines.
Code #HA08M.
Ultimately, the decision for determin-
ing what is valid CME and CDE
credit rests with the states and their
Watch your fax machine for an announcement
on some exciting new lifestyle programs
licensing bodies. AAOMS attempts to
provide educational programming
that will fit almost any definition of
CME and CDE credit; however, it is
coming this spring. always best for AAOMS members to
know the guidelines of the state in
which they practice. ■
Where are the Women in OMS?, continued from page 5
how that reflects on patient care.”
The lack of women role models in
OMS not only keeps some women
from entering the specialty, it may
encourage a tendency toward “false
bravado,” Chan says. “That can
happen to a young woman in
training, and she needs to work
against that.”
“It’s incredibly difficult in
any surgical residency,
whether it’s OMS, ENT,
plastics or general surgery.”
EVE BLUESTEIN, MD, DDS
As one of the 57 women among
1,032 OMS faculty in the United
States, Schreiber is a prominent role
model, and she wants to help women
recognize the benefits of a career in
OMS. “By the numbers there is a
definite male dominance, but there
are unlimited opportunities for
women,” she says. “Universities are
looking for young, energetic clinicians
and scientists to expand the field.
There are a tremendous number of
practice opportunities—some people
are getting three or four offers” after
completing their residencies.
New recruitment effort
Women are disproportionately
underrepresented in OMS, but
Tomasetti says the specialty currently
is having problems attracting new
practitioners of both sexes. “I don’t
think anyone is actively encouraged
into this specialty in dental school,”
he says. “We can’t get men to make
the commitment, either. When I was
in my residency, there used to be five
applicants for every open spot. Now
it’s down to two for every one spot.”
Part of the reason is the long
residency, and another is that students
are coming out of dental school with
huge educational debt. To encourage
more dental students into OMS, the
AAOMS Task Force on Dental
School Involvement is working with
the American Student Dental
Association and local OMSs to
increase students’ exposure to OMS.
“We’d like to be able to offer dental
students the opportunity to visit our
offices and see how we practice,”
says Daley, who heads the task force.
Because OMSs spend so much time
in hospitals, Daley says dental
students may feel that they are
inaccessible. “In some places, maybe
we are perceived as unapproachable,
or as not wanting to spend the time
with students. We want to show
them that that is not the case at all.”
“Women are
disproportionately
underrepresented, but the
specialty currently is having
problems attracting new
practitioners of both sexes.”
BOYD J. TOMASETTI, DMD
Schreiber sums it up for all
prospective OMSs. “If students have
an understanding of the scope of the
field, and the variety of activities the
field encompasses, that will be the
best selling point” for the future of
the specialty. ■
Yellow Pages
Deadlines
The AAOMS Yellow Pages
Program is available to AAOMS
fellows and members in good
standing whose state societies
have approved the offering. The
states that have chosen not to
participate in the program are
Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia,
Massachusetts, Maryland, New
Jersey, New York, Tennessee,
Washington, and Nevada. If all
members of a group practice are
AAOMS members, the listing can
be under the name of the group.
The program is coordinated on a
national basis by D’Arcy
Directory Marketing of
Northbrook, IL. The cost of
directory listings varies by area
and circulation. Questions about
the program should be directed
to Ms. Leal Maloney at
800/333-1100. Upcoming
monthly deadlines are as follows:
APRIL
AZ, Flagstaff
CA, San Diego N Coastal
CA, Oakland
CA, Stanislaus
KS, Wichita
MI, Bay City-Saginaw
OR, Grant Pass Rouge
OR, Newport Lincoln
TX, Waco
VA, South Hampton Rds

MAY
FL, Bradenton
FL, Miami North
FL, West Palm Beach
MI, Huron City
MN, St Paul
NC, Charlotte
OK, Oklahoma City
PA, Reading
UT, Salt Lake City
WI, Appleton Fox Cities

JUNE
AZ, Phoenix-Scotsdale
AZ, Phoenix E Valley
CA, Palo Alto
CA, South Bay
FL, Naples
FL, Tampa
KY, Loisville
NY, Erie
OR, Klamath Falls
PA, Lower Bucks

JULY
AL, Birmingham
CA, San Diego East
CA, Fresno-Clovis
FL, Vero Beach
MA, Quincy
MO, Tri-State
OH, Lima
OK, Greater Tulsa
OR, Portland
TX, Houston
AAOMS Today • March/April 2003 11
 Practice Management Matters
Suggestions on Claims Audits and Managing Overhead
Question:
We are implementing a
compliance plan to monitor the
claims development and
submission process, in accordance
with the recommendations
outlined in the AAOMS
Compliance Plan manual.
Currently, I have one person
assigned to process insurance –
both electronic and paper claims –
but another individual records all
insurance payments. Although the
doctors in our practice do code
each case, we currently do not
have any post-payment review
process. Can you give us any
suggestions?
Answer:
Congratulations on implementing the
compliance plan! While it can be a
daunting task, it is an important one.
sign up today and join the AAOMS Group Purchasing Program - there are
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12 AAOMS Today • March/April 2003
Although the compliance plan is
maintained to determine both the
adequacy of your in-house billing
policies and standards and the extent
to which they are being properly
implemented, a post-payment audit
can also be very beneficial to the
practice.
Post-payment reviews and audits may
be the key to alleviating many of the
frustrations that offices experience,
including claim denials and decreased
reimbursement. Frequently, the
Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
contains useful information to which
many offices do not pay attention.
For instance, is your office aware of
what percentage of billed charges
actually are paid by insurance
carriers? Do you know how the
payers are interpreting the codes
being reported by your practice?
Is the payer recognizing the modifiers
you use? All of these questions and
many more can be answered simply
by investing a couple hours a week in
reviewing third-party payments.
Questions you should ask include:
1. Was the claim processed correctly?
2. Have all of the services reported
been given benefit determination?
3. Were any of the services down-
coded? If so, is there sufficient
information provided on the EOB
to justify this? Does the OMS
agree with the decision?
4. Were any modifiers submitted with
the original claim? If so, were they
recognized by the payer?
5. Was the reimbursement provided
what you expected?
6. Is the reason for the denial and/or
reimbursement sufficiently
communicated?
7. Are contracted discounts being
adjusted properly?
8. Is follow-up with the carrier
necessary?
Keep in mind that post-claim auditing
is extremely important and should be
performed by someone who has not
only coding and billing experience
but also a keen understanding of the
appeals process, managed care
contract limitations and practice
policy(ies). It is further recommended
that the OMS become intimately
involved with the post-payment
review process. Only the OMS can
identify inappropriate claims
adjudication such as down-coding or
denials based on medical necessity.
Remember to pay close attention to
your diagnosis coding and code to the
greatest degree of specificity. Many
denials based on medical necessity are
due to improper or insufficient
reporting of the diagnosis.
Question:
In reviewing my monthly medical
and administrative expenses, I
have noticed an increase in our
costs in 2002. Can you offer any
suggestions on how to cut back
our costs in 2003?
Answer:
As with any effort to reduce expenses,
comparison shopping is the key.
Don’t forget to take advantage of all
of the cost-saving products and
services approved by AAOMS/ASI for
your business and personal needs:
• Currently, AAOMS members can
receive up to an 80% discount on
office products from Office Depot
through their “150 Best Value”
list, and another 3% discount on
all other items. For more
information on Office Depot,
please visit the ASI website or
call AAOMS Services, Inc. at
800/822-6637, ext. 4319.
• The AAOMS Platinum Plus for
Business MasterCard® sets
individual credit lines for staff
and increases capital instantly
with low APR. Enroll by calling
800/598-8791 and mentioning the
AAOMS priority code NCVS.
• For a low swipe rate in processing
patient charge cards, contact
AmeriBank Credit Card Processing
services at 888/480-6804.
• Avoid extending credit to patients
for expensive treatments, and opt
instead for patient financing
programs through CareCredit at
800/300-3046, ext. 519.
• Purchase refurbished and new
medical equipment at a 3%
discount, and earn a year-end
rebate through D.R.E, Inc at
800/499-5373.
• Add another revenue stream to
your practice while offering
patients the convenience of ready-
to-dispense OMS medications
from DRx, A Division of Wellinx.
Call 800/999-9379 for a free DRx
Demo-Kit.
• For discounted pricing on in-office
sedation and surgical supplies
contact Southern Anesthesia &
Surgical at 800/624-5926
• Other personal benefits of being
an AAOMS member include:
discounted car rentals at Alamo
Car Rental (800/354-2322;
Code:BY-ID #567517) or National
Car Rental (800/227-7368; #
5129643); the AAOMS Platinum
Plus Rewards personal
MasterCard (apply online at
www.aaomsservices.org or call
866/438-6262; Priority code:
NBT3) and also get preferred rates
for CDs, Money Markets and
IRAs through MBNA Deposits
Program (800/900-6693;
Code: #HA08M). ■
CODING CORNER
Answers to Some Frequently Asked Coding Questions
Question:
What is the difference between a
simple extraction (D7140) and a
surgical extraction (D7210)?
Answer:
For purposes of coding, an extraction
as defined in CDT is the “process or
act of removing a tooth or tooth
parts.” A simple extraction includes
the routine removal of a tooth struc-
ture and closure of the site as neces-
sary. It can also include elevation
and/or the use of forceps on an
erupted tooth or exposed root.
A surgical extraction of an erupted
tooth, in contrast, requires elevation
of the mucoperiosteal flap and
removal of bone and/or sectioning of
the tooth. It includes the cutting of
gingiva and bone, removal of tooth
structure and closure.
Local anesthesia, suturing (if needed),
and routine postoperative care are
included in both simple (routine) and
surgical extractions.
Question:
How would you code the
marsupialization of a large
odontogenic cyst of the maxilla?
The oral and maxillofacial surgeon
plans to open the cyst and insert a
tube in order to allow the cyst to
decompress.
Answer:
There is no one distinct code for this
situation in CPT. However, there are
three possible ways to approach
reporting it.
Marsupialization involves opening of
the bone, an incisional biopsy of the
lining, and finally, insertion of a tube
for decompression. This assumes a
rather prolonged course of follow-up
and frequent office visits (weeks to
months) before the definitive surgical
excision is performed. Thus, the first
method to consider is reporting a
biopsy of lesion code with a low rela-
tive value unit (RVU) and 0- or 10-
day global period in addition to an
incision and drainage code with a low
RVU, also with a 0- or 10-day global
period. Each follow-up visit beyond
the 0- or 10-day global period should
be coded separately with the appro-
priate established patient E&M code.
This method would reflect the longi-
tudinal work in these cases that can
extend over several months.
If a shorter follow-up is anticipated,
other options may be considered. The
second option would be to use
unlisted CPT code 21299, which
requires a report, and append staged
procedure modifier -58. The staged
procedure would indicate that a sec-
ond procedure was planned from the
outset (excision of benign cyst) in the
event that it falls within the global
surgical period of the first procedure.
In the report, reference CPT 42409
(marsupialization of sublingual gland)
as the equivalent procedure, with an
RVU of 6.35 and 90-day global
period.
The third option would be the use of
an excision code with a 90-day global
period. If this code is selected as your
preferred method of billing, you may
not charge for any follow-up visits
during the 90-day postoperative
period.
Question:
How do you report the use of
platelet rich plasma (PRP) in bone
augmentation procedures?
Answer:
There is no appropriate code to
report the use of platelet rich plasma
in either CPT or CDT. The AAOMS
Committee on Health Care and
Advocacy recommends that it be con-
sidered the patient’s responsibility as
a non-covered item or supply. The use
of CPT code 99070 (“supplies and
materials [except spectacles],” pro-
vided by the physician over and
above those usually included with the
office visit or other services rendered
[list drugs, trays, supplies, or materi-
als provided]) has had limited success;
however it is an appropriate option.
As in other procedures, when submit-
ting for supplies, an invoice for the
materials or supplies should be sub-
mitted with the claim.
Question:
How do you report the distraction
appliance used in the performance
of distraction osteogenesis proce-
dures?
Answer:
The distraction appliance can be
reported using CPT code 99070. The
invoice for the distractor should be
submitted along with the claim. Be
sure, however, to let the patient know
that the appliance might not be cov-
ered by insurance. For advice on how
to code the actual distraction osteoge-
nesis procedure, refer to the
May/June 2001 AAOMS Today
“Coding Corner” article available on
the AAOMS website at
www.aaoms.org.
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Question:
How would you report a sleep
apnea appliance in CPT? How
about in CDT?
Answer:
If the OMS is actually designing and
preparing the prosthesis (as opposed
to one prepared by an outside labora-
tory) the appropriate CPT code to
report is 21089 (unlisted maxillofa-
cial prosthetic procedure). A letter of
explanation or report should accom-
pany the claim. If the prosthesis is
prepared by an outside laboratory
and the physician is not designing
and preparing the prosthesis, CPT
code 99070 should be reported. An
invoice from the laboratory should
accompany the claim.
If submitting the claim under dental
insurance, the appropriate code to
report is D5999, unspecified maxillo-
facial prosthesis, by report. Again, a
description of the services provided or
an invoice from the lab should
accompany the claim.
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14 AAOMS Today • March/April 2003
Nominations Accepted for Open
Officer Positions on AAOMS Board
O M S
Article V. Section 10 of the AAOMS
Constitution and Chapter VII of the
Bylaws provide for the nomination
and election of officers of the
American Association of Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgeons. The officers
of the association include the presi-
dent, president-elect, vice president,
treasurer, immediate past president,
and the speaker of the House of
Delegates. As in many professional
associations, the president-elect pro-
gresses “through the chairs” to the
positions of president and immediate
past president as specified in the
Constitution and Bylaws. The vice
president and speaker of the House
are elected to one-year terms of
office, and the treasurer serves a
two-year term.
At the 85th Annual Meeting,
Scientific Sessions, and Exhibition in
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, this
September, the AAOMS House of
Delegates will elect a president-elect,
vice president, treasurer, and speaker
of the house. Any AAOMS fellow or
life fellow in good standing may be
nominated for one of these positions.
Fellows and life fellows interested in
running for office may obtain a nomi-
nation form from Ms. Anne Marie
Rogowski at AAOMS headquarters.
Nominations must be made in writ-
ing and signed by 10 fellows or life
fellows in good standing and submit-
ted to Ms. Rogowski prior to the first
session of the house at 10:45 am,
Tuesday, September 9. The election of
officers will take place Friday morn-
ing, September 12, during the third
session of the house.
Individuals elected to one of the open
officer positions will be expected to
attend five board meetings during the
year, and serve as an officer liaison to
several standing committees and task
forces. The speaker will be invited to
attend the summer and fall meetings
of the board. The duties for each
open position as specified in the
Bylaws are as follows:
President-elect – assists the president
as required; serves as a member of the
AAOMS Board of Trustees and its
Executive and Budget and Finance
Committees; reports annually to the
house of delegates on the activities of
the board; and with the approval of
the board of trustees, makes appoint-
ments to all standing committees,
including the designation of commit-
tee chairpersons. The president-elect
also serves as president in the event of
a vacancy and succeeds to the office
of president without election at the
next annual meeting following his/her
election as president-elect.
Vice president – assists the president
as required; serves as a member of the
board of trustees and the Executive
Committee; and functions as presi-
dent-elect in the event of a vacancy.
Treasurer – serves as custodian of all
money, securities and deeds belonging
to AAOMS and holds, invests and
disburses these funds subject to the
direction of the board of trustees;
oversees the annual audit of the funds
of the association; presents a financial
report at each annual meeting; serves
as chairperson of the budget and
finance committee; serves as a mem-
ber of the board of trustees and of its
Executive and Building Committees;
and functions as vice president in the
event of a vacancy.
Speaker of the House of Delegates –
presides at all sessions of the House
of Delegates; develops the order of
business for all sessions of the house
of Delegates in consultation with the
standing House Committee on Rules
and Procedure and the executive
director, subject to the approval of
the house of delegates; announces the
results of any action taken by vote;
appoints, at his/her discretion, a par-
liamentarian for annual meetings,
subject to the approval of funds by
the board of trustees; makes final
decisions on rules and procedure dur-
ing sessions of the house unless an
appeal from such decision is made by
a member of the house, in which case
the final decision shall be made by
majority vote; serves as an ex-officio
member of all committees of the
house of delegates without the right
to vote; and serves as chairperson of
the House Committee on Consent
Agendas. The speaker of the house
shall not be a member of the board of
trustees.
Any candidate officially running for
treasurer is invited, at his/her own
expense, to the May 18-19, 2003
Budget and Finance Committee meet-
ing at AAOMS headquarters in
Rosemont, IL. Any official candidate
for speaker is invited to attend, at
AAOMS’s expense, a portion of the
June 1-3, 2003 meeting of the board
of trustees, also to be held at
AAOMS headquarters. ■
The Cost of Carrying Patient Balances
Due of the short-term nature of the
relationship we have with our
patients, most oral and maxillofacial
surgical practices prefer not to bill or
extend credit to patients. However,
because many patients are simply
unprepared for the cost of specialty
dental care, practices have found that
offering patients a financial solution
is not just a matter of good patient
relations, but is also an advantageous
way to do business as a healthcare
professional.
Is billing or extending credit the best
solution available to practices today?
According to a recent study
conducted by the U.S. Department of
Commerce and cited by Diversified
Services Group, a collection agency
that specializes in fee recovery for the
dental profession, the longer accounts
remain outstanding or delinquent, the
smaller the percentage of fees
recovered.
For example, if an account is one
month old, the rate of recovery is
95%. But after only six months the
percentage falls to 30%—and at 12
months the rate of recovery plummets
to only 10% of the original fee.
When you also take into account the
additional cost associated with billing
and collections and the fact that you
don’t have access to your hard-earned
money, carrying patient accounts on
your books just doesn’t make good
business sense.
AAOMS member Todd Seitz, DMD,
agrees. “After having worked with
CareCredit for several years and seen
great results, I would never go with
any other finance company. I have
recommended CareCredit to any of
my fellow surgeons in need of a
financing solution. Patients facing
surgery often need financial help
and CareCredit is the best solution
I could find.”
THE EDITOR’S
CORNER
As out-of-pocket expenses continue
to increase, patients will look to OMS
practices not only for treatment, but
also for a financial solution. Make Washing Your Hands
sure your financial solution is the of the Matter
right one for your practice as well as
your patients. ■ Since the con-
cept was first
introduced by
CareCredit is an approved patient Semmilweis in
financing partner through AAOMS the ninteenth
and AAOMS Services Inc (ASI). It century, hand-
offers multiple payment plans that washing before
allow your patients to get the examining a
treatment they want today—while patient has
paying for it over time. In addition, become an Daniel M. Laskin,
your practice gets paid up front and important DDS, MS
there is no recourse to the OMS disease-prevention measure for
practice if the patient delays payment healthcare professionals.
or defaults. For more information on However, despite being consid-
this program, see the ASI ad in ered one of the most effective
AAOMS Today, or call CareCredit methods, studies have shown
directly at 800/300-3046, ext. 519. that it is also often one of the
most neglected practices.
Contributing to this neglect has
been the recent introduction of
gloving for patient examination
as well as treatment, and the
misconception that such gloving
can replace handwashing.
Nothing could be further from
the truth.

One Easy Way to Increase The aim of handwashing is to

remove transient micro-organ-
Treatment Acceptance... isms and thereby prevent their
transfer to the patient. Unless
the hands have been washed,
such bacteria can easily contami-
nate the outside of the gloves
during their application, particu-
larly when clean rather than
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Offer CareCredit. organisms can then potentially
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Call today and request your tion. Although it has been noted
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Cathy Jameson. ant to their resident bacterial
carecredit.com
flora, one’s resident flora is
another’s contaminating
organisms.

Prior to surgery, we take exten-

sive precautions by carefully
scrubbing our hands before
applying gloves. Shouldn’t we do
the same when examining
patients? ■

AAOMS Today • March/April 2003 15

 Membership Minute OMSF Thanks Major Gifts Campaign Contributors
2003 Membership Directory: The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Directors Level Dr. Ray and Mrs. Betty White
Looking for a colleague in Foundation (OMSF) gratefully ($10,000 - $24,999) Dr. White is a member of the oral
Melbourne, Australia? Just look acknowledges the support it has and maxillofacial surgery faculty at
in your 2003 AAOMS received for the Major Gifts Dr. Kirk L. the University of North Carolina.
Membership Directory. This valu- Campaign from practicing members, Fridrich He received his dental degree and
able resource includes contact related societies and friends of the Dr. Fridrich is PhD from the Medical College of
information for all AAOMS fel- specialty. Those donors at the chairman of the Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth
lows and members and interna- $10,000 pledge level or higher are Oral and University, where he also completed
tional affiliate members. It also listed below. Maxillofacial his residency training.
lists the association officers and Surgery
trustees, standing and special Chairman’s Level Department at Dr. Mark D.
committees, regional and compo- ($25,000 or more) the University of Zajkowski
nent OMS societies and other Iowa. He Dr. Zajkowski is
pertinent information. The 2003 Dr. and Mrs. received his dental degree from in private practice
Membership Directory mailed in David D. the University of Nebraska and in South Portland,
April to all membership cate- Crichton completed his residency training Maine. He
gories. To purchase additional Dr. Crichton is in at the University of Iowa. received his
copies of the directory, please private practice in dental degree the
contact the AAOMS Membership Colorado Springs, Dr. Thomas University of
Services Dept. Colorado. He Keane California Los
received his Dr. Keane is in Angeles and completed his residency
Member ID Card: For the first dental degree private practice in training at Massachusetts General
time in the association’s history, from Virginia Edina, Minnesota. Hospital. He received his medical
member ID cards have been Commonwealth University and He received his degree from Harvard Medical
issued! Your new ID card accom- completed his residency training at dental degree from School.
panies your 2003 Membership LSU/Charity Hospital in New the University of
Directory. One immediate benefit Orleans. Minnesota. He Dr. I. David Atcheson
of the card is instant access to completed his Dr. R. B. Austin
your AAOMS member number. American Association of Oral and residency training at Wilford Hall Dr. John S. Bond
Making a good thing even better, Maxillofacial Surgeons USAF Medical Center/Lackland Air Dr. Thomas W. Braun
AAOMS has established a more Dr. and Mrs. Richard A. Crinzi Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Richard G. Burton
user-friendly method of accessing Dr. Daniel J. Daley Dr. David A. Bussard
the Members Only section of the Dr. Douglas and Mrs Chris Fain Dr. Daniel J. Dr. Ira D. Cheifetz
AAOMS website. Now, all you Dr. David E. and Mrs. Claudia Frost Klemmedson Dr. James R. Cole II
need to log-in is your last name Dr. and Mrs. Richard Mellin Dr. Klemmedson Connecticut Society of OMS
and member ID number! No Dr. and Mrs. Larry W. Nissen is in private Dr. James A. Davis
more worrying about your user Dr. and Mrs. Jeffry E. Persons practice in Dr. Vincent E. DiFabio
name and password! Dr. and Mrs. Lorin Peterson
Tucson, Arizona.
Dr. Timothy B. Durtsche
Dr. and Mrs. Donald L. Seago
He received his
Dr. Shawn T. Engebretsen
Maintain your card in a safe and dental degree
Dr. Larry W. Spradley Florida Society of OMS
readily-accessible area for easy from the
Dr. and Mrs. Elgan P. Stamper Dr. John F. Freihaut
reference. Share your ID Number University of
Dr. James Q. Swift Dr. Kirk L. Fridrich
with your office staff to assure Southern California. He completed
Dr. Wayne E. and Mrs. Valerie Tipps Illinois Society of OMS
they can access the AAOMS web- his residency training at Los Angeles
Dr. and Mrs. Boyd J. Tomasetti Mr. Ethan Jackson
site. The back side of your card County/University of Southern
Dr. Bradford and Mrs. Janice Towne Dr. J. David Johnson
notes important telephone num- California Medical Center. He
Treloar & Heisel, Inc. received his Medical Degree from the Mr. William Kallal
bers at AAOMS headquarters—
call us anytime! Dr. and Mrs. R. Lynn White University Southern California. Dr. Dan W. Kaspar
Dr. Thomas P. Williams Dr. Markell W Kohn
Please contact AAOMS Dr. Todd C. Liston Dr. John F. MacNamara
Membership Dr. Liston is in private practice in Dr. Terrence F. McCarthy
Services Dept. Bountiful, Utah. He received his Middle Atlantic Society of OMS
regarding any Dental Degree from the Ohio State Minnesota Society of OMS
American Asso
questions ciation of Ora
l University. He completed his resi- North Carolina Society of OMS
and Maxillofac
about the ial Surgeons dency training at the Medical Pennsylvania Society of OMS
usage of the College of Virginia/Virginia Dr. Clive B. Rayner
Member ID Commonwealth University. Dr. Thomas R. Seidelmann
Card or any John Q Public Dr. Timothy S. Shahbazian
of the infor- DDS Dr. Peter W.
MEMBER ID
Dr. Thomas J. Skiba
mation dis- 000000
STATUS
YEAR ELECTED Smith Dr. Marvin M. Slott
Fellow VALID THRU
played on 1982 2003 Dr. Smith is in Dr. Anthony M. Spina
the card. private practice in Dr. Larry R. Stewart
Fairfax, Virginia. Wisconsin Society of OMS
Member Benefit Guide: Coming He received his Dr. Lawrence H. Zager
Soon! Your handy reference to all dental degree
AAOMS can do for you! ■ from Georgetown
School of
Dentistry and
completed his residency training at
Washington Hospital Center.

16 AAOMS Today • March/April 2003

TREASURER’S ACCOUNT

As we close out the books for 2002,
we are pleased to report AAOMS has
had another good year financially. As
you may recall, the original 2002
operating budget assumed that
ANNUAL MEETING REVENUES
$3,000
$2,500
IN THOUSANDS
AAOMS would need to “borrow”
approximately $500,000 from
reserves to cover the excess of
expenses over revenues. As a result of
the association’s favorable perform-
ance, it appears that AAOMS will not
need to tap into those reserves.
The key contributor to the favorable
budget performance in 2002 was the
annual meeting, where revenues of
approximately $2.6 million exceeded
budget expectations by over
$600,000. At a time when many
healthcare associations are experienc- Treasurer
ing declines in attendance for their Jay P. Malmquist, DMD
meetings and conferences, the 2002
AAOMS annual meeting was the
most successful ever in terms of both
member attendance and the popular-

$2,000 ity of the exhibition. Although the “The key contributor to

original budget assumed some growth the favorable budget
$1,500 in revenues over those collected for performance in 2002
the 2000 Annual Meeting in San
Francisco (the association’s previous was the annual
$1,000 record holder), actual revenues for meeting…”
the 2002 Annual Meeting in Chicago
$500 were more than $700,000, or
approximately 42%, higher than the
San Francisco meeting.
$0
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 In a future column we will review the
final year-end numbers and the results
*2001 revenues include the proceeds from the event curtailment insurance claim
of the annual 2002 audit, which is
scheduled in March. ■

Maximizing Your Disability Coverage

By Kenneth C. Thomalla, CPA, CFP, CLU
Vice President, Marketing
Treloar and Heisel, Inc.

Over the last few years, insurance
companies have dramatically reduced
the amount of disability coverage
they will allow dental professionals to
purchase. On new individual policies,
most companies will not issue more
than $10,000 of monthly benefit. As
incomes continue to increase, it is
more important than ever to maxi-
mize your disability coverage in order
to maintain an adequate amount.
Recently, MassMutual introduced
Retireguard, a new rider to their
Radius® Disability Income policy.
Normally, one can insure between
35% and 65% percent of income.
Retireguard allows you to insure your
retirement contributions at 100%, in
addition to the above amount.
Thus, if your net income is $300,000
and an additional $30,000 is being
placed into a profit sharing plan, the
base disability policy can be issued at
$10,000 per month and the
Retireguard rider at an additional
$2,500 per month. Your total cover-
age would be $12,500 instead of the
$10,000 maximum normally allowed.
Another way to maximize your bene-
fits, and ensure future buying capabil-
ities, is to split coverage between two
companies. As mentioned previously,
MassMutual will issue a benefit up to
$10,000 per month, and they will
participate with another carrier up to
$15,000 per month. (Note, the
$15,000 participation limit was
specifically approved for your associ-
ation’s program and is not available
to other individuals.)
If you currently have a policy with
another company for $8,000 per
month, and you financially qualify
for a total $12,000 benefit, you could
add a MassMutual policy for $4,000
per month. More importantly if you
are buying coverage for the first time,
and financially qualify for $8,000 in
benefits, it would be wise to divide
the coverage between MassMutual
and MetLife. By combining policies
you may provide the ability to
increase your policy to the higher lim-
its while protecting your insurability.
If you were to purchase the entire
$8,000 through the MetLife program,
and wait to add the Mass Mutual,
you could lose the ability to add the
second policy should a significant
change in health occur.
Finally, with the restricted limits on
the monthly benefits available to the
dental professional through personal
disability income insurance, it is
imperative that business owners
purchase business overhead expense
insurance to cover their fixed business
expenses. This allows the individual
to free up his or her disability policy
for personal expenses.
As you can see from the above exam-
ples, you can maximize your disabil-
ity income coverage through careful
planning. Sitting down with a quali-
fied financial advisor to review your
disability portfolio on a regular basis
is extremely important. To discuss
how to maximize your coverage,
contact Treloar and Heisel, Inc. at
800/345-6040, or visit our website at
www.th-online.net. ■

AAOMS Today • March/April 2003 17

 AAOMS CALENDAR

Educational Offerings State/Regional Component and other Meetings

2003 DECEMBER 2003 JULY SEPTEMBER

MAY
May 14-20, 2003
International Conference
on Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery (ICOMS)
Divani Caravel Hotel and
Convention Center
Athens, Greece
SEPTEMBER
September 9 (Basic)
AAOMS Coding Workshop
Fairmont Royal York
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
September 10–11
AAOMS Coding Workshop
Fairmont Royal York
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
September 10–13
AAOMS 85th Annual
Meeting, Scientific
Sessions and Exhibition
In conjunction with the 50th
Annual Meeting of the
Canadian Association of
Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgeons
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
NOVEMBER
November 14-15
AAOMS Coding Workshop
Mirage
Las Vegas, NV
December 4 July 12-13 September 13
Hands-on Hard and Soft MAY Ohio Society of Oral and Texas Society of Oral and
Tissue Courses Maxillofacial Surgeons Maxillofacial Surgeons
May 1-4, 2003
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Radisson Harbour Inn Fairmont Royal York Hotel
Great Lakes Society of
Towers Sandusky, OH Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Oral and Maxillofacial
Chicago, IL
Surgeons Annual Meeting
July 12-14, 2003 OCTOBER
Wild Dunes Resort
December 5–6 Colorado Society of Oral
Charleston, South Carolina
Dental Implant Conference and Maxillofacial Surgeons October 10-12
The Sheraton Chicago Hotel Breckenridge, CO California Association of
May 4
& Towers Oral and Maxillofacial
Iowa Society of Oral and
Chicago, IL July 17-20 Surgeons
Maxillofacial Surgeons
Florida Society of Oral and Squaw Creek Resort
Iowa Marriott Hotel
Maxillofacial Surgeons Lake Tahoe, CA
Des Moines, IA
2004 Marriott Sawgrass
Ponte Vedra, FL October 11-12
May 14, 2003
FEBRUARY Arizona Society of Oral
Pennsylvania Society of
July 18-23 and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Oral and Maxillofacial
February 4–8 Western Society of Oral Scottsdale, AZ
Surgeons
Joint American Association and Maxillofacial Surgeons
State College, PA
of Orthodontists/AAOMS Annual Meeting October 23
Conference Fairmont Chateau Whistler Illinois Society of Oral and
May 30
Renaissance Esmeralda Whistler, British Columbia, Maxillofacial Surgeons
Mississippi Society of Oral
Resort Canada Grand Geneva Resort
and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Indian Wells, CA Lake Geneva, WI
Sandestin Hilton
Destin, FL AUGUST
SEPTEMBER NOVEMBER
August 23
JUNE
September 29–October 2 Tennessee Society of Oral November 21-23
AAOMS 86th Annual and Maxillofacial Surgeons Florida Society of Oral and
June 4
Meeting, Scientific Summit Medical Center Maxillofacial Surgeons
New Jersey Society of
Sessions and Exhibition Nashville, TN Gaylord Palms
Oral and Maxillofacial
Hilton San Francisco and Orlando, FL
Surgeons
Moscone Convention Center
Woodbridge Hilton
San Francisco, CA
Iselin, NJ

AAOMS
Dates to Remember
Please note the following important deadline dates for the
coming year:

May
Annual Meeting registration opens mid-May.
Advertising
June 1
Advertising inquiries other than classifieds should be Deadline for receipt of resolutions from state and
directed to M.J. Mrvica Associates, 2 West Taunton regional societies for publication in 2003 annual reports.
Avenue, Berlin, NJ 08009; telephone: 856/768-9360;
fax: 856/753-0064; e-mail: mjmrvica@mrvica.com. Only July 31
advertisers in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Deadline for Annual Meeting pre-registration.
Surgery will be accepted. The publication of an
advertisement is not to be construed as an endorsement October 1
or approval by the American Association of Oral and Deadline for 2004 annual meeting surgical clinic
Maxillofacial Surgeons of the product or service being applications.
offered in the advertisement unless the advertisement
specifically includes an authorized statement that such March 1, 2004
approval or endorsement has been granted. ■ Deadline for 2004 annual meeting abstract submissions.

18 AAOMS Today • March/April 2003