GNYDM 2014 new products; McKenzie on chaotic schedules; Texas Medicaid fraud saga takes new turn

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

Several new products were featured at this week's 2014 Greater New York Dental Meeting (GNYDM). Products included a range of new offerings, such as new universal adhesives, a retraction paste, a voice-controlled periodontal charting system, and an enamel-strengthening toothpaste. Read Features Editor Donna Domino's coverage here.

As practice management consultant Sally McKenzie writes, many practices seem to have too many chaotic days. Your schedule exists to keep you productive and on track to meet daily production goals. She offers four practical ideas to focus your schedule and make your days more productive. Read them here.

The Third Court of Appeals in Texas has invalidated several rules related to payment holds imposed during Medicaid fraud investigations, saying they violate due process rights. These rules authorized the Texas Office of Inspector General to impose payment holds on Medicaid funds when a provider is being investigated for fraud. The decision sides with plaintiffs Harlingen Family Dentistry and Trueblood Dental Associates and also reverses a trial court's ruling. Find out more here.

Shade matching has always been a complex task involving multiple variables in which even the most experienced clinicians can make errors. It is, however, crucial as small color differences can lead to dissatisfied patients. The visual method using shade guides is the standard way to match tooth color, but using an instrument is likely to produce more effective results, according to a new study from Brazil. Read more here.

If you haven't had a chance to read Dr. Doyle Williams' new column on insurance coding issues, please take the opportunity. Your colleagues are already finding practical information that helps them overcome difficult insurance issues. Also, look for more Greater New York 2014 coverage on Friday of this week.