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On August 18, the HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) released Healthy People 2030 (HP2030) – the 5th version of the Healthy People initiative.

The House Energy & Commerce Committee sent oversight letters to nine health and dental insurance companies on August 13, seeking information on their policies and practices amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The National Association of Dental Plans (NADP) responded to AGD’s letter sent on July 7, and welcomed open communications between the organizations.

On August 13, AGD sent a letter to Reps. Cindy Axne (R-IA) and Neal Dunn (R-FL) expressing support for their recently introduced legislation, the Eliminating the Provider Relief Fund Tax Penalties Act of 2020 (H.R.7819).

Updated language of new guidelines could impact dental practices due to ongoing PPE shortages

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) would like to share the following information with you regarding offering webinars or other electronically mediated continuing dental education activities.

PACE Standard I, Criterion O states that program providers must develop and operate in accordance to written policies, procedures or guidelines designed to ensure that all clinical and/or technical continuing dental education activates offered include the scientific basis for the program content and an assessment of the benefits and risks associated with that content in order to promote public safety.

All PACE-approved CE organizations are expected to include the AGD PACE logo and the official approval statement on all publicity materials and attendance verification forms.

AGD Subject Codes are numerical codes assigned by the AGD to identify the topic taught during a continuing dental education course. Approved providers are expected to identify the AGD subject codes associated with a course or program in all course/program announcements and again on attendance verification forms.

As of September 1, 2019 the AGD stopped accepting any continuing education (CE) verification forms or rosters through the mail, fax or email. All CE MUST be submitted electronically. Any CE submitted through the mail, fax or email will be returned to the CE provider.

For the past several years the AGD PACE Council has reviewed applications on a bimonthly schedule. Due to an increase in the number of applications received and to improve the efficiency of our review process the AGD PACE Council has voted to transition to a quarterly review schedule.

The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) has updated its privacy settings to protect your data. As part of this process, an alphanumerical password is required, and you may be asked to update your password in order to log in to AGD.org so you can access the PACE roster submission tools and the application for national PACE-approval.

Mohamed Attia, DDS, MAGD, has traveled from one Alexandria to another. He began his dental journey in Alexandria, Egypt, and today he owns and operates Alexandria Center of Dentistry in Alexandria, Virginia. He answered a few questions about his experiences and outlook.

The odds of having a dental malpractice claim over a five-year period is 1 in 125, with the average cost of the claim payment being $83,120. Luckily for new graduates, AGD membership benefits include malpractice insurance at no extra cost from Dentist’s Advantage.

Harold “Hal” E. Donnell Jr., AGD’s longtime executive director who retired in 2003 after 30 years with the organization, died on July 23. Friend and colleague Richard C. Engar, DDS, FAGD, shares a special tribute to Donnell.

Understanding how to properly report dental procedures and provide the documentation required by payers is essential to receiving payment. The Practice Booster Online System is designed to make coding dental procedures and writing narratives easier than ever.

AGD has discounted the price of the Fall Fellowship Review Course from $750 to $600 due to the cancellation of the in-person course and exam. If you previously registered, a $150 refund will be credited to your credit card.

Keep an eye out tomorrow for a special offer from Ivoclar Vivadent and AGDVANTAGE available only to AGD members. This offer is time-sensitive. If you haven’t already signed up for AGDVANTAGE, call 800-626-2163, ext. 4568, and sign up today to avoid delays for ordering products.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made AGD’s advocacy efforts paramount to the survival of general dentists. Myron J. Bromberg, DDS, describes the pandemic’s influence on AGD’s advocacy efforts and how the organization is working to help dentists like you.

The premier meeting for general dentistry set to take place in Austin Texas