Are You NPI Ready?

All dentists must have and should be using a National Provider Identifier (NPI), a 10-digit standard unique identifier number issued by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. An NPI number is required by May 23, 2008 if your office submits electronic claims, electronic attachments and/or accesses claims and eligibility via the Internet. You can apply online for an NPI, free of charge, at https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov or by calling 1-800-465-3203 to request an application. HDS must have your NPI number on file as soon as possible. Please fax your NPI number to HDS Professional Relations at (808) 529-9368 or toll-free (866) 376-7500. We will update our files and the national Delta Dental data-base with your new NPI number.

Contact Information

Eligibility and Claims:

Customer Service Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oahu: 529-9248 Toll Free: (800) 232-2533 ext.248 All Other Inquiries: Professional Relations Ph: (808) 529-9222 Toll Free: (800) 232-2533

May 2008 Dr. Inge Spreads Word On Diabetes and Oral Health

HDS invited Dr. Ronald Inge, vice president and dental director for Washington Dental Service, to return to Hawaii for the second time to do a series of presentations on diabetes and oral health. During his week-long stay, he gave presentations on Maui, the Big Island and Oahu to more than 185 participating dentists. The Oahu session coincided with HDS Annual Meeting at the Ala Moana Hotel in April.

He shared information on research that shows that diabetes reduces the body’s resistance to infection, and the gums are among the tissues that can be affected causing periodontal disease.

New HDS Board and HDS Foundation Officers

HDS held its 45th Annual Meeting on April 10 at the Ala Moana Hotel. More than 100 participating dentists, public members, and HDS board members attended the meeting and luncheon. Elections for HDS board members were held, Faye Kurren provided a recap of HDS's accomplishments for 2007, and Gregg Dunn, HDS Foundation chair, shared information on the grants that were distributed to local non-profit organizations in the past year.

At a separate meeting held in April, the HDS board of directors and the HDS Foundation elected its officers for the 2008-2009 year. Gregg Dunn, executive director of the Hawaii Nature Center, was elected as chair of the board and Patrick Loo, president & CEO of United Food & Commercial Workers Union, Local 480, was elected chair of the HDS Foundation.

HDS Board of Directors 2008–2009: Gregory Dwight Dunn - Chair, T. Kimo Blaisdell - 1st Vice Chair, Assistant Secretary & Assistant Treasurer; Michael J. O’ Malley - Secretary; Norman S. Chun, D.M.D. - Treasurer; Harold J. Dias, Jr.; Clay R. Hiramoto, D.D.S.; Kim James Lawler, D.D.S.; Gabriel S.H. Lee; Patrick K. Loo; Ronald D. Miller, D.D.S.; Jodi M. Nakayama; Garrett B.K. Oka, D.D.S.; and Marvin M. Tanaka, D.D.S., M.S.

HDS Foundation Board of Trustees: Patrick Loo, Chair; Garrett Oka, D.D.S., President; Clay Hiramoto, D.D.S.; and Jodi Nakayama.

From Left: Ron Inge, DDS, Myrtle Miyamura, DMD and Jonathan Lum

Ask HDS If you would like to submit a question, please e-mail askhds@hdsonline.org.

Q: Will you be requiring dental offices to use the American Dental Association, 2006 claim form? A: No. HDS accepts any claim form that includes the necessary information to process your claim. Q: How do I know if a pre- or post-operative X-ray is required? A: Refer to the Procedure Code Guidelines. A pre-operative X-ray is required when “X-ray” is indicated. A post-operative X-ray is required when “post-Op X-ray” is indicated.

New Groups

Child & Family Services #2828 Hiilei Aloha LLC #2820 ILWU Local 142 (General) #2825

New Dentists

General Practice

Christopher H.P. Chow, DDS Hawaii Family Dental Center Mililani - Oahu, Lihue - Kauai Joseph M. Salamon, DDS Hawaii Family Dental Center Lihue - Kauai Rezene O. Laurel, DDS King’s Dental Health Services Honolulu - Oahu

How to Submit for Clear Aligners (e.g. Invisalign)

When submitting a claim for clear aligners, dental offices can charge a separate laboratory fee for the clear aligner, in addition to their orthodontic treatment procedure (D8010 - 8090). Clear aligners are considered a cosmetic service and chargeable to the patient when the following conditions are met:

• An orthodontic code is submitted with the clear aligner. • Clear aligner dental laboratory charges are submitted as D8999 and a

narrative stating, “clear aligner” is included. • A dental laboratory invoice indicating the additional charge for the clear

aligner is submitted. • A patient consent form is on file showing an agreement that the clear aligner

is cosmetic and not covered by HDS. It should also include information on the proposed treatment and cost, and any reasonable alternatives.

New Dentists and New Locations

If you are expecting a new dentist to join your practice, please be aware that in order to be paid as a participating dentist for services rendered to HDS members, the dentist must be an HDS participating dentist at the time of treatment.

Claims submitted to HDS for services rendered prior to becoming an HDS participating dentist will be processed at non-participating dentist rates.

If the dentist is currently an HDS participating dentist and will be practicing at a new location, please remember to register the new location. All claims submitted to HDS without a registered location will be returned to the dental office.

Access Information Management

Identity theft is the number one concern among consumers contacting the Federal Trade Commission, and it is the fastest growing crime affecting organi-zations today. According to the United States Secret Service, Hawaii cases of identity theft went from 255,000 in 2005 to 755,000 in 2007. That is an astonishing average of 63,000 incidents per month. The consequences of unsecured document disposal practices and laws and regulations necessitate a Document Destruction Program be made an integral part of every organization.

In 2005 Governor Linda Lingle unveiled four initiatives to fight the growing problem of identity theft in Hawaii. The four initiatives, Disposal of Personal Information, Credit Freeze, Security Breach Notification and Social Security Number Protection became bills in 2007. The bills protect against unauthorized access or use of information after it is disposed of and ensures that confidential information, when no longer needed, is destroyed. The Records Disposal Act requires that businesses establish security procedures to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of their customers’ personal data.

For information on how Access Information Management, an HDS affiliate, can manage your hard-copy records storage, off-site media vault storage, electronic document management, and secure destruction, please call 673-3200. HDS affiliates offer special discounts to HDS participating dentists.