Delta Dental Plan Of Michigan

Programs: Promoting dental caredelta dental plan of michigan, inc. Is a leading prepaid dental benefits provider in the midwest. The purpose of the organization is to advance and promote the improvement of oral health. This is done by offering innovative, cost-effective products that meet the needs of customers. This was demonstrated in 2016 by paying out over $1. 7 billion for dental care, by providing dental benefits for the public and advancing the science of dentistry. In addition, over 10. 2 million claims were processed for over 3. 3 million subscribers. See schedule o for continuationcost saving strategiesdelta dental benefit plans are committed to saving groups and subscribers money. The delta difference is an integration of activities; such as cost management policies, fee reduction agreements with dentists, and an anti-fraud hotline, put to work ensuring quality, cost-effective dental benefit delivery. In 2016, the delta difference saved groups and subscribers approximately $1. 8 billion. In addition, the delta difference helps keep our trend below the national inflationary trend in dental benefits. Delta dental's industry leading technology platform, enterprise technology solutions (ets), has been internationally recognized as providing the best in fast, flexible service including online, real-time claims processing. Delta dental's continued priority is to reduce costs and improve service by increasing the volume of claims that are submitted electronically. Quality initiatives and resultsbringing quality to all we do is the quality policy for delta dental plan of michigan, inc. The affiliated delta dental plans of michigan, ohio and indiana hold the prestigious iso 9001 certification. Quality standards are extremely rigorous and guarantee that delta dental has documented its quality procedures and systems throughout the company. This certification demonstrates our commitment to serving the needs of our customers and strengthens our dedication to quality and innovation. Quality service is also measured through internal audits. Results indicate over 99 percent of claims are processed within 10 working days. Commitment to the communitydelta dental plan of michigan, inc. Believes advances in dental research and enhanced educational opportunities for dentists go a long way toward improving oral health. The company is a key player in groundbreaking research on trends in oral health in the insured population. The delta dental fund, the company's philanthropic affiliate, encourages advances in dentistry and supports dental education and research. Only an organization of delta dental's size and experience in the benefits field has extensive data regarding dental treatment patterns over extended periods of time. Because of its commitment to advancing the science of dentistry, each year the company grants researchers at five dental schools in michigan, ohio and indiana access to this important information to study oral health trends. The results of their studies will add significant data to the body of knowledge in the field of dentistry. Since it was formed in 1980, the delta dental fund has granted over $25 million toward the advancement of dental science and improvement of the oral health of the public. Delta dental fund regularly provides funding for programs that help at-risk populations and individuals with special needs obtain dental treatment, for scholarship and leadership awards to dental students, for grants to purchase learning tools and other programs to dental schools, for continuing education programs for the dental profession, and for educational materials on the importance of oral health and hazards to oral health. In 2016, delta dental fund provided grants totaling over $2. 5 million for dental and community relations projects. Among them were grants to the michigan department of community health, cincinnati public school district to support community water fluoridation, and to fund dental clinics. In addition, we provided the department with funding to implement two fluoride programs for up to 8,000 flint area children affected by the water crisis. The first program is a school-based fluoride rinse program for students in the elementary grades and the second is a fluoride varnish program for head start children. Delta dental plan of michigan is also committed to the community. Delta dental has always been keenly aware of its civic and social responsibility. Delta dental plans are proud to share, through direct financial contributions, with hundreds of community agencies and groups. In addition, employees log countless hours of their own time as volunteers. Community support generally falls under the broad categories that provide support to agencies and institutions serving children, seniors, low-income individuals, minorities, and the disabled and at-risk individuals, to organizations that promote education, arts and recreation and community development, and to charitable projects or programs recommended by employees, customers, participating dentists and other key groups. Throughout 2016, we continued our role as strong advocates for sound oral health policy at the state and federal levels. Through a public-private partnership with the michigan department of community health, delta dental administers the healthy kids dental (hkd) and michild programs. Healthy kids dental is a dental benefits program for medicaid beneficiaries under age 21. It is available in all of michigan's 83 counties and covers basic dental health benefits such as x-rays, cleanings, cavity fillings, root canals, tooth extractions and dentures. Nearly 1,000,000 michigan children are served by this program. The american dental association name michigan's hkd program one of the five models for improving access to dental care for low-income populations. Also in 2016, delta dental continued our involvement in michigan's medicaid expansion plan, called healthy michigan plan (hmp). The program improves access to medical and dental care for low-income michigan residents ages 19 to 64 and is administered by michigan's medicaid health plans. Hmp provides dental benefits to increased access to care for low-income populations who do not qualify for the traditional medicaid program. Unequaled access to dentistsfor five decades, delta dental has helped promote oral health by designing and administering innovative, cost-effective dental benefit programs. Experts at plan design, delta dental has created dental benefit programs that meet customer cost-objectives while helping to improve and maintain oral health. The programs feature large panels of full-time participating dentists. In fact, 3 out of 4 dentists nationwide participate with delta dental. This kind of reach has enabled millions of people to receive cost-effective dental care. Delta dental's group members are afforded added protection because they guarantee that participating dentists will accept their payment for covered services and that no charges, other than co-payments and deductibles will be billed. This lowers claim costs for customers and reduces out-of-pocket costs for subscribers. With two networks of full-time participating dentists in one integrated claims system, delta dental can deliver to customers and group members, the greatest access at the best cost.