ADA News

Thousands of phone calls. Thousands of Code entries. Lots of questions.

Daunting? Yes. Insurmountable? Not for the ADA.

Log on and learn anytime with ADA CE Online ADA CE Online offers a variety of clinical and practice management courses for dentists and members of the dental team. There are several convenient no-cost options, and courses are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at www.adaceonline.org. Practicing dentists and faculty members are also encouraged to develop new courses for ADA CE Online, with particular emphasis on clinical topics and evidence-based dentistry. This is a unique opportunity to be associated with a credible, peer-reviewed CE website. To suggest courses, e-mail ce_online@ada.org.

In response to the multitude of questions about the Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature, a continuing education course is now available for free for a limited time at ADA CE Online. Nearly two years in the making, Introducing the Code: What It Is and How It Works for You was developed by the Council on Dental Benefit Programs with the help of the Center for Continuing Education on Lifelong Learning.

The ADA fields about 7,000 calls each year from members and others with questions about the Code, and the course is designed to address their basic concerns and offer them an introduction for coding properly. The program is offered at no cost to participants during its introductory period, and one continuing education unit will be granted for the one-hour course.

"When the ADA is taking that many calls about a specific topic, it's our job to respond," said Dr. Jeffrey Seiver, chair of the Council on Dental Benefit Programs Subcommittee on the Code. "This course was created for three audiences: dental students, practicing dentists and the dental team."

• Students will become familiar with the basic Code concepts and its use to document services provided to a patient and on claim submissions.
• Practicing dentists may utilize it to improve their familiarity with the Code.
• Dental team members who learn the content can support increased and timely collections for the practice.

The course was also designed to recruit new members to the ADA, Dr. Seiver said.

The self-guided program stems from the half-day CDBP Code workshop, which is updated every time a new version of the Code is effective. The council continues to deliver the Code workshop every year at annual session and as part of the ADA's CELL Seminar Series. To book the Code seminar, visit www.ada.org/goto/seminarseries.

In November 2008, CDBP decided the Code workshop could also serve as the basis for an online program that could reach a wider audience. This new code course will be free during the third quarter of this year and at a nominal fee thereafter.

In addition, "Dental Benefits 101" is up and running and is also free the third quarter. Visit www.adaceonline.org to register or for more information.

Other products on the Code developed by CDBP are also available from the ADA. Beginning in October, the new CDT 2011-2012: The ADA Practical Guide to Dental Procedure Codes (J932) and the CDT Companion 2011-2012: The ADA Practical Guide to Dental Coding (J442) will be available.

The new books will include 27 new and revised codes to assist with coding skills to accurately document and report services delivered to patients. Pre-sale for both the CDT and CDT Companion begins Aug. 1.