What they Are – How they Work
By Staff Reporters
OMAP Unique Procedure Codes*
The HHS [Health and Human Services] Office of Medical Assistance Program’s [OMAP] unique procedure codes were originally listed in the appropriate service guides. The maintenance of these codes was the responsibility of OMAP. These procedure codes were reviewed as needed and deleted either when a program no longer exists or when other Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System [HCPCS] codes are created which fully describe the service. Most of the unique codes were created to meet the needs of specialized services or programs. OMAP’s unique procedure codes were all five character configurations with the following alpha/numeric combinations: four numeric/one alpha (e.g., 7300Y); three numeric, two alpha (e.g., 206EP); two alpha/three numeric (e.g., BA311); or three alpha/two numeric (e.g., VIS01).
Current Dental Terminology (CDT procedure codes)
The American Dental Association’s (ADA) Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature is contained in the CDT-3 user guide. The maintenance of these codes is the responsibility of the Council on Dental Benefit Programs with consultation from: Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, the Health Insurance Association of America, the Health Care Financing Association, National Electronic Information Corporation, and the American Dental Association recognized dental specialty organizations. The ADA updates the user guide approximately every five years. CDT codes are five-character, alpha-numeric configurations (e.g., D2110). Contact the American Dental Association to obtain a current copy of the CDT-3 Users Manual.
* Note: Due to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) requirements, Medicare Local codes and OMAP Unique codes were replaced with national standard procedure codes.
Assessment
For more terminology information, please refer to the Dictionary of Health Economics and Finance.
www.HealthDictionarySeries.com
Conclusion
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CDT Codes = ADA Cash Cow
Today I received an unsolicited package from the ADA Business Resources in the mail that must have cost at least a hundred thousand dollars to send to every ADA member. It is for CareCredit, a dentistry financing company owned not by the ADA, but by GE.
The ad is a multi-page document with impressive graphics and high quality printing on heavy, glossy paper. I read through every word of the ad and noticed that there are two important missing items which ADA members should know about.
First of all, ADA members deserve to be told that the ADA’s partner in this business venture which profits off of members is GE. This has always been a bad business relationship that brings shame to ADA members. If one simply googles “CareCredit complaints,” one can read hundreds of consumer complaints about GE’s heartless financial subsidiary. Is CareCredit as good as the ADA can do? Does the ADA need the kickbacks that desperately? Are the CDT codes no longer bringing in enough income?
(“Gasp! Don’t tell me he’s going after that ADA money maker! First it was ADA/IDM. Now it’s CareCredit/GE. And next, the special bastard is threatening to attack ADA copyrighted material! Tell me it’s not so!”)
Here is the second issue I have with the advertisement that was published using members’ dues, as well as profits from CDT codes. NOWHERE in the ad does it warn dentists that in signing a contract with CareCredit, one signs up for FTC’s Red Flags Rule.
How can our own professional organization do this to its members? The Red Flags Rule compliancy deadline, including its expensive liabilities, is November 1, 2009. Why would one want to sign on for that?
The Journal of the American Dental Association failed to publish my July 28th letter that I posted on Medical Executive-Post titled “Journal of the American Dental Association [Letter to the Editor]”
http://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2009/07/28/journal-of-the-american-dental-association-letter-to-the-editor/
I compared the ADA’s level of leadership accountability to AARP’s. The ADA lost.
I hoped it would be published in the JADA in time for the national meeting in Hawaii. I have been an ADA member since 1982. Nobody even acknowledged receiving my letter. How good is that?
D. Kellus Pruitt; DDS
Hello Darrell,
Ditto for the AMA and their CPT codes; about $6 million dollars annually.
Jennifer
I imagine you underestimate the AMA’s profits by half, Jennifer. I bet nobody from the AMA will ever say so, though.
How will principals, doctors and patients, ever save money on interoperable eHRs with so many silent stakeholders to satisfy?
D. Kellus Pruitt; DDS