UPMC Health Plan will transition to SKYGEN USA for administering dental benefits beginning April 1, 2021 for the following UPMC products:

• CHIP
• Medical Assistance
• UPMC Community HealthChoices (MLTSS)
• Medicare (select University of Pittsburgh retirees only)
• Medicare Special Needs Plans
• Federal Employees Health Benefits.

This means that SKYGEN USA will be responsible for various dental administration processes including, but not limited to contracting, credentialing and processing claims for dental providers participating in any of the mentioned UPMC programs. UPMC will hold the participation contract with dental providers. To continue participation in the UPMC programs listed above, beginning April 1, 2021, you must sign and return a new Participating Dental Agreement with SKYGEN USA. Please Contact SKYGEN USA’s Network Development at 1-800-508-6965 or networkdevelopment@skygenusa.com to do so. Avesis will continue to administer UPMC’s dental benefits for the above product lines through March 31, 2021. If there are dental contracting, credentialing or claims related questions through March 31, 2021, please contact your Avesis provider network representative. These changes will not impact your Commercial and/or Medicare contract with UPMC Dental Advantage. If you have questions in regards to your Commercial or Medicare contract, please email HPDental@upmc.edu or contact UPMC Dental Advantage Provider Services at 1-877-648-9609.

Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine and the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) released the “Pennsylvania Oral Health Plan 2020-2030.” This is a 10-year roadmap to improve the oral health of all Pennsylvanians. As this plan is implemented, DOH will continue to involve partners and stakeholders to gather feedback, assess continued needs, and incorporate new thoughts and ideas as needed to best support oral health and wellness across the commonwealth. Read the press release.

The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC) published two new infographics for oral health professionals. The documents provide information about the benefits of and barriers to preventive dental visits for pregnant women and children and adolescents ages 1-17. The resources can be shared with program administrators and other stakeholders to raise awareness about the importance of preventive dental visits to reduce oral health problems and unnecessary treatment expenses.

Click on the below links to download the infographics:
“Preventive Dental Visits for Children and Adolescents are Important!”
“Preventive Dental Visits for Pregnant Women are Important!”

Gateway Health has implemented Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioner (PHDHP) credentialing and network participation. This opportunity will increase access to care for patients in Pennsylvania. For background, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services released a bulletin in 2017 recognizing PHDHPs as providers able to be credentialed and contracted through managed care organizations. The role of dental hygienists across the nation has evolved due to the lack of cost-effective access to preventive oral health care and the need to increase oral health literacy across the nation.

Contact Holly Kauffman for more information or to request an application.

The American Public Health Association (APHA) and the American Dental Association (ADA) are hosting “A Toast to Community Water Fluoridation – Celebrating 75 Years!” on Sunday, October 25th at 7 p.m. ET. This celebration will serve as an opportunity to highlight the inspiring perseverance of public health partners across the country. There are multiple featured speakers including Rear Admiral Assistant Surgeon General Timothy Ricks.

Click here for more information and to register.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided updated recommendations on Sept. 24, 2020 about the use of dental amalgam. The information potentially has a large impact on dentistry and public health dental programs. For more information, visit these links:

• Safety Communication
• Patient Brochure website
• Patient Brochure printable format
• Dental Amalgam website

However, the American Dental Association (ADA) News reported on Sept. 24, 2020 that the ADA “reaffirmed its position that dental amalgam is a ‘durable, safe and effective’ restorative material in response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Sept. 24 statement that existing evidence shows that dental amalgam is not harmful to the general population and treatment options should be thoroughly discussed by the patient and dentist.”

The HRSA Opioid Training Module, “Acute Pain Management Strategies,” was developed at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine with funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (PI Dr. Robert Weyant, Co-PI Dr. Deborah Studen-Pavlovich). Content expert Dr. Paul Moore is a dentist, pharmacologist, anesthesiologist, and public health expert who has published over 250 articles in peer reviewed journals and has presented more than 150 invited lectures around the world. He is a renowned expert on local anesthetics, antibiotics, analgesics, sedation, drug interactions, and oral complications of diabetes. In this video, Dr. Moore shares his expertise in acute pain management strategies, responsible opioid prescribing, and alternatives to the routine use of opioids in dentistry.

Click here to watch the video.

As part of the Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health’s (PCOH) adult dental benefit campaign, we are launching some advocacy this fall to protect dental benefits in the state. Working with our consultant, Denny Civic Solutions, and Achieva, we have created a one-pager to use during our communications with decision-makers. If your personal organization or another organization that you are involved in would like to add your logo to the second page of this document, please click the link below no later than Wednesday, September 30th.

We appreciate the consideration.

Click here to download the one-pager.
Click here to contact PCOH to add your logo.