Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Summer 2015 - (Page 6)

Trustee Report Trustee Report April 2015 Dr. Norman Nagel AAO Trustee As I prepare this update, I look forward with anticipation to my next update! The AAO Annual Session will take place in a few weeks, and I know that there will be much to report to our membership after the House of Delegates reviews the many pressing issues before them. Of course, the Board of Trustees has been busy considering these issues over the past few months and has carefully thought about the potential impact of any changes on all members. In these times of rapid change in our specialty, in the economic environment, and in technology, the AAO is striving to remain ahead of the curve, relevant to our members, and responsive to new challenges as well as many opportunities. The board has finalized its review of the 2015-16 budget and is recommending that resources be allocated to a number of exciting programs to benefit members. These programs seek to:  Address members at all stages of practice, and practicing in all modalities, as member demographics change.  Expand the scope and reach of AAO's Consumer Awareness Program, to ensure that the public understands the difference between orthodontists and general practitioners, as well as the benefits of seeking orthodontists to straighten teeth and align bites.  Increase AAO's visibility in Washington, DC and in every state/province to address laws and regulations that threaten our specialty. Seeking to Continually Improve As we work to create a favorable environment for our members, we are also taking a close look inward at our governance. A Governance Task Force has worked throughout the year to develop several recommendations to ensure that we remain relevant, efficient, and effective. These recommendations include criteria for trustees and council representatives that will result in AAO's leadership encompassing the best and brightest minds, as well as assessment procedures for volunteers so that the AAO can create a culture of continual improvement. There is 6 also a recommendation to study the current constituent structure and assess the possibility of more efficiently organizing our association. While looking ahead, the Board of Trustees has been paying close attention to the here and now. In the past few months, over 1,200 members have attended an AAO conference - including Emerging Leaders, Winter Education, and Professional Advocacy. Meetings have been held with the officers and staff of the other dental specialties, several owners and managers of dental service management organizations, legislators, and insurers. These meetings have resulted in significant advantages for AAO members and the orthodontic specialty. I'll focus on one of these advances - Medically Necessary Orthodontic Care (MNOC). Medically Necessary Orthodontic Care MNOC has been on the radar of the AAO Council on Orthodontic Health Care for some time. Under AAO President Bob Varner's direction, a committee has been appointed to review all of the ramifications of this topic. As you may know, MNOC is listed under the pediatric dental benefits in the Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as Obamacare). Basically, it is included as an essential health benefit for children. The requirements for medically necessary orthodontics vary from state to state and medical plan to medical plan. The confusion surrounding what qualifies as a medically necessary orthodontic case (as opposed to a dentally necessary orthodontic case) affects patients, providers, and payers (third-party). Out of this confusion, members of the AAO Committee (myself, Dr. Steve Robirds [Consultant to COHC] and Ms. Ann Sebaugh [AAO staff]) met with members of the ADA, NADP (National Association of Dental Plans), AHIP (American Health Insurance Plans), CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid), and other payer groups and specialty organizations at the headquarters of the American Dental Association in March. PCSO Bulletin  Summer 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Summer 2015

Staying Connected in a Large, Diverse Orgainziation
Palm Springs: A PCSO Favorite
Trustee Report
PCSO at a Glance
PCSO Member News
AAOF Report
Special Section on CBCT
CBCT Imaging Protocols Within PCSO Residency Programs
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography in Orthodontics - Benefits of Comprehensive Visualization
Case Report Pre-Treatment
CBCT in Today's Orthodontic Practice
Case Report Post-Treatment
Differentiating Posterior Crossbites with CBCT Volumetric Images
Apps for the Orthodontist
Dr. Ib Leth Nielsen, San Francisco, CA
Dr. Robert J. Bendzak
Dr. Arthur A. Dugoni's 90th Birthday Makes for a Special Alumni Meeting in San Francisco
Preparing for the Unexpected: Your Emotional SOS Plan, Part II
Resident Spotlight
Hygiene: A New Battle for an Old War
Dr. Peter Picard, 1919-2013

Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Summer 2015