Evaluation of a focused dental utilization review system.

It has been suggested that the efficiency of claim-based utilization review systems could be improved by focusing on providers with very high utilization rates. This strategy assumes that 1) high utilizers are more likely to be overutilizers, 2) labeling claims (e.g., "high utilizer") do not bias the review, and 3) the claim review process is sufficiently reliable. These issues were studied in prospective dental utilization review system where dentists submit claims and radiographs to an insurance carrier so that they may obtain treatment authorization. A sample of dentists with very high and moderate utilization rates for amalgams, crowns, and bridges were identified and their pretreatment claims containing these services (N = 553) were collected. Half the services from high and moderate utilizer practices were labeled "high utilizer," and the other half were unlabeled. Seven dental consultants from two large insurance carriers independently assessed the appropriateness of the services (approve or deny) from radiographs. The results indicate that services submitted by dentists with high utilization rates were no more likely to be denied than those with moderate rates, labeling claims did not appear to bias the reviewers, and interconsultant agreement levels for denials seldom exceeded 50 per cent. The study suggests that further development of focused review systems requires a better understanding of the association between utilization rates and overutilization and new methods for improving the reliability of reviewers.

Federal grant support to general practice residency programs in dentistry: results of two years of funding.

The Health Professions Educational Assistance Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-484) authorized federal grant support to general practice residency programs. This paper reports the results of two years of funding under this authority. In this period, 46 institutions received grants totalling $7.8 million for the purpose of enlarging enrollments, hiring faculty and support staff, improving facilities, and related purposes. Three hundred eighty-six residents were enrolled in grant-supported programs; 118 of these residents received federal financial assistance. Dental departments in hospitals located in the eastern part of the country were the major recipients of these grants. Additional information related to program and trainee data, sponsorship of programs, developmental stage of programs, geographic location of programs, and funding by budget category is presented.

Providing preventive dental care in the community using the team approach: a comparison of five training programs.

Five dental schools developed training programs for dental and dental auxiliary students in planning and delivering preventive dental services in a community setting. The schools (1) designed a curriculum that would train dental students to plan, organize, and manage the delivery of community preventive services using a team approach; (2) developed a related curriculum for dental auxiliary students; (3) implemented the program intramurally and extramurally in selected community settings; and (4) planned and conducted an evaluation of the program. Each school individualized the program to the interests of its students, the constraints of its curriculum, and the needs of community groups. A total of 228 dental and 576 dental auxiliary students were trained. A full range of community sites and target populations were provided with preventive dentistry services.