NCPDP expands its reach into the dental industry

NCPDP (National Council for Prescription Drug Programs) has announced the National Dental EDI Council (NDEDIC) has signed an affiliation agreement, marking NCPDP's expanded reach into dental, as it continues its path of connecting, collaborating with and advancing healthcare. NDEDIC is a not-for-profit organization focused on promoting the value and increasing utilization of electronic commerce in the dental industry. NDEDIC's members include payers, providers, vendors and clearinghouses.

Under the agreement, NCPDP will provide NDEDIC with operational support including finance, management, technical and marketing. NCPDP will also help NDEDIC develop standards and a real-time environment in dental, and assist NDEDIC in pursuing ANSI accreditation.

"This is only the beginning," explained Lee Ann Stember, president of NCPDP. "We are compelled to guide other segments of healthcare, such as dental, to take their organizations to the next level. Our goal is to empower NDEDIC's members to align and shape the evolution of the dental industry by applying NCPDP's collaborative, consensus based process, and other best practices we have developed over the past 37 years."

"NCPDP will accelerate our ability to bring standards and automation to the dental industry," said NDEDIC Chairman, Scott Wellwood. "We now have the opportunity for NDEDIC to BE the voice of dental and to establish guidelines so that the transaction sets of the future satisfy the needs of our membership. Our members are ready to transform our industry and support allied healthcare providers in improving the coordination of patient care and health outcomes as we bring the business of dental into a real-time environment."

Stember continued, "Our members have helped build NCPDP into a highly efficient and effective force driving positive change in healthcare. The timing is right to extend our reach and influence to improve the operations of the dental industry. We are energized by the opportunity to channel the strengths and passion of NDEDIC members and help elevate the organization into a standards development body that can share critical insights on patient risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and more with other healthcare providers."

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