The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) privacy rule went into effect on April 14, 2003, but many dentists still have questions regarding how HIPAA affects their practice. The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is providing a way for dentists to get those questions answered during a live online chat with leading HIPAA experts from the American Dental Association (ADA).
In a unique partnership, the AGD and the American Dental Association (ADA) are hosting an online chat-at no charge to all members of both organizations through their Web sites. Members can log onto the discussion on June 26, 2003 between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. CST for answers to questions related to the HIPAA privacy rule and electronic transactions. Participants are invited to post questions early for the chat and to register by 6:30 p.m. CST on that day.
The free online chat will be hosted by Howard R. Gamble, DMD, FAGD, chair of the AGD Council on Communications, and will feature Robert Lapp, Ph.D., director of the ADA Department of Dental Informatics, and Colleen Johnson, an ADA attorney, director of the ADA Contract Analysis Service.
"HIPAA is the buzzword of the moment," says Howard Gamble, DMD, FAGD. "Many dentists are concerned about implementing the privacy practices and how it really affects them. The AGD's online chat, co-sponsored by the ADA, is a great way to offer free practical, knowledgeable help to our organization's members."
Dentists unable to participate in the free online chat will still have access to read what was discussed. A recorded transcript of the discussion will be available on www. agd.org and www.ada.org following the event.
The AGD is a non-profit organization of more than 37,000 general dentists dedicated to staying up-to-date in the profession through continuing education. A general dentist is the primary care provider for patients of all ages and is responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management and overall coordination of services related to patient's oral health needs.
