Two panel presentations on claims reviews will be part of the program May 8-10 at the American Association of Dental Consultants Spring Workshop, "Enhancing the Role and Relevance of the Dental Consultant."
The reviews will be moderated by Richard M. Celko, DMD, MBA, National Dental Director of Utilization Management, Aetna.
Panel experts will include Stewart Balikov, DDS, Dental Director, Aetna Dental of CA. Inc.; George Koumaras, DDS, Dental Director, Delta Dental of VA; and Marc Zweig, DMD, Manager, Professional Review, Delta Dental of New Jersey.
Dentists, dental specialists and persons actively involved in the dental insurance business are welcome to attend the Workshop, which offers 15 Continuing Education Unit credits. Conference speakers include ten of the industry's leading experts on clinical dentistry and dental claims management.
Presentation overview
Each clinician on the panel will present actual claims in various disciplines. The audience is invited to participate in discussion of the claims with regard to CDT coding, comparison of treatment submitted to standards of care, quality of diagnostics and their share opinions on proper claim handling.
Panel bios
Dr. Celko is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the American Dental Association and the Pennsylvania Dental Association, and holds a Certified Dental Consultant designation from the AADC.
Dr. Balikov received his DDS from the University of Southern California in 1983. He currently serves as the Dental Director for Aetna Dental of California, Inc., an Aetna Inc. company since July 2004. His duties include Manager of the Dental Utilization Management unit in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Dr. Balikov left full- time clinical practice to join GE Dental and Vision as Compliance Manager in September 2001 after serving as a part-time independent facility auditor consultant having reviewed more than 10,000 patient files. In addition to working at Aetna, Dr. Balikov maintains a limited, private general dental practice in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Dr. Koumaras graduated from Villanova University in 1975 with a bachelor of science degree and attended Drexel University's master's program for biomedical engineering and science. He then attended and graduated from Temple University Dental School and attended residency training for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Hahnemann University Hospital. Dr. Koumaras retired from practice to work at Aetna Inc. where he held various positions in 13 years. His last position at Aetna was the Director of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Patient Management where he was responsible for developing and implementing the first-of-its-kind patient management unit for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for medical plans. In August 2006, Dr. Koumaras retired from Aetna to become the Dental Director for Delta Dental of VA where his responsibilities include Provider Relations, Professional Review and Fraud and Abuse.
Dr. Zweig graduated with his BS from the University of Kentucky in 1968. He earned his DMD at the University of Louisville in 1972, and graduated from the University of Maryland with his Specialty Certificate in Periodontology in 1974. Dr. Zewig was in private periodontal practice for more than 20 years. He has been with Delta Dental of New Jersey as Manager of Professional Review since 1997. He is also a Clinical Professor at Middlesex County College in the Department of Dental Hygiene.
Conference details
The American Association of Dental Consultants is a professional association for dentists and others involved in the dental benefits industry. Most members are practicing general dentists or specialists. Nondentist affiliate members of the AADC work in the dental benefits industry and affect the policies and benefit designs that determine coverage for dental services. Conference fees are $525 for AADC and NDEDIC members and $750 for non-members. Rates increase for registrations received after April 4. The conference fee includes three continental breakfasts and three lunches plus two and one half days of continuing education programs, welcome reception and a vendor exhibits. Space is limited.
For more information or to register, go to the AADC Web site at American Association of Dental Consultants.
To read more about dental consultants, go to dental consultant.
