Cliff's Notes

Horizon Blue Cross Litigation, Affordable Health Care Act a Logistical Nightmare & The SAF System Has Arrived-Endodontics have Changed Forever!

Cliff’s Notes for September 26, 2010

….. E-Blast…..

 

Cliff Marsh, Henry Schein ……Cell: 201-321-7494……Fax: 201-262-2210…..E-mail: cliff.marsh@henryschein.com

http://www.cliffsnotesblog.wordpress.com

“The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

Ronald Regan

In This Week’s Issue

• Horizon Blue Cross Owes Big $$ in Litigation Loss!
• Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, Maybe a “form 1099” Nightmare!
• SAF Has Arrived & Comes with a Satisfaction Guaranty! (Product Review)

 

Horizon Blue Cross Litigation……………………………………………………………..

Just months after wrapping up a marathon class-action suit by physicians alleging onerous billing and claim procedures, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is being drilled by dentists with similar litigation. On Sept. 16, an Essex County, NJ judge certified the class in Kirsch v. Horizon, Esx-L-109-08, which alleges the insurer used tactics known as “bundling” and “downcoding” to deprive dentists due payments for patient care, in breach of provider agreements that payments be made according to fee schedules. The suit seeks injunctive relief, compensatory damages plus interest for dental services rendered, punitive damages, costs and attorneys’ fees. Superior Court Judge Paul Vichness certified the class as including all dentists who provided services, for which Horizon had a payment obligation, from Jan. 7, 2002, to the present.

This notice was supplied to me by Jo Ann Pietro, RN, Esq. I will be in touch with her in the next few days so that I can answer some of your questions. Jo Ann & her law firm specialize in healthcare litigation and she routinely appears in front of the State Board of Dentistry. For more information on the litigation and ruling, I suggest you contact Jo Ann directly. She can be reached @ jpietro@wplawfirm.com.

Dr. Kirsch’s accounting representative is Lawrence Goodman & Assoc. David Goodman is the lead advisor and the firm is a member of the Academy of Dental CPA’s (www.adcpa.org). David can be reached at david@lbgcpas.com.

It is suggested that you contact your legal advisor for more information. Jo Ann & David are available for consult. Please use my name (Cliff Marsh) for a priority reply.

Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, Maybe a “form 1099” Nightmare……….

The following excerpts were taken from the, The Record, Wednesday, September 15, 2010. Reported by Carol Lawrence lawrenceca@northjersey.com.

“The U.S. Senate failed to approve either of two bills seeking to overturn or minimize a new federal mandate requiring businesses to send out tax forms for purchases totaling or exceeding $600.00. The provision of the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (the healthcare overhaul) requires companies to track and submit to the IRS all business-to-business transactions of more than $600.00 annually”.

“The provision, that will not go into effect until 2012, was added to raise an estimated $17 Billion over the next decade to help cover the cost of expanding health care coverage. Currently, business must issue 1099 forms to contractors or freelancers whom they pay more than $600.00. That requirement will now extend to goods for any size company as the mandate now stands”.

“Bob Matters director of the tax department for the Hunter Group said “the provision will be a significant issue because businesses will have to track down tax information first to send the 1099 form to the vendors or businesses they buy from”.

As an example, if you buy Impregum from any source and the annual purchase is more than $600.00, you will need to obtain that sources tax information so you can report the purchase and send them a 1099 form. If a company sends you a refund check, they will need your tax information so they can report the transaction and send you a 1099. Larger companies like Henry Schein  have systems in place that may avoid these issues by tracking payments and credits through credit cards  and credit card programs. As long as the IRS can obtain the information and make it available to state agencies, should they choose to, 1099’s will not be necessary for those transactions.

This is where Cliff loves to say “I told you so” (see cliffsnotesblog, July 18, 2010, If You Want to Play With Fire, Expect to Get Burned). George Orwell wrote in his book, 1984 “Big Brother is Watching”. Well, he is! All of your sales and purchase are being tracked and recorded. Lawyers and accountants use a phrase called the “smell test”. What that means is that when a governing body examines a situation, it needs to look good so they don’t look deeper. The most organized tax payer will make honest mistakes, they will be found if you get a full audit and sooner or later you will. Remember, the Feds & the States need revenue. They know where it is, they just haven’t gotten to it yet. You can’t lose money forever and every business has an “indusrty average” tax obligation. Computer tracking and industry averages provide that data so you need to submit your use tax forms and have all other documentation in place because the penalties, fines and consulting costs could be devastating.

Contact your tax and financial advisors for more information. Get your finances into a digital format. it will not only save you money, but it “smells good”. The Academy of Dental CPA’s (www.adcpa.org) has customized the Quick Books format to make handling these issues easier. Anyway, this is something you need to think about today because it won’t go away.

SAF Has Arrived………………………………………………………………

The SELF ADJUSTING FILE is not a revolution, it is evolution. 3D Endodontics – This Changes Everything!

The revolutionary, new SAF Endo System features “Adaptive Endodontic Technology” which allows simultaneous canal cleaning, shaping, and irrigation as it constantly adjusts to the canal’s natural 3D anatomy, all with a single instrument.

Don’t believe me, see it for yourself. Log onto www.endovations.com Watch the video’s and sign up for the live webinar. The SAF System comes with a satisfaction money back guaranty. Your only investment will be the files you use, but you won’t be sending it back, it’s just that good!

The open lattice structure of the device design permits continuous irrigation during procedure without increasing intracanal pressure.

You may also want to view this YouTube presentation.

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 Cliff Marsh

Henry Schein Dental

P.O. Box 663, 45 Rt. 46 East, Suite 605

Pine Brook, NJ 07058

tel. 201-321-7494

fax.201-262-2210

e-mail. cliff.marsh@henryschein.com

www.cliffsnotesblog.wordpress.com

September 26, 2010 - Posted by Cliff's Notes Blog | Uncategorized