B. Gail Denko, DMD PC, Dental Sleep Medicine. Specializing in the treatment of patients with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.
“Anyone can escape into sleep, we are all geniuses when we dream, the butcher's the poet's equal there.”
Emile M. Ciora
Insurance billing for oral orthotics
Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield:
1. Does not prior authorize DME coverage.
2. Does not precertify payment for oral orthotics.
3. May cover less than 0-50% of the costs.
Tricare: Dependents of the US Armed Forces:
1. Will not pay anyone who is not a contracted provider.
2. Requires the referring physician to obtain all of the appropriate referrals.
3. Has minimal coverage for oral orthotics.
(Note: Members of the Armed Forces and the National Guard who are diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and treated with CPAP are considered “non-deployable” and may be released from the service. Oral orthotics and surgery may be the therapy of choice.)
Welfare / State Assistance:
I know of no dental provider who accepts this form of payment and is a Diplomate the Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. I would suggest that patients with this form of medical coverage assume all care is out-of-pocket. Some patienst have worked with their social workers and been reimbursed in part or wholly by State Aid.
Dentists play an important role in the team approach to the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
Physicians, dentists, psychologists, and respiratory therapists all pool their knowledge to treat each patient appropriately and effectively.
Dentists who are specifically trained in aspects of sleep medicine and have a command of multiple appliance modalities are of great help to physicians in treating patients with sleep disordered breathing problems.
AVALABLE OFFICE HOURS:
9:00 t o 5:00 (Mon)
9:00 to 5:00 (Wed–Sat)
12:00 to5:00 (Sun)
CALL 617.964.4028
in Massachusetts
317.842.9866
in Indiana
The National Center on Sleep Disorders Research, can provide you with sleep education materials. As well as publications on heart, lung and blood research:
Two Rockledge Center, Suite 7024, 6701Rockledge Drive, MSC 7920, Betesda, MD 20892-7920
(P)301.435.0199 /
(F) 301.480.3451
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/ncsdr/
Information about sleep disorders may be obtained from NHLBI:
NHLBI Information Center
P. O. Box 30105, Bethesda, MD 20824-0105
(P) 301.251.1222 / (F) 301.251.122
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/