273154 Insurers' perceptions on the feasibility of HIV rapid testing in the dental care setting

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 3:17 PM - 3:29 PM

Harold A. Pollack, PhD , School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Rebecca Winitzer, MS, MSW , School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Margaret R. Pereyra, DrPH , Dept. of Epidemiology & Public Health, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL
Stephen Abel, DDS, MSD , Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Lisa Metsch, PhD , Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
     
Prior research has identified the dental setting as a potentially fruitful arena to detect undiagnosed cases of HIV infection. Insurance reimbursement poses one potential obstacle to the delivery of such services. To explore these issues, semi -structured interviews were conducted with 14 dental insurance company executives and consultants comprising more than 50 percent of the U.S. employer-based dental insurance market. Participants were identified using a targeted sampling method, and represented viewpoints from a significant share of companies within the dental insurance industry. A number of barriers were identified to the reimbursement of such services. Dissemination of findings on efficacy and additional research on financial returns could help to promote uptake of coverage by insurers. Wider issues of integration between dental and medical care and payment systems should be addressed in order to expand opportunities for preventive services in dental care settings.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Articulate the potential public health value of diagnostic screening and preventive services performed in the dental settings. Articulate the organizational and financial considerations of insurers and other payers in reimbursing such services.

Keywords: Financing, HIV Interventions

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Harold Pollack is an Associate Professor at the School of Social Service Administration, and faculty chair of the Center for Health Administration Studies. He has published widely at the interface between poverty policy and public health.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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