Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1274423
5 BECKER'S DENTAL + DSO REVIEW - VOL. 3 AUGUST 2020 Mississippi dentist sues state dental board for $10M, claims he is a target of 'collective animosity' By Gabrielle Masson A Mississippi dentist has filed a $10 million lawsuit against the state dental board, alleging he is being disciplined because he advertises his dental service on television, the Clarion-Ledger reports. Jon Germany, DMD, filed the lawsuit against the Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners after the board initiated disci- plinary action against him and recommended a 90-day suspension. Dr. Germany said the disciplinary action is based on a complaint by a patient who said the dentist allowed a dental assistant to take an impression of her mouth, which Dr. Germany said is legal. The patient also said Dr. Germany billed her for a cleaning that wasn't performed, but the lawsuit asserts that any billing for the cleaning was simply a clerical error. "The Board has proposed a 90-day suspension, which leads one to believe Dr. Germany is indeed a target of collective animosity and restraint of trade," the lawsuit says. Dr. Germany has had two previous board disciplinary cases, including one saying he violated advertising rules by not stating in the ad that he was a general dentist. "Various board members have expressed a great dislike for such advertising and are attempting to chill the plaintiff (and other licensees) into ceasing his advertising," Dr. Germany's lawsuit claims. "They clearly threaten and discourage the plaintiff from his rights to commercial free speech." The Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners is alleging that Dr. Germany practiced incompetently or negligently, delegated professional responsibilities to a person not qualified, is guilty of unprofessional conduct, and violated rules and regulations. n American Dental Hygienists Association names new president By Katie Adams T he American Dental Hygienists Association named Lisa Moravec its new president during its virtual annual con- ference held June 26-28, according to the Scottsbluff Star-Herald. Ms. Moravec, a site coordinator and instructor at the Ger- ing-based University of Nebraska Medical Center's college of dental hygiene, was the ADHA's president-elect since her col- leagues voted her into the position during the organization's 2019 annual conference. She will continue to facilitate and teach in UNMC's dental hygienist program while representing ADHA around the country. Due to her personal passion for her profession, Ms. Moravec told the Scottsbluff Star-Herald she feels ready and excited to take on the new workload. n Humana dentists receive monthly stipend through September By Gabrielle Masson A s of June 1, Louisville, Ky.-based Humana is paying an additional $7 per Humana member dental claim to help them afford the rising costs of care amid the pandemic. At the end of every month, the health insurance company will send a stipend to dentists based on the total number of claims for Humana members they had. The funding will be available through September 2020 for all fully insured Hu- mana dental members. Th e f u n d i n g excludes ASO, Network Access and Dis- count p l a n s . n DENTAL PROFESSIONALS