Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1357945
5 BECKER'S DENTAL + DSO REVIEW - VOL. 2021 NO. 2 Massachusetts dentist reaches $7.5K settlement for failing to accept MassHealth patients By Gabrielle Masson A Massachusetts dental practice reached a settlement with At- torney General Maura Healey to resolve allegations that they refused to accept MassHealth members seeking treatment. The settlement with Brighton, Mass.-based Amity Dental Center and Christina Hsu, DDS, resolves allegations that they turned away, re- fused to see and/or didn't accept MassHealth members. Instead, the practice and dentist had not notified MassHealth that they reached their maximum capacity of MassHealth members, as required by state law. An investigation by the attorney general's office found that Amity Dental Center had been refusing to accept new MassHealth patients between Jan. 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2020. Under the terms of the settlement, Amity and Dr. Hsu agreed to pay $7,500 and complete 35 hours of free dental services through the Dental Lifeline Network. Amity and Dr. Hsu have also agreed to dis- tribute 250 dental hygiene kits and provide free dental education to local schools. Under state regulations, if a dental provider has not notified Mass- Health of caseload capacity, the provider must continue to accept all MassHealth patients. n Private dental practice operating costs: 7 statistics By Gabrielle Masson B elow are seven statistics on yearly expenses at den- tal private practices in 2019 based on data from the American Dental Association and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Average net income General practice dentist average net income: $204,710 Dental specialist average net income: $343,410 Average annual gross billings Average gross billings per owner dentist (general practi- tioner): $742,490 Average gross billings per owner dentist (specialty): $1,059,890 Median hourly salary of other private practice dental staff: Full-time dental hygienist: $36.65 Full-time chairside dental assistant: $19.27 Median salary for recent dental school graduates Median annual net income for general practitioners with dental school graduation years 2016-18: $130,000 **This statistic is an estimate from an annual 2020 ADA poll that should be used with caution. n Dental industry workforce predictions for 2030: 3 notes By Gabrielle Masson T he U.S. is projected to face a shortage of more than 4,000 general dentists in 2030, accord- ing to the National Health Resources and Ser- vices Administration. The agency used HRSA's Health Workforce Simula- tion model to make industry projections based on 2017 estimates. Below are three key report projections for 2030: 1. An expected 9 percent demand increase for gen- eral dentists, with a 6 percent supply increase, leav- ing a shortage of 4,810 dentists. 2. Faster growth in supply of some specialties: • Pediatric dentists (50 percent) • Endodontists (17 percent • Orthodontists (16 percent) • Oral surgeons (13 percent) 3. A 20 percent supply increase for dental hygien- ists, with only a 7 percent increase in demand. n DENTAL PROFESSIONALS