Summer 2022 www.nvda.org 3 Editor’s Message whom interface with third-party carriers.The frightening phrase is: “medically necessary.” This insurance executive that created “medically necessary” in order to restrict dental remuneration should be in that profession’s hall of fame. Those two words have given carriers license to deny coverage for literally anything dentists do clinically for decades. Just for rhetorical argument’s sake, ask a benefit provider what “medically necessary” means; how it is defined? It is guaranteed that ultimately it is one of those terms that means what they say it means, on a claim by claim basis. There is no set in stone definition for dentists, or anyone else, to follow, otherwise dentists would weed out medically unnecessary claims all by themselves. A dentist does not even need to know about medicine, just being knowledgeable about dentistry qualifies one to make the “medically necessary” call. (Dentists understand that everything in clinical dentistry is medically necessary.) The NDAJ has often explored the injudicious use of words before, and how the effects of such cavalier use can be devastating. The Journal’s most recent example of the phenomenon was pointing out that of 01 September 2021 “vaccine” no longer means what it has for hundreds of years. The literature has also demonstrated many times why dentistry is always medically necessary. Honestly, this conversation about “medically necessary” in regards to dentistry would be better suited for inclusion into a fantasy like Alice in Wonderland rather than any kind of coherent discussion in legislative fora. Hopefully the inclusion of “medically necessary” in the proposed ELSA legislation is a typo. If not, someone 14:1, 3-4, Spring 2012. 5) Orr D, Do As I Say, Not As I Do, The Federal Shelf Life Extension Program, NV Dent Assn J, 18:4, 4-5, Winter 2016-2017. 6) Orr D, FDA Changes the Definition of Vanilla Ice Cream, NV Dent Assn J, 23:4, 2-6, Winter 2021-2022. 7) Orr D, Practice protection: the rubber dam and prevention of aspiration, Hygienic Dental Manufacturing Company Reports, 1977. 8) Orr D, A double-blind crossover comparison of topical anesthetics, J Am Dent Assoc, 98:2, 213-214, 1979. 9) Orr D, The broken needle, report of case, J Am Dent Assoc, 107:4, 603-604, 1983. 10) Orr, D, Controlling bacteremia, J Am Dent Assoc, 109:6, 876, 1984. 11) Orr D, Pericardial and subcutaneous air after maxillary surgery, Anesth Analg, 66:9, 921, 1987. Authors and Associate Editor wanted. The NDAJ would like to encourage all NDA Members to consider writing topics of interest to the NDAJ readership. In addition, the NDAJ is looking to identify an Associate Editor. This position would require a contributed writing each issue and also to assist the Editor in developing each issue. Thank you. The NDAJ is seeking help from the Membership to continue developing an Index of the NDAJ’s. We have one in Excel that has not been updated for several years. Please contact the Editor if you are interested in bringing things up to date. The Index Coordinator will receive a by-line and the Index will be published annually. Thank you. needs to call the ADA and AAOMS and tell them not to get fooled once again. 0 References 1) Graham M, ADA Press Release, ELSA, 31 MAR 2022. 2) Orr D, Dentistry is __________, NV Dent Assoc J, 10:4, 5-6, Winter 2008-2009. 3) Orr D, It’s not Novocain, it’s not an Allergy, and it’s not an Emergency! NV Dent Assn J, 11:3, 3-5, Fall 2009. 4) Orr D, It’s not Easy, it’s not Minor, and it’s not simple!, NV Dent Assn J, 6 2,3,4,5 7,8,9,10,11
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