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DeltaUSA helps Iowa Foundation for Medical Care deliver dental benefits to employees

Recent clinical studies indicate that oral health is an important component of overall health. And, apparently the message is spreading that good health starts in the mouth and that oral preventive care is important in improving health. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, people who have dental insurance are twice as likely to see a dentist as people who don't. Companies trying to attract employees with competitive benefits packages offer dental insurance as a core benefit. When their employees use their dental benefits for preventive dental care, companies stand to save money. In fact, The American Dental Hygienists' Association estimates that for every dollar spent on preventive oral care, $8 to $50 is saved on more expensive restorative and emergency procedures.

The Iowa Foundation for Medical Care (IFMC) and its subsidiary Encompass know how important it is to manage health care costs. IFMC/Encompass helps its clients do just that by offering quality review services and programs that include quality studies; medical and utilization review; medical case management; preferred provider network development; and health care provider education for federal, municipal and corporate clients throughout the United States. Its corporate goals are to facilitate high-quality medical care for its clients' employees and to control unnecessary health care utilization and costs. When IFMC wanted to offer dental insurance to its own employees, it turned to Delta Dental.

As a member of the Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA), Delta Dental Plan of Iowa is a dental administrator of DeltaUSA, DDPA's national accounts program. DeltaUSA's ability to handle interstate transactions was essential since IFMC employs people in Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Washington, D.C. Administering benefits for a decentralized, multistate workforce can be difficult. But through DeltaUSA, IFMC draws on the breadth and expertise of the country's largest dental benefits provider.

"It's extremely important that Delta has fee structures in place for dentists in each state where our employees seek care," said Anne Dennis, manager of HR business with IFMC/Encompass. "We are growing, and it would be difficult for us to try to negotiate fees each time we open an office in a new area."

Employees at IFMC/Encompass appreciate the dental benefits and easy access to care. The company appreciates the seamless administration provided by the DeltaUSA program. From addressing employee concerns to processing interstate claims, Delta Dental helps IFMC/Encompass provide dental benefits that satisfy its employees.

Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, IFMC helps organizations, including the Health Care Financing Administration and the Department of Defense, to manage and monitor health care information. Clients of Encompass include Baxter International, ConAgra, Caterpillar, University of Chicago and many third-party carriers and insurance companies.

DeltaUSA is a separately incorporated affiliate of Delta Dental Plans Association that enables Delta Dental Plans to administer and deliver its national dental program. Based in Oak Brook, Ill., Delta Dental Plans Association is a national network of independently operated not-for-profit dental service corporations specializing in providing dental benefits programs to 35 million Americans in more than 86,000 employer groups throughout the country.

For company and product information, visit Delta's web site at www.deltadental.com .

 

DeltaUSA helps Iowa Foundation for Medical Care deliver dental benefits. Business and Health 2001;6.