Northeast Delta Dental

Soon the United States Supreme Court (USSC) will hear oral arguments on the lawsuits that were brought by states challenging the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the ACA). The highest court in the country will decide whether Congress assumed more power than the Constitution gives it when it voted to make it mandatory for every person in the U.S. to get health insurance (the so called “individual mandate”). Reasonable people can disagree on which way they think the USSC will rule on the cases, but nothing will be certain until the nine Supreme Court justices release their decision, which will likely be in June.

Over the last few months, the Tooth Ferry, the dental truck of the Washington County Children’s Program, has received some much needed maintenance and repairs. The Tooth Ferry was created as Maine’s first mobile dental unit in 2003 and has logged thousands of miles providing oral health services throughout Washington County. WCCP’s hygienists on board the Tooth Ferry visit children in their schools and at their Head Start and preschool programs to educate them on how to take care of their teeth.

Concord, NH:  Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the U.S. since 1921, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which estimated that nearly 1.24 million people – or 141 every hour and 2.35 every minute – suffered a new or recurrent heart attack in 2010.¹ So Valentine’s Day – a holiday commonly associated with the heart – seems like the perfect time for Northeast Delta Dental, the foremost dental benefits administrator in northern New England, to point out the connection between oral health and heart health.

Concord, NH:  Most American caregivers don’t realize that cavities are nearly 100 percent preventable, according to a survey of American children’s oral health by Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA).¹ Tooth decay can develop any time after the teeth erupt into the mouth starting at about six months of age. So, it’s important to establish good oral health habits from birth to keep away cavity-causing bacteria.

Despite legal and legislative challenges, the federal health care reform statute, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”), continues to be the law and federal regulations further defining the details of the law, and state laws designed to address implementation of the law, continue to develop.  Northeast Delta Dental is actively engaged in efforts to help shape both the federal regulations and state statutes as they relate to dental benefits to be included in the health benefits exchanges (“HBE”) as they are established. To assist in this effort, a special attorney has been hired to assist in the Northeast Delta Dental efforts.

Somersworth, NH:  Goodwin Community Health announces it has received grants from The Northeast Delta Dental Foundation and Granite United Way.  Both donations come as a result of Goodwin Community Health’s work to offer the most vulnerable members of the community access to quality, integrated health care.

Concord NH – Northeast Delta Dental reminds people of all ages that good oral health care is critical to overall health by sharing information from Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA), the nation’s leading dental benefits provider, based on recent research that found a strong correlation between periodontal (gum) disease and diabetes.

The Northeast Delta Dental Foundation awarded a grant to the Children's Dental Network, a program of the Greater Derry Oral Health Collaborative Corporation (GDOHCC), to enable it to continue its work with WIC in Derry and Salem, New Hampshire.

As announced on November 18, 2011 and appearing in this month’s issue of New Hampshire Business Review, Northeast Delta Dental has been recognized by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England and NHBR as the latest recipient of the Health Innovator Award because of its dedication to raising employees' awareness of the many positive aspects of wellness.

Concord, New Hampshire:  Northeast Delta Dental recently promoted Maine Market Manager, Jodie Hittle, to vice president of sales.  Hittle will be returning to corporate headquarters in Concord, New Hampshire, in early 2012 after many years of leading Maine sales efforts.  Linda Roche was promoted to senior director of New Hampshire sales.  Director of Actuarial & Underwriting, Laurence (Laurie) Weissbrot, FSA, MAAA, was promoted to vice president & actuary.