In this article in Decisions in Dentistry, CareQuest Institute researchers update a previous analysis to compare spending and service utilization of fee-for-service (FFS) models to alternative payment models (APMs) through 2019. Consistent with earlier findings, cost per patient remains lower and service utilization remains higher under APMs compared to FFS.

Managing Diabetes Costs with Oral Health

This interactive tool from CareQuest Institute allows integrated care settings, such as Federally Qualified Health Centers, to input data and simulate potential cost savings from covering periodontal treatment — specifically scaling and root planing — for diabetes patients. The model demonstrates that reimbursement for scaling and root planing has the potential to reduce medical encounters and increase revenue for health centers.

The Power of Readily Available Information

In the past decade, health care payment models have shifted from volume-driven, fee-for-service payments toward value-based care and payment models. These alternative payment models (APMs) hold the potential to improve quality, enhance the care experience, and reduce costs. Yet oral health is often not considered in the testing of APMs, and the dental field has been slow to adopt them on its own.  

Oral Health and Overall Health Across the Lifespan

This report from CareQuest Institute provides a comprehensive overview of the bidirectional nature of oral and systemic diseases across different life phases and discusses how medical-dental integration (MDI) can improve access to care, health outcomes, and health care costs.