The Officer - Fall 2016 - 76

The DBAs, responsible for nearly 400 DTFs, train military dental providers and ancillary staff on-site to use the program and generate any relevant reports they might want. DTFs also receive training through quarterly webinars and can request additional webinars at any time. "The bottom line is that referrals are at the military DTF's discretion and decision," Duke said. "Our job as contractor of the ADDP is to augment, not replace, what the DTFs provide." Wounded warriors and service members enrolled in the Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) also can receive dental care through the ADDP no matter where they live. TAMP enables service members to retain dental benefits for up to 180 days after returning from deployment in support of a contingency. Eligibility for the ADDP-whether as an early activator, wounded warrior or TAMP member-is indicated on the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, which is accessed by United Concordia and entered into its online system. United Concordia developed its online referral and authorization system from the ground up, Duke said, so DTFs would be able to make referrals online and civilian providers could obtain authorizations and submit claims. Called DART, short for the Dental Authorization and Referral Tracker, the sophisticated system has evolved to the point where military dentists from the Defense Health Agency management team or DTFs can go in and run reports to see what is being referred. The program also reports each user's dental readiness classification so commanders can determine whether their unit members are ready to deploy as early activators. Class 1 means the member is good to go. Class 2 means the member is deployable but needs minor dental work. Class 3 means work is needed before a member can safely deploy. Civilian dentists are trained to make classifications and put them on the claim forms so United Concordia can capture that information in the online system. "Under the ADDP, we get them treated so they are eligible and ready to go," Duke said. "We work very hard to make sure our members tell us what their deployment date is; our job as a contractor is to get them ready, get them deployable, so they can go on the date they are scheduled to go. We are very good at that." United Concordia has served the military in some capacity for more than 18 years, Duke said. The company was just awarded the Tricare Dental Program (TDP) contract, which is scheduled to begin in February 2017. The TDP, unlike the ADDP, covers family members. "Serving this community is not just a contract for us," Duke said. "We take it very personally, and we are vested in it. Anytime a DTF sends an email thanking us or we receive a certificate of recognition, we post it. They are posted all over the place up here." The company is also committed to helping other militaryrelated organizations further their objectives. They partner with the Fisher House Foundation, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Reserve Officers Association, Operation Homefront, Armed Services YMCA, National Military Family Association and others. "We have a commitment to giving back. It is important to us," Duke said. Making a dental appointment is easy To see a civilian provider under the ADDP, members can access the remote benefits section of the Active Guard and Reserve portal on United Concordia's ADDP website to generate an appointment control number (ACN), using their social security or Department of Defense benefits number. For routine treatment costing up to $750, or for routine care under a treatment plan costing up to $1,500, they can schedule their own appointments after receipt of the ACN. Network providers must be used unless one is not available; going outside the system requires approval by United Concordia. If a provider determines that the member needs specialty care, the provider will obtain the necessary authorization and input it into the system. 76 THE OFFICER / FALL 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Officer - Fall 2016