National Alliance for Oral Health Consensus Conference on Medically Necessary Oral Health Care: Legal issues |
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| Authors: | Cheryl A. Cameron PhD JD C. Scott Litch JD MA Martha Liggett JD MS Steven Heimberg MD JD |
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| Affiliation: | Associate Professor of Dental Public Health Sciences at the University of Washington, School of Dentistry and Assistant Executive Director, at the American Association of Dental Schools;Legislative Counsel;General Counsel and Assistant Executive Director, at the American Association of Dental Schools;practices law in Los Angeles, California |
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| Abstract: | This paper examines medical malpractice law as it applies to medically necessary oral health care. The basic legal concepts and reported cases involving medically necessary oral health care are reviewed. It is concluded that dental professionals and consumer advocates must advance their educational and legislative advocacy efforts so that health professional colleagues and the public will become aware of the importance of these services and insurers will routinely include coverage of medically necessary oral health care in their medical and dental policies. While failure to provide medically necessary oral health care can be violative of patient rights and legally actionable, medical malpractice litigation should always be the behavior modifier of last resort. |
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