08/08/2007   Willamette Dental to no longer partner with Regence in small group market

Willamette Dental Group—the company that provides managed-care dental services under a number of Regence BlueShield dental plans—recently notified us of their intent to exit all small-group business (2-99 employees) with Regence effective Nov. 30, 2007. Willamette Dental will continue to sell and renew small-group business for effective dates up to Nov. 30, 2007. After that date, however, they will sell and renew only Individual, large-group and Association business. It’s important to note that Regence will continue to work with Willamette Dental in those markets.

Regence BlueShield currently has 2,281 small-group members with Willamette Dental coverage. We will mail a letter to impacted employers within the next few weeks to explain this upcoming change.

Regence and Willamette Dental are sensitive to the needs of patients whose dental treatment plans would be impacted by the termination of their coverage. Therefore, to minimize the impact to patients’ continuity of care, Willamette Dental will honor dental treatment plans for patients who had initiated treatment for root canals; received preparation and impressions for crowns, bridges or dentures; or received orthodontic banding prior to the termination of their Regence small-group Willamette Dental coverage. In order to complete their treatment plans, these patients need to keep scheduled appointments and pay applicable copays.

We regret the inconvenience your clients may experience as a result of this change. We are committed to working with them and with you to develop solutions that will meet their needs, and we’re looking forward to contacting you to discuss alternative options for those clients.

If you have questions about this change, please talk to your Regence Sales contact.

PLEASE NOTE: This announcement pertains only to Regence small-group business.

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