Where has the time gone?
By Jim Gimarelli, D.M.D., Dental Director for PacificSource
It was ten years ago, in July 2009, that PacificSource and Advantage Dental signed a contract involving nearly 30,000 commercial dental members, making Advantage our dental PPO in Oregon and Idaho.
What a rewarding partnership it has been. Central to the relationship is the mutual trust and respect shown by both parties, along with a shared commitment to improving the dental health of our communities. I want to personally thank Dr. Mike Shirtcliff, Ellie Naderi, Dr. Gary Allen, Kevin Boie, Michelle Lauerman, and Missy Mitchell—all of whom I’ve had the pleasure to work closely with, and who’ve been great mentors, peers, and friends.
I also want to thank the hundreds of Advantage dentists who are responsible for the dental care of so many. We at PacificSource appreciate your dedication and commitment.
Looking back from our 2019 vantage point, it’s easy to see the progress we’ve made since 2009. We’ve grown to nearly 74,000 commercial dental members, and to almost 138,000 commercial and government members overall.
Two more key metrics: Dental case retention has grown from 73% to more than 85%. And the number of dedicated dental claims and customer service reps has more than doubled—helping us continue delivering the kind of world-class service our members and providers deserve.
Our dental product has become a core competency for PacificSource over the past five years, and we’ve seen our medical lines grow because of it. As evidence, I cite the recent addition of PacificSource medical coverage to eight large groups that had previously been dental only.
I’m pleased to report on PacificSource’s continued efforts at improving the dental health of our communities, specifically the practice of reaching out to members, by email or postcard, who’ve not seen a dentist in the previous twelve months. It isn’t just their dental health that’s affected. We know that as members get regular cleanings, overall health improves—particularly in the areas of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, premature birth, and arthritis.
In closing, let me express my gratitude to Advantage Dental for being such terrific partners. Thanks for all we’ve accomplished together these last ten years.