Exclusive to the Coalition
The Coalition felt strongly that the selected dental PPO vendor must be able to provide the dental PPO product based on each Fund’s individual needs. In response, First Commonwealth is offering Coalition members the opportunity to rent the dental PPO network and maintain their Fund’s current claim processing arrangement. First Commonwealth is offering the Coalition members access to the network at extremely competitive rates.

Network Access
There are currently over 1,600 dentists participating in the First Commonwealth PPO, making it one of the largest dental PPO networks in the region. The network includes general dentists, oral surgeons, periodontists, endodontists, and orthodontists. These dentists are located from Northern Indiana through the Chicago Metropolitan area and west to the Quad Cities. Furthermore, First Commonwealth has committed to work with each Fund individually in order to initiate additional recruitment efforts in areas which are specific to the Fund.

Participating PPO Provider Quality Assessment
In selecting a dental PPO, one concern can be that the ultimate relationship, that is the one between the PPO dentist and the patient, needs to be a positive one for the patient. Most dental PPO vendors recruit and affiliate with dentists only through the mail. First Commonwealth conducts on-site visits including reviews for adequacy of infection control standards, with each and every dental PPO office.

Overall Value
The First Commonwealth dental PPO program offers significant value to both the Funds and their members. This value is measured by weighing the price at which the dental PPO is being offered, the accessibility of the network, and the specific discounts that are available for dental services from the dental PPO providers. First Commonwealth will provide specific information on these features to any Coalition member who is interested in investigating the dental PPO plan.

Benefit Design and Communication Expertise
First Commonwealth has substantial expertise in the design and administration of dental PPO plans. First Commonwealth will work with each Fund to design a custom benefit plan strategy that incorporates the purchasing power of the PPO. This strategy can be flexible to maximize cost savings, benefits to the member, or a combination of both. First Commonwealth will then work with each Fund to custom design a communications strategy to reach the members and educate them on how to take advantage of the PPO benefit.

Plan Administrative Flexibility
Many of the Coalition’s Fund members have dental plans already in place. The ability to take advantage of a dental PPO product can be largely dependent upon the flexibility with which the product can be provided. First Commonwealth can provide claims administration services for the Fund’s dental benefits, or the Fund can choose to remain self-administered or retain its current third party administrator. In the latter case, First Commonwealth will then work with that administrator to set up the processes necessary for adjudicating dental PPO claims.