PDBI Introduces Innovative ``Hybrid'' Dental Benefits Suite.

CONCORD, Calif. -- New Dental Products Infuse Low Cost Benefit Structure with Increased Consumer Flexibility and Choice

PacificDental Benefits, Inc. (PDBI), a leading dental benefits organization focused on providing innovative alternatives to traditional dental plans, today announced the launch of a next generation dental benefits suite. Four new plans are being introduced as part of PDBI's line of hybrid dental products that combine the advantages of dental managed care with the flexibility of preferred provider organizations (PPOs). As a result, PDBI is able to lower dental benefit costs for employers in a time of skyrocketing healthcare costs without sacrificing the most valued characteristic in a dental plan -- choice.

"PacificDental Benefits is an excellent company to work with as they offer unique dental insurance plans that ensure the highest quality of care at affordable prices, which strongly resonates with our union members," said Tanya Allen, benefits manager, at Transport Workers Union MTA Health and Welfare Trusts. "In addition, PDBI's expanded network of dentists throughout our metropolitan area (Greater Houston) makes it more convenient for our members to choose their preferred dentists."

The four products being introduced today are:

Direct Compensation

Direct Compensation (DC) is an access-based managed care program, which aligns incentives between the dentist and PDBI member. Dentists are compensated on a discount fee for service basis using Relative Value Units (RVU) per procedure, unlike capitation programs. Additionally, the DC plan performs extensive utilization review and management, and offers outlier controls to manage access to care and compliance with plan benefits. DC is available in California, Illinois and Nevada.

Pay-For-Performance (PFP) Plan

At a price point of 20 to 25 percent below standard PPO plans, PFP bridges the gap between today's managed care and PPO plans by offering members what they desire most, like the predictable co-payments of managed care and combining it with the access and choice of PPO. By utilizing PDBI's cutting-edge benefits model and taking advantage of a large dentist network and deeply discounted in-network benefits, PFP offers employees a higher level of benefit at a lower cost to employers with less provider restrictions. PFP is available in California.

Freedom Plan

The Freedom Plan is a point-of-service (POS) plan that offers members a high level of benefit in-network with the flexibility to visit any dentist. Unlike variants of PPO plans, the Freedom Plan is more closely related to a managed care product. Members choose from a network of participating dentists, who are paid for services performed through PDBI's exclusive RVU-based reimbursement model, ensuring access to care. In-network services have defined co-payments with no deductible or annual maximum. What sets this product apart from a traditional managed care plan is the added freedom of choice that allows members to visit even non-participating dentists for a more limited benefit. The Freedom Plan is available in Nevada.

EPO 

The EPO plan combines the benefit structure and defined co-payments of a managed care product, with the greater choice of dentists provided by PDBI's provider network. Members choose from a large network of participating dentists, including dentists in geographic locations where few, if any, dentists participate in DHMO plans. Members have defined co-payments that mirror DHMO plans, but the benefit resembles a PPO schedule plan, with deductibles and annual maximums. The EPO plan is available exclusively in Texas.

"As dental care costs continue to skyrocket, companies are searching for new products and alternative solutions that meet both their cost and benefits requirements," said Jim Fuhrman, chief marketing officer at PDBI. "To meet our customers' needs in today's cost-cutting economy, PDBI has introduced innovative plans that give the access and benefit of a PPO, but at the price of traditional managed care offerings. With our new plans, we've raised the bar on what consumers should expect from their dental benefits."

About PDBI (PacificDental Benefits, Inc.)

Formed in 1996 with the acquisition of Pacific Union Dental and Nevada Pacific Dental, PDBI has expanded from a traditional managed care company to a full service dental benefits organization operating in 10 markets with 650,000 members and over $100 million in annual dental premium.