Course Summary

This presentation provides dental professionals with an overview of CDT 2026 coding, including a review of 2025 updates, and compliant dental claim submission. Participants will review the purpose and structure of CDT codes and compliant claim submission in accordance with current CDT guidelines. This will enhance the dental team’s ability to reduce claim denials, improve claims processing efficiency, and maintain compliance with ADA and HIPAA standards.

 Learning Objectives

1. Apply CDT 2026 coding principles, incorporating relevant 2025 updates, to accurately document dental procedures in accordance with ADA guidelines and ethical standards.
2. Identify documentation and diagnostic requirements necessary to support compliant dental claim submissions and efficient adjudication.
3. Recognize common causes of dental claim denials and implement strategies, including appropriate narratives, to reduce delays and denials.
4. Demonstrate compliance with regulatory and professional standards, including ADA and HIPAA requirements, to support accurate claim processing and reduce administrative and compliance risk.

Dr. Stewart R. Balikov Biography

Stewart R. Balikov, DDS is a 1983 graduate of the USC School of Dentistry. He joined Elevance Health in fall 2017 and currently serves as National Dental Director, Dental Clinical Utilization Management, having previously held the role of National Dental Director, Utilization Management at Aetna.

Dr. Balikov is a Certified Quality Assurance Consultant (California Association of Dental Plans), a Certified Dental Consultant (American Association of Dental Consultants), and an Accredited HealthCare Fraud Investigator (National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association). He is a member of multiple professional organizations, including the American Dental Association, California Dental Association and the San Fernando Valley Dental Society. He maintains a limited part-time practice in the Los Angeles area and holds dental licenses in California, Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey.