Details Newsletter - 2026 Summer Edition by Delta Dental of Rhode Island
details
A
DELTA DENTAL PUBLICATION FOR DENTISTS & THEIR OFFICE STAFF
A network that spans generations
For more than 60 years, Delta Dental of Rhode Island has partnered with generations of dentists across the state, including the team at Ernest P. Votolato, D.M.D. & Frank A. Pazienza, D.D.S., Inc.
Founded in 1953 by Dr. Ernest Votolato’s father, the practice has become a multigenerational family business rooted in trusted care and longstanding patient relationships. Today, the next generation of dentists — Dr. Griffin Votolato and Dr. Matthew Pazienza — work alongside their fathers, continuing the practice’s legacy while bringing new perspectives and technology to patient care.
“It is really the truest definition of family practice when our patients’ kids are being treated by our kids,” said Dr. Ernest Votolato. “That’s Rhode Island.”
Over the decades, the practice has cared for generations of Rhode Island families, building relationships that extend far beyond routine dental visits. “We’ve got generations,” Dr. Votolato said.
“We’ve got patients that have elderly parents — we know what they’re going through. They have young children — we know what they’re going through. I think that’s huge.”
That sense of connection is central to the practice’s philosophy. “It’s nice to develop the relationships,” said Dr. Frank Pazienza. “It’s almost like the patients are family, and we are family to them. The relationship develops trust, and it’s just a great feeling to have that relationship with people.”
The partners say the strength of the practice comes not only from its patients, but also from its culture and collaborative approach. “The best referral of all is when you have an existing patient that sends someone here,” Dr. Votolato said. “Second is the staff. We just have wonderful staff and wonderful relationships.”
“I think they really love what they’re doing,” Dr. Pazienza said of the team. “There’s a connection that they have to the patients.”
Having the next generation join the practice has also created opportunities for mentorship and growth. “Having our children here has added a new dimension,” he said. “We’re able to be mentors as they develop their skills, and they offer their suggestions from their perspective — bringing in new technology and new ideas.”
For Dr. Griffin Votolato, learning from the previous generation has shaped not only his clinical skills, but also his approach to patient care. “Even if you think you’ve got the dentistry down, learning how to talk to the patient and understand their needs has really helped me out,” he said.
As longtime participating dentists in Delta Dental of Rhode Island’s network, the practice also reflects a shared commitment to improving oral health across the state.
That partnership extends to workforce development initiatives designed to support the next generation of dental professionals.
Dr. Matthew Pazienza is a recipient of Delta Dental of Rhode Island’s Dentist Loan Repayment Program, which helps dentists establish and continue their careers in Rhode Island communities.
“This program is fantastic because it helps us do what we want to do — make people healthy and treat patients,” said Dr. Matthew Pazienza. “The Delta Dental Loan Repayment Program is going to be a huge help, especially with the amount of student loan debt many of us come out of school with.”
Dr. Ernest Votolato says that the practice’s commitment to patients and staff is what has sustained it for generations. “I think that our patients appreciate how they’re treated,” he said. “And I know this next generation is going to continue those relationships with the patients and the staff.”
Delta Dental of Rhode Island remains committed to supporting the future of oral health care through initiatives that help attract, educate and retain dental professionals in Rhode Island, including:
• Dentist Loan Repayment Program
• Dental Hygiene Scholarship at CCRI
• Hygiene Workforce Program
• Support for the Rhode Island Health Professional Loan Repayment Program
• Delta Dental of RI Scholarship at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Learn more about Delta Dental of Rhode Island’s workforce initiatives at deltadentalri.com/AboutUs/GivingBack
Drs. Ernest and Griffin Votolato and Drs. Matthew and Frank Paziena
Delta Dental of Rhode Island Dentist Loan Repayment Program now
accepting applications
The 2026 application cycle for the Delta Dental of Rhode Island Dentist Loan Repayment Program has officially begun. The program is accepting applications through Thursday, August 13. Eligible early-career dentists practicing in Rhode Island are encouraged to apply.
Administered by the Rhode Island Foundation and funded through a $5 million investment from Delta Dental of Rhode Island’s reserves, the program targets up to 10 awards annually, offering up to $20,000 annually for up to three years in student loan repayment assistance while helping expand access to oral health care in underserved communities.
The program, which launched in 2025, is open to qualifying dentists and specialists practicing in a variety of settings, including private practices, DSOs and community health centers.
Learn more and apply
Dentists interested in applying are encouraged to review full eligibility requirements and program details at RIFoundation.org/DeltaDental
Supporting your practice: 2026 Hygiene Workforce Program disbursements
Delta Dental of Rhode Island is pleased to continue our Hygiene Workforce Program, which was launched in 2024 to help network dentists in the recruitment and retention of hygienists amid a nationwide workforce shortage.
Disbursement schedule for 2026
The first 2026 disbursement will be issued in July for qualifying hygiene services (D1110, D1120, D4910) rendered between January 1 and June 30, 2026. A second disbursement will follow in January 2027 for services rendered between July 1 and December 31, 2026.
Since its launch, the Hygiene Workforce Program has disbursed more than $4 million in financial support to eligible Rhode Island dental offices.
Questions?
For questions about eligibility or program details, please contact Nancy Thibodeau at 401-752-6227 or nthibodeau@deltadentalri.com
Help expand access to dental care in Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Donated Dental Services (DDS) program, administered by the Dental Lifeline Network, is seeking volunteer dentists and laboratories to help provide comprehensive dental care to vulnerable adults who cannot afford treatment.
Eligible patients include adults who are:
• Age 60 or older
• Permanently or temporarily disabled
• In need of medically necessary dental treatment
• Experiencing recurring dental infections
Delta Dental of Rhode Island supports the DDS program through partnerships, including dollar-for-dollar matching of its annual fundraiser to expand access to care for Rhode Islanders in need.
Interested in volunteering? Visit the Dental Lifeline Network website at dentallifeline.org/rhode-island
Updated credentialing process
We are updating our credentialing process for providers joining the Delta Dental of Rhode Island network or completing recredentialing requirements. To improve communication and streamline application tracking, providers will now begin by submitting a Credentialing Intake Form, which will be available on our website.
Once your Intake Form is received and reviewed, our credentialing team will send a secure email with a link to complete the full application. This updated process helps ensure applications are routed efficiently and allows for better tracking throughout the credentialing process.
Recredentialing: Providers due for recredentialing will be contacted directly when it is time to begin the process and will receive instructions for completing the updated online credentialing application. No action is required until you receive notification from Delta Dental of Rhode Island.
For questions, please contact credentialing@deltadentalri.com
CCRI Dental Hygiene Scholarship
enters fourth year, expanding commitment to Rhode Island workforce
The Delta Dental of Rhode Island Dental Hygiene Scholarship, now in its fourth year, continues to strengthen Rhode Island’s dental hygiene workforce in partnership with the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI).
This year, 10 scholarship recipients were recognized at CCRI’s Dental Hygiene Program Pinning Ceremony as they prepare to enter the profession and begin serving patients across the state.
Launched in 2023 to help address the nationwide shortage of dental hygienists, the program provides financial support to students who commit to practicing in Rhode Island after graduation. Beginning with this cohort, recipients will commit to working in Rhode Island for at least two years after completing the program, further deepening the initiative’s long-term impact on access to care.
The scholarship initiative is part of a longstanding partnership between Delta Dental of Rhode Island and CCRI that spans more than a decade. In addition to supporting students through scholarships, Delta Dental has helped fund renovations and expanded learning opportunities at CCRI’s on-campus Dental Hygiene Clinic on the Lincoln campus, including updated, state-of-the-art equipment added during the clinic’s 2023–24 renovation and expansion. The clinic serves as a hands-on training facility for CCRI students while also providing free oral health services to more than 1,000 Rhode Islanders each year.
New fee schedules released
Welcome to the Delta Dental of Rhode Island network
Delta Dental of Rhode Island is pleased to welcome the following recently credentialed dentists to our network:
Sean Ghassem-Zadeh, DMD Tri-County Community Action Agency
Cody Gorman, DDS Access Dental Care
Chaeyoung Hong, DDS
Warwick Family Dental
Leesa Jeffries, DDS
Tri-County Community Action Agency
Rashmi Kumra, DDS
Sunny Smiles I, II, III, X
Rose Liou, DMD
Village Dental EG, LLC
Marcus Lohrmann, DMD Bright Dents, LLC
Diane Monti-Markowski, DMD Buonomano Paolucci Family Dentist
Peter Mortelliti, DDS Comfort Dental
Suki Ullrich, DMD
South County Smiles
Delta Dental of Rhode Island is pleased to release updated dentist fee schedules for our self-insured and fully insured clients. The new fee schedules are effective for dental claims with dates of service on or after July 1, 2026. This adjustment builds upon Delta Dental of Rhode Island’s fee increases in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
We deeply value our partnership with you and our shared mission of advancing the oral health of Rhode Island residents. If you have any questions about the new fees or to schedule a one-on-one meeting with our professional relations team, please contact Nancy Thibodeau, Senior Manager Professional Relations, at 401-752-6227 or nthibodeau@deltadentalri.com
Complete claim standard
For your claims to be processed quickly and accurately, it’s important to include all the necessary information. We can only start processing once your claim meets our Complete Claim Standard.
Please ensure that your claim meets the following criteria:
• Paper claims must be submitted using a current ADA form. All information must be legible.
• Electronic claims must be in a HIPAA-compliant format.
• Submitted subscriber/patient information (name, date of birth, and Delta Dental ID number) must be accurate and must match Delta Dental’s records for that subscriber/patient.
• Treatment must be billed using the appropriate CDT codes.
• Date of service must be noted for each procedure.
• The providers’ charge for each procedure must be noted.
• The treating dentist and complete address of the treatment location must be indicated and must match the information that Delta Dental has in its records.
• The provider’s TIN and individual NPI must match the information that Delta Dental has in its records.
• Appropriate documentation from the other carrier must be included for claims that require Coordination of Benefits.
• Appropriate documentation must accompany claims for any procedures that are eligible for clinical review, in accordance with our Utilization Review Guidelines listed in the Dentist Section of the Delta Dental of Rhode Island website.
• Submitted X-rays must be less than two years old and of diagnostic quality showing the entire treatment site. X-rays must be mounted, labeled with the patient’s name, the date they were taken and if applicable, right or left must be indicated.
• Treatment notes, narratives or charting submitted with claims must be legible and may not contain abbreviations.
• Payer must have no reason to believe that the claim was submitted fraudulently and that there is no material misrepresentation.
If the above conditions are not met, the claim is not considered to be a complete claim and is therefore not subject to applicable statutory/regulatory prompt pay provisions.
To learn more about the requirements and timelines for claims documentation, visit deltadentalri.com, click on the Dentists tab, and then select the link for Utilization Review Guidelines.
2026 credentialing meeting schedule
Please ensure that your completed application is submitted at least 7 days before the scheduled meeting date. Only fully completed applications will be reviewed at the meeting. If your application is incomplete, it will be reviewed at the next available meeting date once all required documents have been received. Below, please find the remaining meeting and application due dates for 2026.
August 12
5 September 16 September 9
October 14 October 7
November 18
December 16
January 13, 2027
November 11
December 9
January 6, 2027
Remaining 2026 holiday schedule
Please make note of the following Delta Dental of Rhode Island corporate office closures.
August 10 (Monday) Victory Day*
September 7 (Monday) Labor Day
October 12 (Monday) Columbus Day/ Indigenous Peoples’ Day*
November 11 (Wednesday) Veterans Day*
November 26 (Thursday) Thanksgiving Day
November 27 (Friday) Day after Thanksgiving
December 25 (Friday) Christmas Day
*Delta Dental of RI Customer Service office is open
National dental holidays
Reminders
Help keep our records accurate
Accurate information helps us process your claims quickly and efficiently. When changes happen in your office, contact Debra Fernandes in our Professional Relations Department at 401-752-6206, or email dfernandes@deltadentalri.com
Electronic attachments
Delta Dental accepts electronic attachments like X-rays, periodontal charting, narratives, and COB information using National Electronic Attachment, Inc. (NEA) services, Dental Xchange and Change Healthcare.
ADA dental claim form
To ensure your claim is processed without delay, please use the current ADA dental claim form.
Recredentialing policy
When recredentialing, please return the following documents:
• Your completed recredentialing profile.
• A copy of the first page of your current professional liability insurance.
• An updated W-9 form if changes have been made.
Appeals and complaints
To learn more about our appeals and complaints processes, please visit the FAQs page at deltadentalri.com/Provider/PublicFAQ
Value-Based Care program
Mid-year Practice Profile Scorecards used for our Value-Based Care program will be mailed to eligible offices in July. For questions about the program or your practice scorecard, please contact our Professional Relations Department.
