Dave Bortnem

The rising costs of home health care are becoming increasingly concerning. Currently, hiring a caregiver through an agency for 24-hour care can amount to $40,000 a month. Looking back, 20 years ago, long-term care insurance covered $150 per 8-hour day, which was considered the industry standard and a reasonable expectation for both out-of-pocket costs and insurance coverage. The annual premium for long-term care insurance was around $5,000. Fast forward to 2026, and we see that a home healthcare agency charges $65 per hour, while caregivers earn less than $20 per hour. This raises an important question: How can we make caring for our elderly more affordable? #MarkCuban #Healthcare #HomeHealthCare

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While our latest research uncovered a pretty significant awareness gap among consumers who are putting off routine eye care, it also demonstrates how easy it can be to course correct. Check out the report to learn how simple education can improve vision benefits utilization across all demographics.

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At Delta Dental, we understand that oral health is a cornerstone of overall wellness, and it is promising to see that most adults recognize this critical connection as underscored in this year’s “State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report.” Now in its fifth year, the report commissioned by Delta Dental provides data and analysis regarding the oral and overall health behaviors of adults and children nationwide. This year, the state of U.S. oral health is generally positive, but areas for improvement remain. While adults maintain near-universal awareness of the relationship between oral and overall health, we have an opportunity to foster more education on the link between poor oral health and specific medical conditions such as heart disease, respiratory illness, and high blood pressure. It is important that individuals fully appreciate how oral health affects such systemic health conditions. I am encouraged to see that a vast majority of adults with dental benefits continue to report tangible physical, mental, and financial health benefits. Notably, insured adult respondents report significant annual out-of-pocket savings, emphasizing the role dental benefits play in reducing financial barriers to care. As the nation’s leading dental benefits provider and oral health philanthropist, Delta Dental is committed to ensuring continued dialogue and supporting access to care so that individuals of all ages prioritize and safeguard their oral health and overall well-being. I invite you to learn more from our report: https://lnkd.in/g3ieYWBv 

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The dental industry has quickly evolved over the last few years as new challenges have emerged and competition has increased, leading practices to adapt and reimagine clinical care and operations. https://ow.ly/msFO30sQJl4

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In what has been a fairly consistent trend over the last decade, close to one-third of surveyed dental practices are considering dropping insurance this year, per the American Dental Association's annual survey. The number skews higher when you look at responses specifically from DSO's, smaller practices and rural providers. There is a good correlation to staffing challenges(hygienists are a huge issue) and operating expenses with a focus on facility expenses. It's an opportune time yet again for plans to evaluate how they can manage provider fallout in light of the significant penetration of dental benefits for Medicare Advantage plans. There is a lot of low-hanging fruit out there: 📠 Automate benefit verification and eligibility(a huge time and capacity suck in dental practices) ✅ Streamline imaging through AI and automate prior auth procedures 💲 Shorten payment cycles to improve practice cash flow It's a choice between spending resources on improving workflows and improving patient/provider satisfaction vs. increasing reimbursement costs and higher non-par utilization. https://lnkd.in/gmS-HRiR #DentalBenefits #AEP #MedicareAdvantage #OralHealth

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New Program Announcement from Connect the Dents, LLC 👇 It is difficult and challenging for dental company owners in today’s competitive market and financial environment to grow organically consistently and substantially every year.  If you happen to be a company in a strong position who has the resources to, and has decided to, also grow by acquisitions, please consider checking out AMP — Acquirers Matching Program — where you will have the ability to have opportunities that become available which fit your interests and criteria — to be brought to you FIRST - and have an exclusivity period to analyze and negotiate without other buyers in the mix 👍 This is a program which can greatly complement your in house Business Development team efforts and get you the results you are looking for faster!  We will only be accepting a handful of companies serious about doing 2+ acquisitions in the next 12-24 months.  Contact us by DM on how we can help you! #dental #dentalpractice #dentalbusiness #dentalcompany #dentworking #business #EBITDA #dentaloffice #financialhealth #profitability #effeciency #dentalindustry #dentalmanagement #dentalleadership #connectthedents

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Dental Revenue & Insurance Strategy Daily With the Chicago Midwinter Meeting approaching, the conversation is shifting. It’s no longer just about the newest scanners or AI; the real buzz is the 2026 Fiscal Squeeze. Practices nationwide are facing rising overhead and stagnant PPO reimbursements. The reality is simple: You can’t "drill your way out" of a bad insurance contract. When you head to Chicago, look past the gadgets and start asking the hard questions: - Are your fees reflective of your clinical skill and local market? - How much of your "marketing budget" is actually unmanaged PPO write-offs? - Is your team equipped to navigate the complex "games" carriers play with denials? At Veritas Dental Resources, we see 2026 as the year of the Strategic Pivot. It’s the year practices stop being passive participants and start taking control of their fee schedules. The most valuable takeaway in Chicago might not be in the exhibit hall: it’s the realization that your practice deserves fair compensation for quality care. #CWM2026 #ChicagoMidwinter #DentalIndustry #PPONegotiation #PracticeGrowth #VeritasDentalResources

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📅 Mark your calendar for the Medicare Annual Enrollment period! From October 15 to December 7, you can make important changes to your Medicare coverage. #MedicareEnrollment #MedicareAgent #HealthCoverage #AnnualEnrollment

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Dental and vision plans are often overlooked, but they play a big role in employee satisfaction. In this session, we’ll break down how these plans actually work in a group setting, where costs can be managed, and a few simple best practices that make them easier to run and more valuable for employees. Check out IMA Financial Group, Inc. Dental and Vision 101 webinar.

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Here's something worth knowing about first-year financial planning for new optometry practices: The first year of practice ownership is a financial marathon. Cash flows out faster than it comes in, unexpected expenses emerge constantly, and revenue takes time to build. This guide provides a realistic framework for financial planning that helps new optometry practice owners survive year one and set up for year-two success. For the complete picture on launching your practice, see our guide on Read more: https://lnkd.in/gb_JgZv2 Follow for more insights on business and entrepreneurship. #business #entrepreneurship #growth

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Drug Vending Machine? Amazon Pharmacy is testing prescription kiosks in One Medical clinic offices in Los Angeles to improve prescription fill rates, aiming to address the issue of patients not filling about 30% of prescriptions. The kiosks will stock popular prescriptions automatically, and doctors can arrange for specific prescriptions to be sent to the kiosks. Patients can consult with pharmacists via the kiosk or phone for prescription-related questions. Amazon Pharmacy's expansion could improve medication adherence among employer plan participants but might also lead to reliance on expensive channels without significant care quality improvements. If pharmacy strategies fail, it could worsen the "pharmacy desert" problem.

The systems meant to protect seniors are failing. Predictable and quietly helpful? They’re chaos. Seniors, caregivers, and family paperwork heroes are stuck fighting passwords, unopened mail, and endless confusion. Secure65HealthPlans shows you how to cut through the mess and help seniors thrive. Stop struggling. Take control. Make the system work for the people it’s supposed to serve. Watch the full video at Secure65HealthPlans 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g_kgh4pp #MonéSwann #TheMirror #CollaborativeExpansionFoundation #CEF #Moneswannlife #BIVX #Secure65HealthPlans #Medicare #SocialSecurity #SeniorLife #RetirementPlanning #HealthcareTips #MedicareAdvantage #Medigap #FinancialFreedom #SeniorFinance #RetireSmart #MedicareCoverage #HealthInsurance #SeniorSafety #AIImpact #MoneyMatters #ProtectYourBenefits #RetirementReady #SeniorSupport #InsuranceTips #SecureYourFuture

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I’m excited to share that at Delta Dental Ins., we've made meaningful strides in accelerating dental-medical integration (DMI), which I discussed with The CEO Forum Group in their article: “Bringing the Right People Together to Tackle System Health Issues.” [https://lnkd.in/gyRp2KcR] As healthcare continues to evolve, one thing is clear: oral health cannot be separated from overall health. Thank you to The CEO Forum Group for naming me among their "Top 10 CEOs Transforming Healthcare in 2025", with a spotlight on our work advancing dental-medical integration. I’m honored to be recognized alongside leaders who are reimagining how care is delivered across the country. This progress is only possible because of the incredible teams and partners committed to transforming healthcare. Together, we are building a future where integrated care is not the exception, but the standard – and we are just getting started. #OralHealth #DentalMedicalIntegration #Healthcare

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Medicare marketing materials are often overlooked, but they play a critical role in how prospects perceive your professionalism. Generic marketing pieces tend to blend in with everything else prospects receive. Customized materials do the opposite. They reinforce your brand, highlight your services, and create a stronger connection with your local market. For Medicare agents focused on long-term growth, this distinction matters. Customized Medicare flyers help agents: • Present a more professional and consistent brand • Build recognition within their local community • Communicate their value clearly to prospects • Stand out in a crowded Medicare marketing environment When your marketing reflects who you are as an advisor, it becomes far more effective than generic outreach. Agents who invest in thoughtful, personalized materials position themselves as professionals rather than just another name on a flyer. This guide explains how customized Medicare flyers can strengthen your marketing strategy and support long-term growth. https://bit.ly/46VTx1w #MedicareAgent #InsuranceMarketing #InsuranceAgent #HealthInsuranceSales #InsuranceFMO

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Dental pain is one of the leading reasons children miss school, and is an often overlooked issue that directly affects learning, confidence, and long-term health. Oral health is a foundational part of overall wellness, yet it’s frequently separated from broader conversations about child health and school readiness. When preventive dental care is delayed, the impacts show up in classrooms, families, and communities. Addressing this challenge requires more than awareness. It calls for systems that make prevention routine, information easy to understand, and care accessible where families already live, learn, and work. When dental health is treated as part of whole-person care, children are better positioned to succeed both in school and beyond. At Community Health Choice, this perspective informs how we think about prevention, partnerships, and community-based approaches that support children’s health early and consistently. Supporting oral health is an investment in educational outcomes, equity, and lifelong well-being—and it’s work that benefits entire communities. #ChildrensHealth #DentalHealth #SchoolReadiness #PreventiveCare #CommunityHealthChoice

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Medicare Supplement Insurance: Smart Protection for Your Wallet and Peace of Mind Let’s connect and talk about the latest insights in the industry! #LifeInsurance #HealthInsurance #Insurance #HealthCoverage #LifeInsurance #HealthCoverageMatters #lkclegacyinsurance #weareherefoyou #livingbenefits

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