STATE EMPLOYEES: Three Year Dental Deal Approved

      Department of Personnel Administration announced Tuesday it has awarded a $130 million contract to Delta Dental Plan of California to cover state employees' dental benefits. The three-year contract, effective Jan. 1, 2000, renews Delta's previous contract, ensuring that Delta will continue to be the state's largest employee benefits provider. William Ward, Delta's president and chief executive, said, "We are gratified that the state has selected to renew its partnership with us -- a partnership we value tremendously and which we plan to build upon in the years ahead." Under the new agreement, beneficiaries and their families will receive a comprehensive managed fee-for-service dental plan named DeltaPremier. The plan allows employees to choose any licensed dentist -- about 92% of all state dentists participate in the network -- with additional benefits when choosing a Delta- affiliated dentist. The new contract also requires Delta to develop a "dental PPO-type of program" named the DeltaPreferred Option (DPO). As an incentive, any beneficiary who chooses the DPO option -- a network of about 9,000 dentists -- will receive expanded dental benefits (Delta Dental Plan of California release, 10/12).