DHMO
Pronunciation: D-H-M-O
Also written as: DHMO — Dental Health Maintenance Organisation
Acronym for Dental Health Maintenance Organisation; a managed-care dental plan in which patients receive services from a network of participating providers.
Full Definition
DHMO refers to a Dental Health Maintenance Organisation, a type of dental benefit plan structured similarly to a medical HMO. Enrollees are assigned to or choose a primary dentist from a network, and benefits are generally limited to in-network providers. DHMOs often use capitation payment models and require referrals for specialist care. Editors should render the acronym consistently as 'DHMO' (all capitals, no periods) after the full form has been introduced. In patient-facing documents, the full form should appear on first reference, as the acronym alone is often unfamiliar to lay readers.
Usage
Usage note: No periods between letters. Spell out on first reference in patient-facing copy.
In Context
- "The benefits guide must distinguish clearly between the DHMO and DPPO options to avoid patient confusion at enrolment." — Patient benefits guide
- "Spell out 'Dental Health Maintenance Organisation' on first reference before abbreviating to DHMO." — Insurance plan document