Blog

Sep 10, 2026

ADA: Aetna Resolves Medicare Claims-Processing Error After ADA Push

Thanks to efforts by the American Dental Association, Aetna has resolved a processing issue that affected reimbursements for out-of-network Medicare Advantage dental claims. The ADA reminds dentists to be vigilant when reviewing explanations of benefits.

Aug 25, 2026

WSDA Endorses Weave as Patient Engagement Platform

Washington State Dental Association and ADA Member Advantage have endorsed Weave to provide its artificial intelligence-powered patient communications and engagement platform to members.

Aug 19, 2026

WSDA Member Appreciation Night: 9/18 in Spokane

We're thrilled to invite our members to WSDA Member Appreciation Night! Join us on Friday, September 18 during the House of Delegates meeting for an evening of celebration, connection, and gratitude.

Aug 13, 2026

2026 WSDA House of Delegates: Sept. 17-19 in Spokane

The 2026 WSDA House of Delegates, the governing body of the Association, will be held September 17-19 at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane. See current resolutions, delegates, candidates for elected positions and more.

Aug 6, 2026

August 28 Webinar: Town Hall with WSDA President Dr. Lisa Egbert

WSDA members are invited to join us on Friday, August 28, from 12:00-1:00 PM for an interactive webinar with Dr. Lisa Egbert to hear updates on important issues affecting organized dentistry, ask your questions live, and engage in an open discussion.

Jul 30, 2026

Free Webinar: Understanding the SAVE Plan and Other July 1 Changes

Register today for the upcoming student loan webinar, Understanding the SAVE Plan and Other July 1 Changes, presented by TISLA on Tuesday, August 11. This session will explain the SAVE plan transition, describe all available plans and give tips on how to choose a new plan.

Jul 14, 2026

ADA: Credentialing 101: What New Dentists Need to Know

Credentialing is the process of verifying a dentist’s qualifications so they can participate with insurance plans and receive reimbursement. “My biggest advice to new dentists is before they start applying for jobs or changing offices, it’s good to have all the documents ready.”

Jul 9, 2026

Finding The Best Business Owners Policy for Your Practice

WDIA can help you navigate the coverage needs for your practice. “Our main goal is to provide you with the best coverage for your business. Within the many carriers that we work with, we shop around to get the best rates for what you need.”

Jul 2, 2026

Dental Benefits Resources from WSDA

WSDA has dental benefits resources to help member dentists and their teams, including 1:1 support and new letter templates to help you communicate with insurance companies when a claim payment is delayed.

Jul 1, 2026

Dealing with Delayed Dental Claims: What Washington Dentists Should Know

Delayed dental claim payments can create unnecessary administrative work and strain practice cash flow. These WSDA resources can help members and their teams understand these timelines, respond to repeated documentation requests, and raise concerns when payors delay claims that should otherwise be processed.

Jun 30, 2026

‘We Are in This Together’: WSDA’s New Member Assistance Program

“Everyone is dealing with something — childcare, parenting issues, financial issues — and it can create feelings of anxiety or depression. It’s causing them not to enjoy this as much. We are here to be supportive of our dentists and help them feel their best — both in their profession and in their daily lives.”

Jun 29, 2026

ADA: Dental Benefit Basics

Understanding the ins and outs of dental benefit plans can be complicated and frustrating for many dental offices and especially overwhelming for dentists early in their careers. The ADA can help with guidance for navigating these challenges.

Jun 25, 2026

Afternoon Sip & Learn with OMNI Practice Group

Join OMNI Practice Group in Chelan on Friday, August 7 for a guided wine tasting with practical, real-world insights into one of the most important decisions of your career—your practice transition.

Jun 24, 2026

Giving Back: Restoring Smiles, Building Fulfillment

“What we’ve found over the years is that traditional mental, dental and medical care doesn’t serve this segment of the population well — especially those who live outdoors or are unfamiliar with the system or how to navigate it on their own. The biggest shift we made as an organization was taking the care to the patients. We started looking for patients rather than waiting for them. Our mission on paper stayed the same, but the actions behind it changed. When we did that, we found even more unmet needs in our community.”

Jun 22, 2026

Apply for the New & Emerging Speaker Series

WSDA members interested in speaking at PNDC 2027, April 1-3 in Seattle, can now apply for the New & Emerging Speaker Series. Applications are due Sunday, July 19. This member-exclusive opportunity gives WSDA members the chance to present 50-minute dental-related lectures at Washington's largest dental conference.

Jun 10, 2026

Bracken Killpack: The Next Turn of WSDA's Flywheel

"More members use WSDA programs. Those programs generate non-dues revenue. That revenue funds better member benefits, stronger advocacy, and lower membership costs. Lower costs and greater value bring more dentists into organized dentistry. More members create more strength, more influence, and more opportunity to serve."

Jun 5, 2026

Planting the Policy Seeds for 2027

"The more familiar lawmakers become with this issue before they return to Olympia, the better chance we have of passing this important strategy to help solve our workforce shortage."

Jun 4, 2026

ADA: 12 Dental Benefit Terms New Dentists Should Know

The world of dental benefits can seem like it comes with its own language, and learning the terms can feel like cramming for a vocabulary test. Here are 12 terms from that glossary that dentists should know.

Jun 3, 2026

Thanks for Joining Us at PNDC 2026!

Thank you to all the dental professionals who joined us for the 2026 Pacific Northwest Dental Conference. We had an incredible time hosting you in Seattle for PNDC 2026! Mark your calendars today for more high-quality continuing dental education, dental exhibits and more as PNDC returns April 1-3, 2027 to Summit - Seattle Convention Center.

Jun 3, 2026

ADA Grassroots Alert Urges Dentists to Support ERISA Reform

The ADA is urging dentists to contact members of Congress in support of federal legislation aimed at closing what the Association describes as an “ERISA loophole” affecting dental insurance reform laws. “Your patients deserve to be treated equally under the law when receiving dental care no matter how their dental benefit plan is designed. Congress can finally bring this needed consistency and accountability to federally regulated dental plans and ensure state dental insurance laws are adhered to.”

May 26, 2026

Washington Dentists' Insurance Agency: PNDC 2026 Title Partner

Washington Dentists' Insurance Agency (WDIA) offers insurance policies designed for dentists. You protect your livelihood and your profession when you invest in quality coverage through WDIA. Visit WDIA during PNDC 2026 at Booth #113.

May 22, 2026

Dandy: PNDC 2026 Gold Sponsor

Pre-book your Dandy demo at the Pacific Northwest Dental Conference and walk away with a $150 gift of your choice. Visit Dandy at Booth #312 to see it in action and discover how Dandy can simplify your digital workflow.

May 21, 2026

MedPro Group: PNDC 2026 Platinum Sponsor

Whether you just started your career, retirement is around the corner, or you’re somewhere in between, we can help. Stop by booth 212 at the Pacific Northwest Dental Conference to learn more about the MedPro Group difference.

May 19, 2026

Omni Practice Group: PNDC 2026 Platinum Sponsor

While exploring the exhibit hall at PNDC, stop by booth 613 and enter for an opportunity to experience a premium suite at a future Seattle Sounders FC match or win two tickets to a FIFA World Cup 2026 game right here in Seattle—an unforgettable experience for you and a guest.

May 18, 2026

Studebaker Nault: PNDC 2026 Gold Sponsor

The business of dentistry is becoming more complex, while some dental practices turn to dental service organizations (“DSOs”) for help with billing, marketing, and office management. These arrangements may be useful, but Washington dentists should understand the strict legal limits before entering into such arrangements.

May 15, 2026

Fluoride Wars

Across Washington, activists are fighting fluoridation in public water systems. As a result, more state residents are at risk of losing the benefits of a proven public oral health program.

May 13, 2026

Thank You to Our 2026 WSDA Advocacy Champions

To the WSDA Advocacy Champions who added an additional $250 donation to their 2026 membership renewal, thank you for your support! From dental benefits reform to improving the workforce shortage, no one fights harder for dentists than WSDA.

May 5, 2026

Save the Date for Dental Action Day: Thursday, February 25

Join dentists from across the state on Thursday, February 25, 2027 at Dental Action Day in Olympia to meet with your legislators and advocate for dental benefits reform and other issues affecting the dental profession. One profession, one voice!

May 4, 2026

The Future is Now: Q&A with Washington Dental Students

Last fall, Washington state opened its second dental school with the launch of the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences School of Dental Medicine in Yakima. WSDA thought it would be timely to check in with students from both PNWU and the University of Washington, to see what issues are top of mind among the next generation of dentists.

Apr 30, 2026

Review Your HIPAA Security Risk Assessment

With an announcement expected this May about significant changes to the HIPAA Security Rule, it’s a good time for WSDA members to take stock of their offices’ HIPAA and overall compliance practices. We suggest dentists start by reviewing what our team consistently finds to be one of the most common HIPAA compliance gaps — the Security Risk Assessment (SRA).

Apr 29, 2026

HIPAA Security Rule – Proposed Rulemaking Update

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights is expected to announce significant changes to the HIPAA Security Rule in May 2026, including requirements for encryption of electronic protected health information, multi-factor authentication and more.

Apr 23, 2026

Giving Back: Focusing on Food Insecurity

“Access to food can make a meaningful difference in their well-being and academic success. When students are worried about where their next meal will come from, sometimes not just for themselves but also for their families, it becomes much harder to focus on the already demanding nature of their academic work.”