The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging health care providers to be on the alert for patients with symptoms consistent with monkeypox, including oral lesions, and refer them for testing.

The Board of Denturists – Special Topics Committee is holding a series of rules workshops to amend the denturist infection control rules (WAC 246-812-501 - Purpose) and to propose new rules for prefabricated implant abutments. The next meeting and rule workshop is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 26 at 12:00 PM.

​The Health Care Authority (HCA) has released the Washington State Confidentiality Toolkit for Providers, a resource for health care providers required to be compliant with HIPAA and other state laws.

Learn more about the recently released draft of the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Interstate Compact and provide feedback through Sept. 30.

Dental professionals have an opportunity to educate patients and parents on the link between HPV and oropharyngeal cancers. Review resources shared by the Washington State HPV Task Force.

The Board of Denturists will hold a webinar meeting Thursday, Aug. 18 at 3:00 PM and will receive an update from the Special Topics Committee, which has been exploring the ability of a denturist to place a prefabricated abutment.

The Washington State Department of Health reminds healthcare providers to be on alert for scammers posing as DOH officials or pretending to be Drug Enforcement Administration agents in an attempt to make providers think they are in trouble with DOH or the law, and in danger of discipline or loss of license.

Join thousands of dental professionals at PNDC 2022, November 10-12 in Seattle, for three days of world-class dental CE (earn 20+ credits!), a two-day exhibit hall and more.

The Board of Denturists – Special Topics Committee is holding a series of rules workshops to amend the denturist infection control rules (WAC 246-812-501 - Purpose) and to propose new rules for prefabricated implant abutments.

Attention Medicaid Providers: The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) recently published an update to the Dental-related Services billing guide.

To align with holistic and integrated health, the Health Care Authority (HCA) has added pediatric dental topics to the newly created Pediatric Health listserv. Last month, HCA announced the creation of this new listserv to ensure providers who offer services to children and youth receive updates specific to pediatric policy and program updates.

Orthodontic billing: Periodic orthodontic treatment visits (CDT® D8670) must be billed in three-month intervals. The first three-month interval begins after the initial placement date. The claim must include the appliance placement date and must match the banding claim that the Health Care Authority (HCA) has reimbursed. If that date does not match, the periodic (D8670) orthodontic treatment claim will be denied

Read the latest newsletter from the Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC).

Effective Aug. 31, 2022, dentists will need to comply with the new requirement to sterilize low-speed hand piece motors after use.

The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) will hold its next business meeting on Friday, July 29.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) will conduct a site visit of Seattle Central College’s dental assisting and hygiene programs on November 8-10, 2022, and, following the standard CODA accreditation process, will consider the program for approval at the CODA January-February Winter meeting. Seattle Central College is calling for third party comments from interested parties on their dental assisting and hygiene programs.

As a reminder, beginning with 2022 fourth quarter unemployment insurance tax reports, employers must include Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes and could face a penalty for incorrect or incomplete reporting.

A common question dental practices confront is whether to classify workers as independent contractors or employees. Learn more about several factors for dental practices to consider in determining whether to employ or engage dentists as independent contractors.