Regulations

Effective April 3, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) will end the Secretary of Health Statewide Face Covering Order currently in effect for health care (including dental).

The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) previously finalized dental infection control rules in December 2020, and the majority of these rules became effective January 2021. The rules apply to settings wherever dentistry is provided in Washington and include several requirements that dentists must comply with.

A dental office is considered to be a place of public accommodation and thus is prohibited from discriminating for any reason due to a disability. Accordingly, dental offices are required to provide an interpreter if one is needed to effectively communicate with a hearing-impaired patient.

The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) has formed a Dental Inclusion Committee to begin rulemaking to comply with health equity education requirements. The Committee will meet on March 29.

The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) will hold its next business meeting in a hybrid format on Friday, March 10 at 10:00 AM.

The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) has created a series of free webinars for both employers and employees, covering employment law topics including workers’ rights, job posting requirements, overtime rules, and the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act.

The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) will hold a Dental Continuing Competency Committee meeting on March 22.

The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) will hold a Dental Collaboration Committee meeting on March 6.

As a reminder, beginning with 2022 fourth quarter unemployment insurance tax reports, which are due by Jan. 31, 2023, employers must include Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes as well as upgrade to the latest version of Employer Account Management Services (EAMS).

The Board of Denturists will hold its next business meeting via webinar on Friday, Jan. 27 at 12:00 PM.