Blog

Oct 12, 2022

Share Your COVID-19 Experience with L&I

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) would like to hear about your experience with COVID-19 and infection control practices through a brief survey. We encourage all members to complete the survey to ensure that dentists’ experiences are well represented in survey results.

Oct 10, 2022

2023 Minimum Wage Increase

Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, the state minimum wage will increase to $15.74 per hour, up from the current $14.49 per hour rate.

Oct 7, 2022

Hands-On Workshops at PNDC 2022

Looking for hands-on CE courses this fall? Check out hands-on workshops available at PNDC 2022, November 10-12 in Seattle.

Oct 4, 2022

2022-23 WSDA President Dr. John Gibbons

One thing is clear when you meet Dr. John Gibbons, the incoming WSDA president: He lives life to the fullest. But the one thing he’s most passionate about doesn’t involve wild animals, exotic travel or fast engines. It’s something far more complex and unpredictable. It’s dental advocacy.

Sep 27, 2022

Submit Comments on the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Interstate Compact by Sept. 30

WSDA encourages members to submit comments on the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Interstate Compact by Friday, Sept. 30. The Compact would allow dentists and dental hygienists licensed in one Compact member state to more easily obtain licensure in another Compact member state, creating reciprocity among participant states and reducing the barriers to licensure portability and employment.

Sep 14, 2022

WSDA News | Spring 2022

Read about the future dental school planned for Yakima's Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences.

Sep 13, 2022

WSDA News | Summer 2022

Read about 2022-2023 WSDA President Dr. John Gibbons in the Summer 2022 cover story.

Sep 13, 2022

Board of Denturists Special Topics Committee Rules Workshop – Sept. 23

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 is Friday, Sept. 23 at 12:00 PM.

Sep 6, 2022

PNDC 2022 Early Bird Deadline: Sept. 23

Register for PNDC 2022 by Friday, Sept. 23 to save up to $100 per person! WSDA members register for the Early Bird price of just $225 ($325 regular)/$350 ($450 regular).

Sep 2, 2022

Become a Speaker Ambassador to Attend PNDC 2022 for Free

The PNDC Speaker Ambassador Program gives WSDA members and their staff a way to get involved with PNDC by helping to facilitate the needs of our speakers prior to and during the conference while offering registration reimbursement to volunteers.

Aug 31, 2022

Dentists Should Review Their Provider Agreements Each Year

Dentists should evaluate their network provider agreements each year, according to the ADA Council on Dental Benefit Programs. The ADA has resources to help dentists with insurance issues, including a Contract Negotiation Guide.

Aug 25, 2022

Monkeypox Update for Washington Dentists

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.

Aug 15, 2022

HCA Releases Confidentiality Toolkit for Providers

​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.

Aug 12, 2022

Board of Denturists Webinar Meeting – Aug. 18

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.

Aug 10, 2022

Scam Alert: Avoid Fraudulent Individuals Claiming to be State Regulators

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.

Aug 1, 2022

Updated Apple Health Billing Guide

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

Jul 29, 2022

Pediatric Dental Topics Included in New Pediatric Health Listserv

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.

Jul 28, 2022

Apple Health (Medicaid) Provider Alert: Attention Orthodontic Providers

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

Jul 20, 2022

Invitation to Submit Third Party Comments for Seattle Central College’s Dental Assisting and Hygiene Programs CODA Site Visit

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.

Jul 18, 2022

Reminder: Quarterly Job Title Reporting Requirement

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.

Jul 10, 2022

Reminder: Dental Laboratory Registration Renewal

As a reminder, in order to remain compliant with RCW 70.352.060, all dental laboratories operating in Washington that provide services for outside dental offices must renew their registration by July 31 of each year.

Jul 7, 2022

DQAC Public Member Vacancy

The Department of Health, Health Systems Quality Assurance (HSQA), is accepting applications through Aug. 5 to fill one public member vacancy on the Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC).