Blog

Sep 21, 2021

Department of Health Guidance on Preventing Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 During Aerosol Generating and Other Procedures

The Department of Health (DOH) has created a guidance document covering the prevention of transmission of COVID-19 during aerosol generating procedures (AGPs).

Sep 17, 2021

PNDC 2021 Early Bird Deadline Friday, Sept. 24

The PNDC 2021 Early Bird Deadline is next Friday, Sept. 24! Register your team today to save up to $100 per person.

Sep 17, 2021

DQAC Dental Infection Control Committee Meeting – Sept. 24

The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) will hold a Dental Infection Control Committee meeting on Friday, Sept. 24.

Sep 15, 2021

New Resource to Hire Front Office Staff and Dental Assistants

Learn more about WorkSource, a job-match website that connects employers and job seekers in Washington.

Sep 14, 2021

Significant Increases to Adult Dental Medicaid Reimbursement Rates & Upcoming Webinar

On July 1, reimbursement rates for nearly all adult dental Medicaid (Apple Health) covered services increased by 100%. Learn more and see an upcoming free webinar by the Arcora Foundation and the Health Care Authority.

Sep 8, 2021

Tell Congress No Medicare Part B Dental Benefit

Please join your fellow dentists and contact your members of Congress to ask them to oppose the Part B dental benefit and instead support the ADA’s alternative.

Sep 7, 2021

Regulatory Update – September 2021

Rulemaking is currently in progress to amend the requirements for continuing education, dentist retired active status, and delegation of the COVID-19 vaccination to hygienists.

Sep 3, 2021

Vaccine Mandate Update & Sample Accommodation Forms

An update on the vaccine mandate for healthcare providers and workers, including sample religious and medical accommodation forms.

Sep 1, 2021

Reminder: Prepare for Dec. 1 Water Line Testing Requirement with Free Webinars

Attend a free webinar from Harris Biomedical to help prepare for DQAC's new water line testing requirements taking effect Dec. 1, 2021.

Aug 31, 2021

PPE Available from the State

The state is currently accepting PPE requests from its PPE Backstop through Oct. 31, 2021.

Aug 31, 2021

Medical Teams International in Urgent Need of Dentist Volunteers

Medical Teams International (MTI) is in urgent need of dentist volunteers who are willing to volunteer one or more days in September at mobile clinics around the state.

Aug 31, 2021

Delta Dental of Washington Launches New Provider Web Chat Feature

Delta Dental of Washington is excited to announce a new feature on the DDWA website that will answer your questions without having to pick up the phone, Provider Web Chat.

Aug 30, 2021

Reminder: Adult Dental Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Increase & Provider Enrollment Resources

On July 1, reimbursement rates for nearly all Apple Health covered services increased by 100%. Learn more about how to enroll as an Apple Health provider and sign up for DentistLink to start receiving referrals for adult Apple Health enrollees.

Aug 30, 2021

Kickoff Meeting for the Dentistry and Dental Hygiene Interstate Compact

The Council for State Governments (CSG) held their kickoff meeting on Aug. 24 for the Dentistry and Dental Hygiene Interstate Compact, which aims to develop an interstate compact for license portability.

Aug 30, 2021

DQAC Dental Anesthesia Committee Meeting – Sept. 9

The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) will hold a Dental Anesthesia Committee meeting on Thursday, Sept. 9 at 1:00 PM.

Aug 30, 2021

DQAC Considers Rule Amendments Regarding Licensure Requirements for EFDAs

A CR-101 has been filed to consider rule amendments regarding licensure requirements for expanded function dental auxiliaries (EFDAs).

Aug 25, 2021

PNDC 2021 Early Bird Deadline: Sept. 24

The PNDC 2021 Early Bird Deadline is just 30 days away! Register your team by Sept. 24 to save up to $100 per person.

Aug 23, 2021

Take Action: Congress Considers a Medicare Dental Benefit

Now is the time for Congress to hear from dentists on how to design a new dental benefit in Medicare and how it could best work for dentists and Medicare patients. Contact your members of Congress.

Aug 19, 2021

Office of Equity Survey and Listening Session Registration

The Washington State Office of Equity is gathering feedback about equity, diversity, and inclusion through a survey and listening sessions. The Office of Equity wants to gain insight from agencies across Washington, and WSDA believes it is important that the dental profession provides input into this process.

Aug 17, 2021

Webinar: Medicare Dental Benefit Proposal Update from Washington, D.C.

The American Dental Association invites you to join them Thursday, Aug. 19 at 5:00 PM PT for the latest update on Congressional proposals on a Medicare dental benefit.

Aug 17, 2021

ADA Fact Sheet: Keeping Practices Safe as Delta Variant Spreads

A new fact sheet from the ADA provides an update on the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant and recommended COVID-19 mitigation strategies to minimize risk to staff and patients.

Aug 16, 2021

Opting Out of LTSS Program – Deadline Approaching

The Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Program is on track for implementation on Jan. 1, 2022, and with the Nov. 1 deadline quickly approaching, it is imperative that individuals wanting to opt-out of the program start exploring their long-term care coverage options.

Aug 12, 2021

New Television Closed Captioning Law

Senate Bill 5027, concerning closed captioning on televisions in places of public accommodation, is now effective and impacts dentists with public television sets in their office.

Aug 12, 2021

WSDA Response to Vaccine Mandate

WSDA sent a letter to the governor today urging him to modify Proclamation 21-14 to include an optional “vaccinate or test” policy.

Aug 9, 2021

State Announces COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement for Health Care Workers, Including Dental Offices

Gov. Jay Inslee announced a requirement for workers in private health care (including dental offices) and long-term care settings, in addition to most state workers, contractors, and volunteers, to be fully vaccinated with a recommended COVID-19 vaccine by October 18, 2021.

Aug 5, 2021

Take Action Now: LTSS Program Deadline Quickly Approaching

The Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Program is on track for implementation on Jan. 1, 2022, and with the deadline quickly approaching, it is imperative that individuals wanting to opt-out of the program start exploring their long-term care coverage options.

Aug 5, 2021

Dental Therapy Task Force Information

Information about the State appointed Dental Therapy Task Force meetings can be found here.

Jul 30, 2021

Meet CE Requirements for Dentists at PNDC 2021

Meet infection control, suicide prevention, opioid prescribing, minimal & moderate sedation, and BLS CE requirements for dentists at PNDC 2021, Nov. 11-13 in Seattle.

Jul 29, 2021

WSDA House of Delegates: Sept. 9-11 in Spokane

The 2021 WSDA House of Delegates, the governing body of the Association, will meet Sept. 9-11 at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane. See current resolutions, delegates, candidates for elected positions and more.

Jul 23, 2021

State-Appointed Dental Therapy Task Force Meetings Open to Public

A state-appointed dental therapy task force will hold its first meeting, which is open to the public, on Monday, July 26 from 2-4 PM.

Jul 21, 2021

State Calls on Providers to Continue Work to Boost COVID-19 Vaccination

Last Friday, Gov. Jay Inslee and Secretary of Health Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH announced the Power of Providers (POP) Initiative to continue to encourage all health care providers in the state to reach out and talk to their patients about COVID-19 vaccination.

Jul 18, 2021

DQAC Business Meeting – July 30

The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) will hold its next business meeting on Friday, July 30 at 8:30 AM.

Jul 18, 2021

CDC Revises Infection Control Guidance for Dentistry

The CDC has revised infection control guidance for dental offices, removing recommendations that dentists avoid aerosol-generating procedures for all patients and replacing it with language advising that the procedures be avoided only for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

Jul 15, 2021

COVID-19 Vaccine Initiative Event with Gov. Inslee for Health Care Providers

Governor Jay Inslee, Secretary of Health Umair A. Shah, and the Washington State Department of Health are inviting all health care providers in the state to a virtual meeting on Friday, July 16 from 7:30-8:00 AM.

Jul 14, 2021

ADA Releases Updated COVID-19 Dental Office Procedures Emphasizing Need for Hazard Assessments

The American Dental Association's new Update to Office Procedures During COVID-19 provides updated information for dentists to consider as they assess COVID-19 workplace hazards and make decisions that are best for their practices.

Jul 12, 2021

PPP Forgiveness Deadlines Approaching for Borrowers Who Received First Draw Loans

For dentists who received first draw Paycheck Protection Program loans, the deadline to apply for loan forgiveness could be on the horizon. Depending on when the borrower received the loan and used the funds, the forgiveness period could fall between July and September of this year.

Jul 9, 2021

Attention Medicaid Providers: New PMP Rule Goes into Effect Oct. 1, 2021

The Health Care Authority (HCA) has filed a permanent rule regarding the SUPPORT Act that will become effective Oct. 1, 2021 and impact all Apple Health (Medicaid) providers who prescribe controlled substances.

Jul 8, 2021

Changes to Covered Apple Health Dental-related Services

The Health Care Authority (HCA) has announced rule changes to covered Apple Health (Medicaid) dental-related services.

Jul 7, 2021

Apple Health Reimbursement Rate Increase & Provider Enrollment Resources

On July 1, reimbursement rates for nearly all Apple Health covered services increased by 100%. Learn more about how to enroll as an Apple Health provider and sign up for DentistLink to start receiving referrals for adult Apple Health enrollees.

Jul 6, 2021

The Small Business Flex Fund Loan Application is Now Live

The Department of Commerce has opened applications for Small Business Flex Fund loans, allowing businesses or nonprofits to apply to borrow up to $150,000 from community lenders at an interest rate between 3% - 4.5%.

Jun 30, 2021

June 30 Reopening Update for Dental Offices

As health care settings — which are exempted from many of the new reopening and masking guidelines — dental offices are still required to follow enhanced COVID-19 safety and masking requirements.

Jun 29, 2021

Reunite With the WA Dental Community at PNDC 2021

Reunite with the dental community and celebrate the resiliency of our profession at PNDC 2021, November 11-13 in Seattle. Registration is open now!

Jun 28, 2021

Prepare for Dec. 1 Water Line Testing Requirement with Free Webinars

Attend a free webinar from Harris Biomedical to help prepare for DQAC's new water line testing requirements taking effect Dec. 1, 2021.

Jun 27, 2021

Part-Time Assignments, Lasting Fulfillment

Locum tenens and other part-time opportunities fill vacancies, provide varied pathways in dentistry.

Jun 27, 2021

Doing Something About It: How WSDA, Delta Dental, UW School of Dentistry and Others are Confronting the Dental Hygiene Shortage

Read the WSDA News Spring 2021 cover story to learn more about efforts to address workforce shortages, including new support for dental hygiene education at the University of Washington School of Dentistry.

Jun 25, 2021

The Shoreline Community College Dental Hygiene Program at UW Needs Your Support!

Please consider donating in support of the Shoreline Dental Hygiene Program at the UW School of Dentistry. Your contribution will make a difference in educating and graduating more dental hygienists in our state and will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $500,000!

Jun 17, 2021

OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard Update

On June 10, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) on COVID-19.

Jun 16, 2021

DQAC Business Meeting – June 25

The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) will hold its next business meeting on Friday, June 25 at 8:30 AM.

Jun 15, 2021

Rule Update on Specialty Representation – Effective July 3, 2021

The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) has modified our state’s dental specialty representation rule (WAC 246-817-420) to clarify specialty areas of practice and add requirements for those who would like to represent themselves as specialists.

Jun 9, 2021

Dental Office COVID-19 Protections Have Worked, ADA Tells Administration

Representatives from the ADA told White House Office of Management and Budget officials last week that there is little risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in dental offices.