Jun 1, 2021
2021 Legislative Session Summary
Washington's legislative session adjourned on April 25, 2021. Read a summary of passed legislation that may impact you as a provider, business owner, employer, or employee.
Blog
Jun 1, 2021
WDIA: Attract and Retain Staff with Group Medical Coverage
Many WSDA members use Washington Dentists’ Insurance Agency (WDIA) to purchase individual products such as disability, malpractice, and life to insure their livelihood, but did you know that WDIA can also help you apply for and navigate group medical coverage?
Jun 1, 2021
DQAC Dental Infection Control Committee Meeting – June 18
The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) will hold a Dental Infection Control Committee meeting on Friday, June 18.
Jun 1, 2021
Seattle Times Op-Ed: Dental Therapists Create a Two-Tiered System of Care
Drs. Marissa Bender and Harlyn Susarla recently authored the op-ed "Dental Therapists Create a Two-Tiered System of Care" for The Seattle Times.
May 28, 2021
Nominate a Dentist for Citizen of the Year
Do you know a member dentist doing incredible charitable work in their community? Nominate them for WSDA Citizen of the Year!
May 27, 2021
PPE Reimbursement Law Clarification
The Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) recently provided clarification regarding SB-5169, legislation that mandates health benefit plans (insurance carriers that offer medical plans) to reimburse health care providers for PPE.
May 26, 2021
Study: Most Aerosol Droplets in Dental Procedures from Irrigation Tools, Not Saliva
Patient saliva was found not to be the major source of the microbes in aerosols generated during dental procedures, according to Ohio State University researchers, who analyzed the genetic makeup of the organisms detected in aerosols.
May 24, 2021
Reminder: Apply for the WSDA Leadership Institute by June 4
Apply by June 4 for the Leadership Institute, a program designed to foster new leadership in organized dentistry.
May 24, 2021
New ADA Member Benefit: Fitness on Your Terms with ClassPass
ADA members receive FREE access to the ClassPass digital library and 10% off in-person class packages.
May 19, 2021
HCA: Revised COVID-19 Testing Clinical Policy
Attention Apple Health (Medicaid) providers: HCA has revised its COVID-19 testing clinical policy.
May 19, 2021
D-MMEX Easyrefine: Returns on Precious Metal Dental Scrap Now at 25-Year High
Submit your precious dental scrap and other precious metal to WSDA-endorsed D-MMEX Easyrefine and receive an additional 2% premium on the total value of your submission.
May 18, 2021
Department of Labor and Industries’ New Interpreter Scheduling System Now Live
Based on legislation passed in 2018 and designed to improve access to spoken language interpreter services when providing care to injured workers, the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has launched a new spoken language interpreter scheduling system.
May 14, 2021
Dental Insurance Resources for Dentists
See new and existing tools and guidance from the ADA to help dentists understand actions taken by insurance carriers
May 13, 2021
ADA Names Dr. Raymond A. Cohlmia as New Executive Director
The ADA announced May 12 that it named Raymond A. Cohlmia, D.D.S., dean of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry and a former ADA Board of Trustees member, as its executive director, effective Nov. 15.
May 13, 2021
DQAC Dental Continuing Competency Committee Meeting – May 28
The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) will hold a Dental Continuing Competency Committee meeting on Friday, May 28.
May 12, 2021
Wellness Survey Open to Practicing Dentists
The ADA wants to hear about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical and mental health and invites dentists to take the 2021 Dentist Health and Well-Being Survey.
May 11, 2021
How Practice Owners Can Save Money With WSDA Retro
If you're a WSDA member who owns a dental practice, make sure you enroll for free in WSDA Retro to utilize the full value of your membership! Sign up by June 1.
May 6, 2021
Be a Vaccine Champion for Your Patients
As trusted health care providers, dentists can play a critical role in encouraging COVID-19 vaccine uptake among our patients and communities.
May 4, 2021
Regulatory Update – April 2021
Rulemaking is currently in progress to amend the requirements for continuing education, dental examination content, and delegation of COVID-19 screenings.
Apr 28, 2021
Dental Assistant Training Resources
In an effort to assist members with training dental assistants new to their practice, WSDA is working to gather a variety of training resources.
Apr 28, 2021
DQAC Dental Anesthesia Committee Meeting – May 14
The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) will hold a Dental Anesthesia Committee meeting on Friday, May 14.
Apr 27, 2021
Apply for the WSDA Leadership Institute
Apply by June 4 for the Leadership Institute, a program designed to foster new leadership in organized dentistry.
Apr 26, 2021
Increased Adult Dental Medicaid Provider Rates
The Legislature reached an agreement on the $59 billion operating budget for the 2021-23 biennium which includes increased provider reimbursement rates for the adult dental Medicaid program.
Apr 25, 2021
Dr. Julie Kellogg: New Year, Same Pandemic – Four Ways to Get on the Good Side of 2021
2021 has arrived and we still have stress and a pandemic. How do we keep hoping and thriving? Here are four tips to beat the stress.
Apr 22, 2021
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day This Saturday, April 24
Dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, April 24.
Apr 21, 2021
E-prescribing Waiver Public Hearing – June 4
The DOH will hold a virtual public hearing on June 4, 2021 to discuss proposed new rules that will establish electronic prescribing waiver criteria.
Apr 21, 2021
WSDA News | Spring 2021
Doing Something About It: How WSDA, Delta Dental, UW School of Dentistry and Others are Confronting the Dental Hygiene Shortage
Apr 19, 2021
DQAC Business Meeting – April 30
The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) will hold its next business meeting on Friday, April 30 at 8:30 AM.
Apr 12, 2021
PPE Group Purchasing Order Deadline Tomorrow
Join WSDA's group purchase of Nitrile Gloves, BYD Level III 3 Ply Surgical Masks and other discounted PPE. Complete your purchase by April 14.
Apr 9, 2021
DQAC Newsletter
Read the latest newsletter from the Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC).
Apr 8, 2021
Support the Shoreline Community College Dental Hygiene Program at UW
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!
Apr 5, 2021
Attention Delta Members: Send Feedback to the Member Advisory Panel (MAP)
Delta member dentists can now learn more about the Member Advisory Panel (MAP) and send questions, comments or concerns through a dedicated webpage.
Apr 2, 2021
E-Prescribing Requirement Further Delayed
The Washington State Secretary of Health has issued an extension on the previous waiver for the requirement for prescriptions for controlled substances and refill authorizations to be communicated electronically to pharmacies.
Apr 2, 2021
In-Person CE This Fall at PNDC 2021
The Pacific Northwest Dental Conference returns to Seattle this fall! Join us in person Nov. 11-13 at the Washington State Convention Center and Hyatt Regency Seattle.
Apr 2, 2021
Defective Restorations Explored by ACE Panel
Repair or replace? That’s the question facing clinicians who encounter a defective restoration. And it’s a question members of the ADA Clinical Evaluators (ACE) Panel answered in their latest survey.
Apr 2, 2021
ADA Webinar: What Dentists Need to Know About PPOs
The ADA will offer a free webinar on April 22 exploring how preferred provider organization plans process claims and the ways dental practice finances can be affected.
Apr 1, 2021
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day: Saturday, April 24
Dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 24.
Apr 1, 2021
How to Volunteer to Give the COVID-19 Vaccine
WSDA has put together a guide to help authorized vaccinators within the dental community prepare to volunteer to give the COVID-19 vaccine.
Mar 31, 2021
Additional COVID-19 Relief for Small Businesses
The governor has signed into law two more pieces of legislation that will provide additional COVID-19 relief for our state’s small businesses.
Mar 29, 2021
ADA Webinar – Amplifying Voices: Today is Tomorrow’s History
Please join the ADA on Tuesday, March 30 at 5:00 PM PT for a panel discussion in celebration of Women’s History Month.
Mar 28, 2021
Join New PPE Group Purchasing Order
Join WSDA's group purchase of Nitrile Gloves, BYD Level III 3 Ply Surgical Masks and other discounted PPE. Complete your purchase by April 14.
Mar 26, 2021
WSDA Member Among ADA '10 Under 10' Award Winners
Congratulations to WSDA member Dr. Sampada Deshpande for being named an American Dental Association 10 Under 10 Award winner!
Mar 25, 2021
Scam Alert: Scammers Posing as DOH Officials Targeting Health Care Providers
Please be aware of a scam that continues to target Washington health care providers in which scammers pose as the DOH and FBI.
Mar 24, 2021
New Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) Rule Effective Oct. 1, 2021
Starting Oct. 1, 2021, Medicaid providers must check the PMP no more than 10 days prior to prescribing any controlled medication for an Apple Health patient.
Mar 16, 2021
Refine Precious Metals with WSDA-Endorsed D-MMEX Easyrefine
WSDA members receive a 5% bonus on the total value of their precious metal refining submission with WSDA-Endorsed D-MMEX Easyrefine, plus an added 2% premium through March 31.
Mar 16, 2021
Designing a New Practice: A Panel Discussion with the 2019 ADA Design Innovation Award Winners
The ADA will present a free webinar on March 23 featuring WSDA member Dr. Robin Henderson and other winners of the 2019 ADA Design Innovation Awards.
Mar 15, 2021
DQAC Dental Anesthesia Committee Meeting – March 25
The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) will hold a Dental Anesthesia Committee meeting on Thursday, March 25.
Mar 9, 2021
Capital Gains Tax Bill Update
Washington's capital gains tax bill (Senate Bill 5096) passed out of the Senate, though WSDA's biggest concerns around the potential impact the tax could have on members when selling their dental practice(s) have been addressed at this time.
Mar 9, 2021
DQAC Specialty Representation Rule Hearing – April 30
The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) has scheduled a rule hearing for proposed amendments to WAC 246-817-420 Specialty representation, which would clarify dental specialty areas of practice and requirements for those who want to represent themselves as a specialist.
Mar 3, 2021
DQAC Business Meeting – March 12
The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) will hold its next business meeting on Friday, March 12 at 8:30 AM.
