The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) has put together a variety of free resources for employers, including an Essentials for Business webinar and Accident Prevention Plan workshop.
Write your Senators to urge them to support legislation that will address dental workforce issues so that there are enough dentists in underserved areas, your offices are fully staffed, and more patients are able to receive dental care.
Effective July 23, hygienists seeking an initial limited license in Washington state will no longer be required to be currently engaged in active practice in order to apply. Additionally, the name of the initial and renewed limited license for hygienists is changed to an initial and renewed temporary license, and the expiration of the license is extended from 18 months to five years.
The LTSS Trust Program is on track for implementation on July 1, 2023 and will be funded by a .58 percent premium assessment on employee wages. Learn more about how this program will affect employers, employees, and self-employed individuals.
Learn more about the ongoing collaborative work between WSDA and Delta Dental of Washington following the organizations' Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
It's been called many things: Groundbreaking. Revolutionary. Award-winning. Perhaps most importantly, it's effective. Ask anyone affiliated with the University of Washington School of Dentistry's Regional Initiatives in Dental Education (RIDE) program and they will tell you: RIDE works. Learn more about the program and its plans for expansion in the WSDA News Issue 1 cover story.
"While there are many reasons why the American Dental Association is valuable to our nation’s dentists, I believe it is important to point out some of the less obvious values. Like road, electrical, water, and sewage systems help ensure stable communities, the ADA provides important infrastructure that sustains and enhances the work of state dental associations, local dental societies, and your practice."
Effective June 27, 2023, prescribers of controlled substances, including dentists, must complete eight hours of one-time training on safely prescribing controlled substances (Schedules II, III, IV, and/or V) in order to receive or renew their registration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). See CE options at PNDC, from UW Continuing Dental Education, and from the ADA to meet the requirement.
During the 2023 legislative session, WSDA successfully advocated for the passage of three important dental workforce bills that reduce barriers to hygiene licensure in our state and increase licensure portability for dentists and hygienists. In addition to advocating for important workforce legislation, WSDA also supported or opposed several bills this session concerning dental-related issues, insurance, small business issues, employer/employee matters, and much more.
The Washington State Department of Health, Healthcare-Associated Infections, and Antimicrobial Resistance Section is asking for you to fill out a 5-minute survey about infection prevention in your dental facility.
The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) is currently recruiting dentists for two upcoming vacancies who reside and engage in the active practice of dentistry east of the summit of the Cascade mountain range. Apply by May 26.
RCW 70.352.060 requires all dental laboratory registrations be renewed yearly prior to July 31st. It is recommended that renewal requirements be submitted early, as it takes time for the department to process renewals.
The LTSS Trust Program is on track for implementation on July 1, 2023 and will be funded by a .58 percent premium assessment on employee wages. Learn more about how this program will affect employers, employees, and self-employed individuals.
Learn about an opportunity to join the WDS/Delta Dental of Washington Member Advisory Panel (MAP). WSDA encourages members who would like an opportunity to have input into the complex dental benefit discussions in our state to apply. Applications are due by June 2.
Are you a practice owner? Sign up for WSDA Retro by June 1 to receive the free, exclusive opportunity to earn money back on the premiums you already pay to L&I.
Earn 20+ CE credits and fulfill minimal sedation and basic life support CE requirements at PNDC 2023, June 15-17 in Seattle. WSDA members register for just $450 (or just $325 for recent grads)!
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has released a draft administrative policy to provide guidance on the Military Family Leave Act requirements for employers. L&I is holding a public feedback session on Tuesday, May 23, and the draft policy will be open for public comment until Friday, June 9.
The Health Care Authority (HCA) sent a provider alert on April 14, 2023, regarding the end of expedited prior authorization (EPA) number 870001607 and the discontinued use of CDT® code D0170. The dates of service were listed incorrectly as “on and after May 11, 2023” to align with the ending of the public health emergency (PHE).
Learn about key employment laws at upcoming L&I webinars. Webinar topics include Employer Guide to Workers’ Rights, Equal Pay and Opportunities Act, Isolated Worker Protections, Know Your Worker Rights and White Collar (EAP) Overtime Exemptions.
Washington state’s 105-day legislative session adjourned, on time, on Sunday, April 23, 2023. This session WSDA tracked several bills concerning dental-related issues, workforce, insurance, small business issues, employer/employee matters, and much more. Read for an update on WSDA’s week 15 activities in Olympia.
Please be aware of Medicaid renewal scams. Reports of fake texts and phone calls to Medicaid clients have been reported over the past couple weeks in other states.
Three important dental workforce bills that reduce barriers to hygiene licensure in our state and increase licensure portability for dentists and hygienists, including WSDA’s ESHB 1466, have passed the Legislature.
April 12 was opposite house cutoff, one of the final milestones of the 2023 session. Bills sent to the opposite house needed to be passed out by April 12 in order to stay “alive” and continue along in the legislative process. Read for an update on WSDA’s week 14 activities in Olympia.
Earlier this year, the Washington State Immunization Information System within the Department of Health (DOH) updated its guidance to recommend administering the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine starting at age 9.
April 4 was opposite house fiscal cutoff, the fifth major milestone of the 2023 legislative session. This meant bills that were sent to a fiscal committee needed to be voted out by April 4 in order to stay “alive” and continue along in the legislative process. Read for an update on WSDA’s week 13 activities in Olympia.
Effective June 27, 2023, prescribers of controlled substances, including dentists, must complete eight hours of one-time training on safely prescribing controlled substances (Schedules II, III, IV, and/or V) in order to receive or renew their registration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Dental professionals looking for a volunteer opportunity can sign up to volunteer for the 2023 Seattle/King County Clinic, held April 27-30 at Seattle Center.
The ADA Institute for Diversity in Leadership (IDL) is designed to enhance the leadership skills of dentists who belong to racial, ethnic and/or gender backgrounds that have been traditionally underrepresented in leadership roles. Apply by April 28.
WSDA wants eligible dental practices to be aware of the opportunity to claim the Employee Retention Credit, but we encourage practices to exercise caution in who they work with, as the credit has been the subject of recent fraud.