Blog

May 10, 2023

Webinar: HPV Vaccine Starts at 9

The Department of Health is hosting the webinar "HPV Vaccine Starts at 9: Why? How? Now! Cancer Prevention Made Easy" on May 16.

May 10, 2023

Upcoming Employment Law Webinars from L&I

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.

Apr 25, 2023

2023 Legislative Session Update: Week 15 (April 17-23)

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.

Apr 21, 2023

Be Aware of Medicaid Renewal Scams

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.

Apr 14, 2023

Workforce Legislation Update

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.

Apr 14, 2023

2023 Legislative Session Update: Week 14 (April 10-16)

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.

Apr 13, 2023

DOH Update on Guidance for HPV Vaccination

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.

Apr 7, 2023

2023 Legislative Session Update: Week 13 (April 3-9)

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.

Apr 5, 2023

ADA Answers Your Questions on New DEA Registration Requirement Effective June 27

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).

Apr 5, 2023

Employee Retention Credit: What Dentists Should Know

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.

Apr 5, 2023

PNDC 2023 Early Bird Deadline: Friday, April 28!

Register for PNDC 2023 by Friday, April 28 to save up to $100/person on registration! Earn 20+ CE credits, shop the Exhibit Hall (now open on Saturday), enjoy special events and more all for one low price. WSDA members register for just $350 ($225 for recent dental school grads) at the Early Bird price.

Mar 31, 2023

2023 Legislative Session Update: Week 12 (March 27-April 2)

By March 29, bills must have been voted out of their opposite house policy committee to stay “alive” and continue along in the legislative process. Bills that have been sent to a fiscal committee in the opposite house have until April 4 to pass out of committee. Read for an update of WSDA’s week 12 activities in Olympia.

Mar 27, 2023

2023 Legislative Session Update: Week 11 (March 20-26)

On March 21, several dental workforce bills had a public hearing in the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee and subsequently passed out of the Committee on March 23. The Legislature will continue to devote most of its time to Committee work until opposite house policy cutoff on March 29. Read for an update on WSDA’s week 11 activities in Olympia.

Mar 21, 2023

ADA Receives Clarification On No Surprises Act

Dental providers and facilities are “generally required to provide uninsured patients with a good faith estimate of expected charges” unless the patient is enrolled in an excepted benefit plan or coverage such as a stand-alone dental plan, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid.

Mar 17, 2023

2023 Legislative Session Update: Week 10 (March 13-19)

During week ten, the Legislature returned to Committee to hear and amend bills from the opposite chamber. The Legislature will devote most of their time to Committee work until opposite house policy cutoff on March 29. Read for an update on WSDA’s week ten activities in Olympia.

Mar 10, 2023

Court Extends Discovery Period in ADA Lawsuit Against Delta Dental

In 2019, the ADA filed a class action lawsuit against the Delta Dental Plans and the Delta Dental Plans Association, and in January, the federal district court for the Northern District of Illinois amended its scheduling order to allow the parties additional time to conduct discovery.

Mar 10, 2023

2023 Legislative Session Update: Week 9 (March 6-12)

March 8 was house of origin cutoff, the third major milestone of the 2023 legislative session. This means that bills, with the exception of those necessary to implement the budget, must have been voted out of their respective chamber by March 8 in order to stay “alive” and move forward in the legislative process. Read for an update on WSDA’s week nine activities in Olympia.

Mar 7, 2023

2023 Legislative Session Update: Week 8 (Feb. 27-March 5)

On March 5, the Legislature passed several dental-specific and workforce bills out of the House of Representatives. During week eight, the Legislature devoted their time to debating and voting bills out of their respective chamber of origin. Read for an update on WSDA’s week eight activities in Olympia.

Mar 3, 2023

Review DQAC's Proposed Anesthesia Rules

For more than three years, the Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) has been working to update Washington state’s dental anesthesia rules. WSDA encourages members to review the proposed rules and submit questions or concerns via email or virtually at DQAC's March 10 business meeting.

Mar 3, 2023

Secretary of Health Mask Order to End April 3

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).

Mar 2, 2023

Reminder: ASL Interpreter Provider Obligations

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.

Mar 2, 2023

Reminder: Dental Infection Control Requirements

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.

Mar 1, 2023

Registration is Open for PNDC 2023!

Registration is open now for the 2023 Pacific Northwest Dental Conference, June 15-17 in Seattle! Earn 20+ CE credits, shop the Exhibit Hall (now open on Saturday), enjoy special events and more all for one low price.

Mar 1, 2023

Free Virtual CE from WSDA – March 16 & April 26

Members can register now for two upcoming free virtual CE courses from WSDA and Columbia Bank: "Essential Steps When Selling or Buying a Dental Practice" on March 16 and "Protecting Your Practice Through Adversity" on April 26.

Mar 1, 2023

Volunteer at the Seattle/King County Clinic

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.

Mar 1, 2023

Bracken Killpack: Building a Stronger WSDA

"We must provide specific, differentiated value for all dentists regardless of how they practice – with benefits aligned to the north star of our mission."

Feb 28, 2023

Are Credit Card Fees Affecting Your Bottom Line?

Without a vigilant management strategy, credit card processing fees can add up and affect your bottom line. Review tips for minimizing fees from WSDA and ADA endorsed company Best Card.

Feb 28, 2023

DQAC Dental Inclusion Committee Meeting – March 29

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.

Feb 27, 2023

Apply for the WSDA Leadership Institute by March 31

The WSDA Leadership Institute is a program designed to foster new leadership in organized dentistry by getting participants involved in a variety of WSDA activities and meetings. Apply by March 31.

Feb 24, 2023

DQAC Business Meeting – March 10

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