COVID-19 Updates: Delta announces additional practice support, WSDA's PPE survey, WSDA & UWSoD advocate to allow dentists to provide COVID-19 testing & more.
Delta Announces the Practice Reopening Support Program
In an email to its member dentists today, Delta Dental of Washington (DDWA) announced it will be launching the Practice Reopening Support Program (PRSP) to offset some of the costs dentists are incurring. The PRSP will provide DDWA member dentists with $10 for each DDWA patient visit from May 18 through August 31. All DDWA member dentists will be enrolled automatically and the only requirement is that you receive payment via electronic funds transfer (EFT). Read the specifics here.
PRSP Announcement
Have You Completed Our Quick Follow-Up PPE Survey?
WSDA, in collaboration with Delta Dental of Washington, is continuing to explore ways to obtain PPE outside of traditional supply chains. We are conducting a second PPE survey to collect information from dental offices about existing supplies on hand.
To collect this data, we are asking dental offices to complete this anonymous survey about your current PPE supply levels. The aggregate data collected in this survey will be useful in efforts to obtain PPE needed for all dental offices.
The deadline to complete the survey is this Sunday at 10 PM.
Take PPE Survey
WSDA and UW School of Dentistry Advocate to Allow Dentists to Provide COVID-19 Testing
Yesterday, in a letter to the Department of Health (DOH), WSDA — in partnership with the UW School of Dentistry — urged DOH to recognize COVID-19 testing as part of a dentist’s scope of practice, allowing dentists to provide COVID-19 testing in their office, should they choose.
Read Letter
Place Your KN95 Mask Order ASAP
In case you missed our earlier email announcement, we are pleased to announce that we have secured a second wave of 150,000 FDA-approved KN95 masks from the Washington State Emergency Management Division to be shipped directly to dentists by The Dentists Supply Company (TDSC). While supplies last, one box of 50 KN95 masks is available to any actively practicing licensed Washington dentist. Masks are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Learn More & Place Order
Resource Highlights
As a reminder, WSDA created a members-only Summary of Requirements for Return to Providing Non-Urgent Care (login required) that walks through a summary of Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 20-24.1 and provides resources to help members comply.
The ADA also has many resources to help as dentists return to providing non-urgent care:
Find more resources at wsda.org/COVID-19 and ADA.org/virus.
Sincerely,
Dr. Dennis Bradshaw
WSDA President