Governor Signs WSDA’s Dental Benefits Reform Bill Into Law
On Monday, May 12, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed WSDA’s dental benefits reform legislation, Senate Bill 5351, into law.
Several WSDA leaders, staff and bill supporters were present in Olympia for the signing, including President-elect Dr. Lisa Egbert, Past President Dr. Cynthia Pauley, Representative Michelle Caldier, Executive Director Bracken Killpack and Government Affairs Manager Lauren Johnson.
We thank Governor Ferguson for signing our bill and recognizing the importance of advancing dental benefits reforms in Washington state.
The result of WSDA’s most comprehensive and aggressive dental benefits reform campaign in Association history, Senate Bill 5351 makes meaningful progress on the following major dental benefits policy issues in a win for dentists and patients.
Same-Day Denials
WSDA’s bill prohibits same-day denials, the practice that some insurance companies have engaged in to deny claims for multiple procedures just because they were performed during a single appointment when they would otherwise be covered.
Virtual Credit Cards
WSDA’s bill restricts insurance companies from requiring dental offices to accept payment through virtual credit cards that carry processing fees.
Dental Loss Ratio & Non-Network Reimbursement Fairness
WSDA’s bill requires stakeholders to undergo a mediation process on the issues of establishing a minimum dental loss ratio and creating non-network reimbursement fairness, directed by the impartial William D. Ruckelshaus Center, a well-respected joint effort of the University of Washington and Washington State University. The process will be fact-based and data-driven, and the Ruckelshaus Center will report back to the Legislature with a recommendation based on its findings.
This bill is an important first step in achieving dental benefits reform in the state of Washington and we are excited to continue this fight on behalf of dentists and the patients you serve.
Going forward, we are preparing future legislation and other actions that will build upon this success. Stay tuned for more information about these next steps in the coming weeks.
