Bracken Killpack: Legislative Victory

Earlier this year, WSDA launched the most comprehensive and aggressive dental benefits legislative campaign in our Association’s history. This landmark effort resulted in the successful passage of legislation that explicitly prohibits same-day denials by insurance carriers and restricts dental benefits companies from requiring dental offices to accept payment through virtual credit cards that carry processing fees. The new law also makes significant strides toward achieving fairness in dental loss ratio and non-network reimbursement practices through a mediation process directed by the impartial William D. Ruckelshaus Center. The mediation process officially begins in July and must conclude by June 2026.

Our advocacy campaign produced more than its fair share of fireworks. What started as underestimation from the insurance industry quickly morphed into aggressive resistance once they realized the extent of our support. In a telling moment, insurance company executives resorted to personal attacks — accusing, in writing, our volunteer leadership of dishonesty. Equally disturbing, the board chair of the state’s largest dental carrier — a banker with no dental training — publicly testified that insurance companies are gatekeepers that prevent patients from receiving unnecessary crowns when “all you really needed was a simple filling.” Such bluster, however, failed to derail our efforts.

Our success wasn’t the result of chance. It was the product of focused, strategic advocacy to protect the doctor-patient relationship. By keeping the conversation rooted in common-sense reforms and patient care, we unified support across the political spectrum. The results speak for themselves: not a single legislator voted against our bill at any point in the entire process. This overwhelming bipartisan support is a testament to the power of our collective voice. Sincere thanks to all of you who helped make that voice heard!

This legislative victory is not a conclusion; it’s a beginning. Our work this session laid the groundwork for future dental benefits reforms. We’ve established a solid foundation, but to build on this momentum, we need even more participation from our dental community. The insurance industry isn’t slowing down, and neither can we.

One important lesson from this session is that personal stories matter. The most effective way to counter the insurance industry’s self-serving narratives is through clear, authentic accounts from dental professionals and patients who are directly impacted. These lived experiences cut through the noise and illustrate the real consequences of insurance overreach. Moving forward, we must increase our capacity to collect and share these stories. We need to hear more from the professionals who are delivering high-quality care in spite of the bureaucratic red tape imposed by carriers.

In short, it’s time to get even more organized. WSDA must continue building a robust network of professionals who are ready to stand up and speak out. When we collaborate — when we support and educate one another — we gain the power to control the narrative, reshape the system, and more effectively protect patient care.

To that end, WSDA is making another major investment in our advocacy efforts. In the coming weeks, we will be expanding our team to include a new position: Dental Benefits Advocacy Manager. This individual will be the first staff member in WSDA’s history dedicated exclusively to dental benefits issues. With this added bandwidth, we will be able to engage more deeply with dental offices across the state, identify trends, and amplify our advocacy.

Everyone reading this either works tirelessly on dental benefits or knows someone who does. These are the champions we need to bring together. If you or someone you know is ready to be part of this growing movement, we encourage you to connect with us. The best way to get involved is by emailing us at dentalbenefits@wsda.org.

The path ahead will not be easy, but with continued support, shared effort, and relentless focus, we can rewrite the rules to ensure that patient care — not insurance industry profits — remains the priority.