New Benefit: In-Office Membership Plan Guide
WSDA is excited to share a new member benefit — an updated guide to creating and administering legally compliant in-office membership plans for Washington dental offices.
We know that offering an in-office membership plan (formerly referred to by WSDA as a “wellness plan”) is appealing to many members, but that compliant pathways for dental offices can be unclear.
In response, WSDA conducted comprehensive updated research on how these plans can comply with existing state law and worked directly with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) to confirm legally compliant models for Washington dental offices.
In-Office Membership Plan Models
Dental offices have two primary pathways to offer a compliant in-office membership plan. Choosing the right model may depend on your practice’s scope of care, the services patients routinely need, and what you want the plan to accomplish.
Direct Primary Care Agreement Model
A Direct Primary Care Agreement is a dental membership model that uses clear patient agreements, service descriptions, payment schedules, cancellation terms, and refund protocols. These direct agreements operate outside of traditional insurance for included primary or preventive care services and do not include access to major services.
Discount or Voucher Model
Offering a discount or voucher to your patients is a low-effort way to support their preventive care goals without a contract. You can create and distribute discounts, vouchers, or gift cards for preventive services that can be easily tracked in your practice management software through your adjustments or patient ledger.
WSDA members can log in here to access resources to help choose and implement the model that’s right for their practice and operate in compliance with Washington state law.
Questions?
Please contact Crystal McGaffin, WSDA Dental Benefits Advocacy Manager, at dentalbenefits@wsda.org. While WSDA cannot provide legal advice, we may be able to help facilitate questions, contact the OIC, or review certain parameters.
