SB 5351, WSDA’s bill to reform the broken dental benefits system in Washington, was introduced on Thursday, January 16. This bill has strong bipartisan support from across the political spectrum, including sponsorship from the majority of members of the Senate Health Care Committee.

"In a nutshell, the ERISA preemption is applied too broadly by the carriers. In response, nearly two years ago the ADA House of Delegates formed a special committee on ERISA to look for innovative strategies to deal with the problem. We have identified a number of paths forward."

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.

The ADA has announced a new resource available for all ADA members and dental students: Talkspace Go, a self-guided therapy app to support mental well-being.

Dr. Robin Jones is making a difference for low-income, underserved patients in Tacoma. When asked about her practice model, Dr. Robin Jones replied that she is “a general dentist specializing in ‘community dentistry.’ It’s a specialty I created.”

On Friday, January 10, WSDA met with DDWA and newly elected Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer to discuss key points of our robust dental benefits reform legislation.

ComplyBetter, WSDA's new dental compliance software solution for Washington dental offices, is available now!

"The coming year will bring great news for Washington patients and dentistry. That’s because in 2025 our state will have first year predoctoral dental students enrolled in TWO dental schools across THREE different locations – UW-Gonzaga University Health Partnership Building (Spokane), Equity Hall at Pacific Northwest University (Yakima), and UW Health Sciences Center (Seattle)."

Beginning January 1, 2025, Washington State dentists administering moderate sedation with enteral or parenteral agents to children are now required to obtain a Pediatric Sedation Endorsement. The application is now available from the Department of Health.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson is warning of a scammer posing as the Secretary of State’s Office targeting Washington small businesses. The scam letters demand payment well beyond the cost of state business filings, and threaten business owners with fines or dissolution of their business for failing to comply.

WSDA members can join fellow dentists from across the state at Dental Action Day 2025 in Olympia on January 30 to meet with legislators to advocate for dental benefits reform and other issues affecting the dental profession.

Volunteer registration is now open for the 2025 Seattle/King County Clinic, held April 24-27 at Seattle Center.

"Component societies are often run on a shoestring budget, and we don’t give them enough credit for the important role they play in our professional lives."

“WSDA’s advocacy team will be working this session to create a system that puts patients over profits, brings justice to care and creates a fair and functioning market. Because right now, insurance companies are not putting patients first.”

UPDATE: The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals panel reinstated the nationwide injunction against the Corporate Transparency Act Dec. 26. Impacted small businesses are therefore no longer required to comply with the law's reporting requirements until further proceedings take place.

“When you work with WDIA, your premiums stay right here in Washington to fund advocacy, high quality continuing education, and connections with leading dental professionals.”

Earn 2 CE credits by attending the webinar, Numbers Don't Lie! Understanding the Numbers for Practice Sellers and Buyers, presented by OMNI Practice Group on Wednesday, February 12.

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill. By Churchill’s definition, Dr. Kalman “Kal” Klass has made a very, very good life. The range of his giving has touched Holocaust survivors and terminally ill AIDS patients in Seattle, at-risk children in Jerusalem, hikers in Snohomish County, and beyond. For this breadth and depth of volunteerism, Klass is being honored as WSDA’s Citizen of the Year for 2024.