News Items

Kickoff Meeting for the Dentistry and Dental Hygiene Interstate Compact

The Council for State Governments (CSG) held their kickoff meeting on Aug. 24 for the Dentistry and Dental Hygiene Interstate Compact, which aims to develop an interstate compact for license portability.

DQAC Dental Anesthesia Committee Meeting – Sept. 9

The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) will hold a Dental Anesthesia Committee meeting on Thursday, Sept. 9 at 1:00 PM.

DQAC Considers Rule Amendments Regarding Licensure Requirements for EFDAs

A CR-101 has been filed to consider rule amendments regarding licensure requirements for expanded function dental auxiliaries (EFDAs).

PNDC 2021 Early Bird Deadline: Sept. 24

The PNDC 2021 Early Bird Deadline is just 30 days away! Register your team by Sept. 24 to save up to $100 per person.

Take Action: Congress Considers a Medicare Dental Benefit

Now is the time for Congress to hear from dentists on how to design a new dental benefit in Medicare and how it could best work for dentists and Medicare patients. Contact your members of Congress.

Office of Equity Survey and Listening Session Registration

The Washington State Office of Equity is gathering feedback about equity, diversity, and inclusion through a survey and listening sessions. The Office of Equity wants to gain insight from agencies across Washington, and WSDA believes it is important that the dental profession provides input into this process.

Webinar: Medicare Dental Benefit Proposal Update from Washington, D.C.

The American Dental Association invites you to join them Thursday, Aug. 19 at 5:00 PM PT for the latest update on Congressional proposals on a Medicare dental benefit.

ADA Fact Sheet: Keeping Practices Safe as Delta Variant Spreads

A new fact sheet from the ADA provides an update on the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant and recommended COVID-19 mitigation strategies to minimize risk to staff and patients.

Opting Out of LTSS Program – Deadline Approaching

The Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Program is on track for implementation on Jan. 1, 2022, and with the Nov. 1 deadline quickly approaching, it is imperative that individuals wanting to opt-out of the program start exploring their long-term care coverage options.

New Television Closed Captioning Law

Senate Bill 5027, concerning closed captioning on televisions in places of public accommodation, is now effective and impacts dentists with public television sets in their office.

WSDA Response to Vaccine Mandate

WSDA sent a letter to the governor today urging him to modify Proclamation 21-14 to include an optional “vaccinate or test” policy.

State Announces COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement for Health Care Workers, Including Dental Offices

Gov. Jay Inslee announced a requirement for workers in private health care (including dental offices) and long-term care settings, in addition to most state workers, contractors, and volunteers, to be fully vaccinated with a recommended COVID-19 vaccine by October 18, 2021.

Take Action Now: LTSS Program Deadline Quickly Approaching

The Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Program is on track for implementation on Jan. 1, 2022, and with the deadline quickly approaching, it is imperative that individuals wanting to opt-out of the program start exploring their long-term care coverage options.

Dental Therapy Task Force Information

Information about the State appointed Dental Therapy Task Force meetings can be found here.

Meet CE Requirements for Dentists at PNDC 2021

Meet infection control, suicide prevention, opioid prescribing, minimal & moderate sedation, and BLS CE requirements for dentists at PNDC 2021, Nov. 11-13 in Seattle.

HCA: 30-day grace period on requiring prior authorization for replacement dentures

WSDA House of Delegates: Sept. 9-11 in Spokane

The 2021 WSDA House of Delegates, the governing body of the Association, will meet Sept. 9-11 at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane. See current resolutions, delegates, candidates for elected positions and more.

HCA: Prior authorization requirement for replacement dentures

State-Appointed Dental Therapy Task Force Meetings Open to Public

A state-appointed dental therapy task force will hold its first meeting, which is open to the public, on Monday, July 26 from 2-4 PM.

State Calls on Providers to Continue Work to Boost COVID-19 Vaccination

Last Friday, Gov. Jay Inslee and Secretary of Health Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH announced the Power of Providers (POP) Initiative to continue to encourage all health care providers in the state to reach out and talk to their patients about COVID-19 vaccination.