Please note that as of April 27, Governor Inslee’s restrictions on non-urgent medical and dental procedures remain in effect. WSDA will continue to engage in active dialogue with state authorities on next steps for our state’s plan for reactivating non-emergent dental care. However, as states move toward reopening dental practices, we wanted to bring to your attention the ADA’s newly released Return to Work Interim Guidance Toolkit.

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ADA Provides Return to Work Interim Guidance Toolkit

Developed with oversight from the ADA’s Task Force on Practice Recovery and with input from ADA team experts, the toolkit provides interim guidance which recommends measures to take to help protect patients, staff and dentists from COVID-19. The toolkit currently includes the following: 

• Customizable letter to patients
• Guidance for pre-appointment screening, in-office patient registration, and post-procedure patient exit
• Staff protection strategies
• Chairside checklist for working in the operatory
• Supplies shopping list

Get Toolkit

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ADA Asks Third-Party Payers to Modify Fee Schedules

The ADA is asking “third-party payers to alter their fees to account for the increasing cost of personal protective equipment that dentists are using to protect themselves, their staff and patients.” According to an ADA statement finalized April 21, “Third-party benefit programs should either adjust the maximum allowable fees for all procedures or allow a standard fee per date of service per patient to accommodate the rising costs of PPE.”

WSDA is reviewing these actions and is in the process of developing a state-specific plan.

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Employment Security Department (ESD) Weekly Claim Tips

The ESD recently published tips that will help with filing weekly claims. Lean more here.

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TDIC Refunds Premiums

In an email to policy holders, TDIC said it would refund 50% of Professional Liability premiums for two months to its policy holders. No action is needed by policy holders to receive this refund. Refunds will be sent by check in May.

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Please continue to check wsda.org/COVID-19 and its Clinical Guidance and Business Impacts pages for additional resources and updates.

Sincerely,

Dr. Dennis Bradshaw
WSDA President