The California Legislature approved a state budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year that upholds the will of the voters when they passed the Proposition 56 tobacco tax in 2016. The budget makes significant investments in Medi-Cal Dental improvements, workforce development and coronavirus relief. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised 2021-22 state budget proposal includes major opportunities for dental practices and oral health care programs in California. The proposal provides additional relief for small businesses impacted by COVID-19 plus new funding for dental workforce development and Medi-Cal Dental Program improvements.

Dr. Tippett-Whyte discusses the latest developments with Delta Dental's planned fee cuts and provides insight on CDA’s ongoing advocacy efforts to ensure Delta Dental honors its obligation to providers.

CDA advocacy placed California ahead of the curve for enabling dentists to vaccinate individuals against COVID-19 when the Department of Consumer Affairs granted a public health emergency waiver on Jan. 4. Other states soon followed, passing legislation or issuing waivers and governors’ executive orders that allow dentists to administer the COVID-19 vaccines.

CDA’s Grassroots Advocacy Days have resumed, but instead of in-person meetings at the state Capitol in Sacramento, student representatives from California’s six dental schools have been meeting with legislators and legislative staff via Zoom over the last few weeks to lobby for critical issues affecting dentistry.

New opportunities are opening for dentists who wish to support the statewide vaccine efforts. Dental professionals play a role in helping the state meet the vaccination demand and can contribute by volunteering at vaccination sites and educating patients about COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy.

The $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill signed March 11 by President Joe Biden provides billions of dollars in relief for individuals, families and small businesses through forgivable low-interest loans, tax credits, emergency grants, extended unemployment benefits and other assistance.

The Achievement award recognizes CDA for its unwavering advocacy efforts to successfully create an alternative pathway to timely licensure for graduating dental students whose clinical exams were canceled or postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organized dentistry is making it easier for dentists across California to support COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Local dental societies have been working with local health departments to get dentists and their staff members vaccinated, and dentists are volunteering their time and skills at vaccination clinics in their communities.