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Most employees in California, including dental professionals, will gain legal protections from retaliatory actions by employers during emergency situations when a state law takes effect Jan. 1, 2023.

In Tuesday’s election, Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly supported a ballot measure that will require Massachusetts dental plans to spend at least 83% of premium dollars on patient care rather than administrative overhead costs and executive compensation. 
 

While many patients are pleased with their treatment outcomes, occasionally there are patients who claim that reconstructive work did not meet their expectations. Through thoughtful communication, dentists have opportunities to mitigate patient complaints and manage expectations for increased patient satisfaction.

The Biden administration this week expanded coverage for medically necessary dental procedures in Medicare. Coverage of some services — specifically, elimination of infection preceding an organ transplant and certain cardiac procedures — will begin in 2023, while coverage of dental services linked to head and neck cancers will start in 2024.  

Each month, CDA spotlights a student from one of California’s seven dental schools. Get to know Tai Dang from California Northstate University College of Dental Medicine. 

The November 2022 issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association showcases dental student research and includes an opportunity to earn C.E. by reading an article and completing a quiz.
 

A new state law will increase wage transparency for California job applicants and current employees beginning Jan. 1, 2023, with resulting new job-posting, pay scale disclosure and records-maintenance requirements for covered employers. 

Dentists and other health care practitioners in California who issue 100 or fewer prescriptions in a calendar year could receive an exemption from the state’s existing law requiring practitioners to electronically prescribe all medications. 

Amendments to the California Family Rights Act and Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act expand employees’ leave rights and take effect Jan. 1, 2023. The changes require covered employers to provide protected bereavement leave and allow employees to take time off to care for a "designated person."