Newsroom Archives

In a live virtual meeting on May 10, members learned about CDA’s litigation against Delta Dental of California and key legislation to improve dental plan transparency and coverage. The presenters also highlighted tools and resources available to CDA members to help ease dental plan frustrations and challenges. 

For the first time since 2019, California dental students were able to meet in person with legislative staff and have a meet-and-greet with Assemblymember Jim Wood, DDS, at the state Capitol as part of CDA’s Grassroots Advocacy Days.
 

CDA member-dentists can use their voice in two important ways to support dental plan reform and CDA’s advocacy efforts this year: (1) Tell your legislator to support two CDA-sponsored bills that address loopholes in dental plan standards and regulations; and (2) Tell us how your patients’ coverage is disrupting care.
 

Two CDA-sponsored bills introduced this month, including one authored by Assemblymember Jim Wood, DDS, continue CDA’s legislative efforts to hold dental insurance plans accountable and move toward more meaningful dental coverage.

Legislation introduced this month tackles California’s dental assistant workforce shortage on two fronts – both by updating scope of practice and creating new pathways to licensure, including by shortening the current required on-the-job training.

On behalf of members, CDA has filed a legal action against Delta Dental of California in San Francisco Superior Court. The action challenges Delta Dental’s adjustments to Premier and PPO provider agreements effective Jan. 1, 2023.

The December 2022 issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association explores how CDA’s decades-long advocacy yielded targeted investments to improve dental pipeline opportunities and improve access to care for vulnerable populations.

The Specialty Dental Clinic Grant Program, made possible through a $50 million state budgetary investment led by CDA and supported by a coalition of providers, dental schools, disability rights organizations and consumer advocates, is estimated to begin accepting applications by summer 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. 
 

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.  

Update 11/9/22: The CDA-endorsed ballot measure in Massachusetts – Question 2 – passed in Tuesday's election and will require dental insurance companies to spend at least 83% of premium dollars collected on dental services as opposed to using the money for administrative costs and executive compensation.

A proposed rule from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services would cover medically necessary dental services as part of the existing medical services benefit in Medicare. CDA last week submitted specific recommendations on coverage of services.