‘Advocacy is both a privilege and a duty’ — California dental students meet with legislative offices at state Capitol
May 8, 2025
Two California dental students share insights from their experience talking with legislative offices.
CDA supports, protects and fights for member dentists.
Dental plan challenges are an urgent concern for the majority of CDA members, causing serious disruptions in dentists’ daily ability to carry out treatment plans and patients’ ability to receive the care they need. We’re committed to holding plans accountable, pursuing meaningful standards and creating a path for dental coverage that isn’t painful to providers and their patients.
CDA’s fight for dental plan reform includes bold legal action, results-driven legislative advocacy, trusted news on emerging issues, expert-led education and resources to help members navigate plan decisions and processes.
Our ongoing dental plan reform efforts
Legal action
Suing Delta Dental for the second time over the lack of plan oversight and financial accountability
Successful advocacy
Ten impactful CDA-sponsored bills signed into law as part of our long-term dental plan reform strategy
Experts in action
Specialized analysts who provide one-on-one guidance and tools to inform dentists’ decision-making
What legal action is CDA taking?
Delta Dental of California’s 2023 changes to reimbursement rate structure and provider agreements have had a significant impact on many members’ practices. CDA is pursuing litigation intended to require Delta Dental to honor its contractual obligations inherent in the Participating Dentist Agreement between Delta and its participating providers. CDA is also challenging whether the Delta Dental board of directors has violated its legal responsibilities, referred to as fiduciary duties.
Timeline
- December 2022: CDA files legal action against Delta Dental in San Francisco Superior Court.
- April 2023: CDA files First Amended Complaint with additional claims and plaintiffs.
- September 2023: The Superior Court rules that there are sufficient allegations to proceed with case. Court grants CDA and individual plaintiffs the opportunity to amend some of the claims with additional facts for consideration. Factual discovery to continue.
- November 2023: CDA files Second Amended Complaint with additional facts.
- December 2023: DDC response to Second Amended Complaint.
- April 2024: Hearing set for ruling on motions.
- May 2024: The Superior Court rules in favor of Delta Dental and the individual directors and officers, resulting in the case being dismissed. CDA evaluates moving forward with an appeal or taking other actions.
- July 2024: Deadline to file a Notice of Appeal.
- October 2024: CDA files the opening brief in the court of appeal.
- February 2025: CDA files an Appellants’ Reply Brief to challenge the legal merit of the respondent’s brief from Delta.
How can you stay connected?
Dental Benefit Plans
Watch this recorded member-only meeting on CDA's advocacy, legal action and member support.
DLR Myth v. Fact
Watch this recorded member-only meeting on Dental Loss Ratio and addressing CDA member concerns.
Contact your legislator
to address inadequacies in dental plan networks by voting yes on AB 371.
News & Updates
CDA sponsors bills tackling assignment of benefits, network adequacy, virtual credit cards
February 20, 2025
Dental benefit plans in California will be required to comply with enrollees’ assignment of benefit requests if legislation sponsored by CDA is signed into law.
CDA will appeal decision in lawsuit against Delta Dental
June 18, 2024
Dear members and colleagues: The lack of accountability and transparency from dental plans is painful for dentists, our practices and
Resources and support for members
Tools and guides
to navigate working with plan contracts, claims, billing, appeals and more.
One-on-one guidance
from CDA’s in-house specialized experts.
Call 800.232.7645 or email an analyst
Past legal and legislative victories
In 2018, CDA achieved a favorable settlement on behalf of dentists – and their right to fair dealings – in our litigation against Delta Dental. During five years of hard-fought litigation, we successfully blocked Delta’s attempt to reduce reimbursement rates for the Premier Plan, saving providers more than $600 million. CDA has also driven multiple legislative wins on behalf of plan transparency, accountability and provider reimbursements.