In a victory for California dentists and their patients, Gov. Newsom has signed CDA-sponsored legislation that will help dental offices communicate the details of dental plan coverage to their patients. Plans also will be required to disclose whether a patient’s plan is state or federally regulated.
Licensed general and pediatric dentists in California who practice in a federally designated health professional shortage area can apply for educational loan repayment through the California State Loan Repayment Program. Applications reopen in July 2024.
The online orthodontics company SmileDirectClub must remove certain conditions from its refund policy for U.S. customers and release more than 17,000 customers nationwide from those provisions in the company’s nondisclosure agreements as a result of a lawsuit settled last week.
Important new and ongoing services for Medi-Cal Dental patients include language translation and free transportation to and from their appointments. Learn about all the services available, as well as assistance and training to help dentists establish and provide care for Medi-Cal Dental patients.
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.
The state of California is reviewing Medi-Cal eligibility. Dentists can share outreach materials with their Medi-Cal patients to help ensure they receive important information and updates about their coverage.
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.
Dentists and dental professionals should watch for the updated oral health assessment form and be ready to complete section 2. State law requires every child in public school in California to have this assessment completed by May 31 of their first year in school.
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.
The CDA Foundation this week announced a new partnership with the state’s Office of Oral Health to administer the state’s Community-Based Clinical Education grant and pilot a new CDA Cares clinic model throughout the state.
