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.
We sued Delta Dental for a second time over the lack of plan oversight and financial accountability
Eleven impactful CDA-sponsored bills signed into law as part of our long-term plan reform strategy
Delta Dental of California’s 2023 changes to reimbursement rate structure and provider agreements have had a significant impact on many members’ practices. CDA pursued litigation intended to require Delta Dental to honor its contractual obligations inherent in the Participating Dentist Agreement between Delta and its participating providers. CDA challenged whether the Delta Dental board of directors violated its legal responsibilities, referred to as fiduciary duties. In September 2025, the California Court of Appeal ruled to uphold the prior Superior Court ruling in favor of Delta Dental, resulting in the case coming to an end.
Timeline
Watch a recorded member-only meeting on CDT code changes and CDA's advocacy wins (1 unit C.E.).
Watch a recorded member-only meeting that dispels Dental Loss Ratio myths and explains the facts.
Check out the Fix Our Dental Insurance campaign to hold plans accountable.
Two lawsuits are moving forward against Delta Dental: A class-action lawsuit that alleges Delta Dental misrepresents out-of-network coverage and a lawsuit concerning the ongoing antitrust litigation against Delta Dental. Here’s what dentists should know about the two cases.
CDA accomplished and advanced major priorities in 2025 with the help of CDA members and dental professionals.
Dental plan reform continues to lead CDA’s advocacy agenda with another successful CDA-sponsored bill that will benefit California dentists and their patients.
to inform decision-making and navigate working with plan contracts, claims, billing, appeals and more.
from CDA’s team of in-house specialized experts.
Call 800.232.7645 or email an analyst
Check that your current contact info is up to date, sign up for updates and follow @cdadentists on social.
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.
In 2022, CDA pursued litigation intended to require Delta Dental to honor its contractual obligations inherent in the Participating Dentist Agreement between Delta and its participating providers. CDA challenged whether the Delta Dental board of directors violated its legal responsibilities, referred to as fiduciary duties. In 2025, the California Court of Appeal ruled to uphold the prior Superior Court ruling in favor of Delta Dental, resulting in the case coming to an end.
