Notice:

Delta Dental of Washington will be closed on June 19th, in observance of Juneteenth. We join in honoring this important day in history. Normal business hours will resume on June 22nd.

The Evolution of Our Partnership with Dentists

Explore the milestones, investments, and initiatives that have shaped how we support providers today.

1

Major Corporate Milestones

Leadership decisions and organizational milestones that have shaped how we support providers in delivering high-quality, accessible care.

2

Provider Investments

Targeted investments that strengthen provider support, including reimbursement updates, COVID-19 relief, and efforts to address rising costs.

3

Practice Support Initiatives

Tools, advocacy efforts, workforce investments, and communication channels developed to support your practice and improve the provider experience.

Filter by initiative
2018
Major Corporate Milestones

Provider-focused reset

  • Leadership transition establishes a stronger, provider-focused direction.
2019
Major Corporate Milestones

Listening tour and board leadership

  • New CEO Mark Mitchke completes an extensive statewide listening tour, engaging directly with 500+ Member Dentists.
  • Dr. Katie Hakes and Dr. Chris Pickel are elected as Member Directors effective January 1, 2020.
Practice Support Initiatives

Service simplification

  • 35 rapid policy and service improvements are implemented.
  • Annual Provider Reimbursement Survey launches to gather feedback on reimbursement.
  • “AskMark” launches as a direct email channel to the CEO, generating 100+ Member Dentist questions.
  • Provider Service hours expand and predetermination turnaround times are reduced by 50%+.
  • Direct access to Dental Consultants by phone or email is introduced, and clinical criteria for buildups are simplified.
2020
Major Corporate Milestones

Governance renewed

  • Bylaws amendments are ratified by Member Dentists at the 2020 Annual Members Meeting to increase governance input.
  • The Member Nominating Panel (MNP) is formed.
  • A three-year MOU is signed with the Washington State Dental Association (WSDA) to collaborate on shared priorities.
Provider Investments

PRM rollout and COVID relief

  • The Provider Reimbursement Model (PRM), shaped by Member Dentist feedback, launches statewide.
  • $35 million in grants and advances is provided to dental practices to help with the challenges of COVID-19.
  • More than $255,000 is provided to cover UW School of Dentistry fourth-year board exam costs.
Practice Support Initiatives

Lookup and ambassador expansion

  • The Procedure Code Lookup tool launches.
  • The Provider Ambassador team expands.
2021
Major Corporate Milestones

Joint workforce priorities

  • The MOU Workgroup on Dental Workforce launches a task force focused on shortages of dental hygienists and assistants.
  • A Policies and Plans workgroup is established with WSDA and Member Dentists.
Provider Investments

Reinvestment deepens

  • More than $253,000 is provided to cover UW School of Dentistry fourth-year board exam costs.
  • $2.4M in additional provider practice assistance grants supports practices through COVID-19.
  • A Specialist base-level Premier fee schedule is developed to address reimbursement inequity.
  • Since its 2020 launch, cumulative PRM investment reaches $34M.
Practice Support Initiatives

Workforce pipeline support

  • $1.5 million is provided to relocate the Shoreline Dental Hygiene Program to the UW, protecting it from closure.
  • The Dental Careers Discovery Program launches to generate interest among historically underrepresented youth in dental professions.
  • The Annual Provider Satisfaction Survey launches to gather feedback on provider experience.
2022
Major Corporate Milestones

Election and outreach expanded

  • The organization hosts its first contested Member Director election; Member Dentists elect Dr. Dennis Bradshaw to the Board effective January 1, 2023.
  • CEO Listening Tour 2.0 launches with attendance at component dental societies statewide.
Provider Investments

Cumulative reimbursement tops $65M

  • Cumulative PRM reimbursement investment since 2020 surpasses $65M.
  • More than $275,000 is provided to cover UW School of Dentistry fourth-year board exam costs.
Practice Support Initiatives

Operational tools and school funding

  • Washington provider calls are prioritized, with 72% answered within 60 seconds.
  • $1 million is provided to PNWU to initiate planning for the School of Dental Medicine.
  • The PRM online reimbursement dashboard and live Provider Chat launch.
  • DDWA leads a national policy change exempting panoramic radiographs from bundling.
  • $835,000 is provided to Lake Washington Institute of Technology for new dental assisting and expanded dental hygiene training capacity.
  • $650,000 is committed to UW Center for Health Research Studies over three years, matched by state funding.
2023
Major Corporate Milestones

Apple Health improvement workgroup

  • An MOU workgroup launches to improve the Apple Health (Medicaid) Dental Program.
Provider Investments

Bundling reform and reimbursement growth

  • More than $288,000 is provided to cover UW School of Dentistry fourth-year board exam costs.
  • A national panoramic radiograph bundling policy change increases reimbursement by about $4M annually.
  • Including 2024 approved changes, cumulative reimbursement investment reaches $104M since 2020.
Practice Support Initiatives

Advocacy and direct engagement

  • DDWA supports passage of the Dental Hygiene Compact.
  • PNDC CE events are sponsored, producing 1,340+ participant completions.
  • $4.25 million is provided to PNWU to continue preparation for the School of Dental Medicine.
  • The Ask the MAP email address launches as a direct line to Member Advisory Panel members.
2024
Major Corporate Milestones

Next board transition

  • Dr. Elissa Maynard is elected as a new Member Director on the WDS/DDWA Board effective January 1, 2025.
Provider Investments

Simplified rung model

  • More than $287,000 is provided to cover UW School of Dentistry fourth-year board exam costs.
  • Guided by provider feedback, the PRM Rung Model is updated and simplified, with about 60% of practices receiving an additional increase.
  • Including 2025 approved changes, cumulative reimbursement investment reaches $142.1M since 2020.
Practice Support Initiatives

New channels for member updates

  • The Member Dentist Quarterly newsletter is introduced.
  • DenTEXT launches as a dentist-only text messaging channel.
  • The Provider Ambassador Team returns to the field post-COVID-19.
  • The four-quadrant SRP allowance is reinstated.
2025
Provider Investments

SDF fee expansion

  • More than $290,000 is provided to cover UW School of Dentistry exam costs.
  • Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) fees increase by 100%+.
  • Including 2026 approved changes, cumulative reimbursement investment reaches $180.9M since 2020.
Practice Support Initiatives

Education, CE and portal upgrades

  • $4.25 million is provided to PNWU to launch the School of Dental Medicine.
  • $800,000 is approved for the Peninsula College Dental Hygiene Program.
  • A Viva Learning partnership launches, giving providers free CE access.
  • Provider portal enhancements add online claims submission and National Member Lookup.
  • The first MID in-person workshop is hosted with Arcora Foundation, alongside 11 Provider Ambassador-led workshops statewide.
2026
Provider Investments

Broad fee schedule updates

  • A 4% increase is applied to select hygiene and restorative codes on rung fee schedules.
  • A 4% increase is applied to the entire baseline fee schedule for each specialist.
  • Amalgam fees are updated to fully align with composite fees.
  • DeltaCare Primary Care Dentists, Pediatric Dentists and Orthodontists receive fee increases.
Practice Support Initiatives

Expanded school and hygiene funding

  • $2.5 million is provided to PNWU for the School of Dental Medicine.
  • $1 million is granted to Eastern Washington University in support of the university’s dental hygiene program on the Spokane Health Peninsula campus.