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.