As a member of the Washington Dental Access Campaign, we are thrilled to report that Rep. Riccelli’s ESHB 1678 passed the House 53-42! Testimony on the bill revealed people in Washington state face “startling barriers” to seeing a dentist. The entire state is considered a dental health shortage area and less than one in five adult Medicaid enrollees were able to get into a dentist office for care in 2021. The bill provides for dental therapists to be licensed to perform routine dental procedures and work with licensed dentists in Tribal and community health centers. Adding dental therapists to the care team would increase capacity, address racial and ethnic disparities, and reduce access gaps in rural areas.

In January, we received good news that the court overturned a CMS decision made on the last day of the Trump administration to prohibit federal Medicaid dollars to be spent on dental therapists providing care to state Tribal communities (read the Attorney General’s press release on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision or the goskagit.com article). According to the National Association of Community Health Centers, the 14 states that have authorized dental therapists have been able to extend office hours, provide off-site services in day care and senior centers, and increase access to dentists for patients with dental emergencies. Supporters say the bill will increase linguistically and culturally competent care, as it enables community members to seek training as a dental therapist and provide care in their community. NoHLA will be closely watching this bill’s progress in the Senate.