January 5, 2025

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Dental Providers Newsletter

Dental therapists: New Apple Health (Medicaid) provider type  

In 2023, Washington State passed ESHB 1678 which established the dental therapy profession and authorized dental therapists to practice in specific settings. This law was designed to expand access to oral health care for Washingtonians.

Dental therapists may provide care in:

• Federally qualified community health centers (FQHC)
• Tribal FQHC
• FQHC look-alikes

Before ESHB 1678, dental health aide therapist was an already established provider type created by tribal leaders, practicing within tribal lands under Chapter 70.350 RCW: Dental Aide Therapists and codified in the Health Care Authority's rules under WAC 182-502-0002, Eligible provider types.

Licensure applications for dental therapists are now open. Skagit Valley offers a dental therapy program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Their inaugural class graduated in June 2025. 

The Health Care Authority (HCA) is prepared to enroll dental therapists as an Apple Health provider type. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the addition of dental therapists to HCA’s State Plan Amendment, effective July 1, 2025. The Apple Health Dental program updated appropriate Washington Administrative Code (WAC) and billing guides to reflect this new provider type.  

Learn more about dental therapy

• About Dental Therapy | National Partnership for Dental Therapy 

• American Dental Therapy Association 

• MI Dental Access 

Announcements

Billing guide updates

• Read the January billing guide updates for Baby & Child Dentistry (ABCD), dental, and mobile anesthesia. Several Current Dental Terminology (CDT) codes were revised by the American Dental Association (ADA) CDT Coding Committee for January 1, 2026.
• Significant changes were made to the sedation CDT codes. Providers who perform and bill sedation services should review.

School-based sealant and fluoride varnish guidelines

• Revised guidelines for school-based sealant and fluoride varnish were published on October 1, 2025. This long overdue update provides evidence based current guidance for schools, programs, and community partners about implementing an effective school-based sealant and fluoride varnish program.  

Food & Drug Administration (FDA) webinar

• An Update on Transmucosal Buprenorphine and Dental Caries. This is an informative and excellent webinar is about the impact of transmucosal buprenorphine and oral health.  

Invitations

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