Hi John,

It's time for our lawmakers to stand up for racial equity in healthcare as promised.

The Washington State Dental Association – a well-funded and powerful association of mostly white and wealthy dentists – has stood in the way of equitable access to dental care for people with low incomes and people of color in Washington for over ten years.

Dental therapy is a proven solution that improves health, creates jobs, and helps dismantle racism within our health care system. The Dental Association has spent the past decade fearmongering and spreading misinformation which has been repeatedly refuted by dental therapists practicing in twelve other states plus those who are already providing quality care on tribal lands in Washington. Dental therapists are intensively trained on a smaller set of commonly needed dental procedures to deliver preventative oral care under the supervision of a licensed dentist. Expanding dental therapy across the state where we are facing an acute oral health provider shortage – especially of providers who accept Medicaid Adult Dental – would allow more to access affordable routine dental care, reduce wait times for needed procedures, and cut down on emergency room visits.

Is the Washington State Dental Association prioritizing the needs of the community or their own interests?

Whatever reasons the Dental Association has for standing in the way of equity, it is unfortunately working. As of right now, a bill to authorize dental therapists across the state has not yet received a hearing. SB 5124 must be heard and passed out of the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee by next Monday, February 15, otherwise the bill is considered dead for the session and our friends, families, and neighbors will be forced to wait another year to access oral health care. That’s just one week from today!

We need to remind our lawmakers that they do not work for the Dental Association. They work for their constituents who struggle through excruciating pain while looking for an available dentist who will accept their insurance. They work for those who have been unable to get routine dental care for years and now suffer the health consequences, including higher risk of complications from COVID-19. They work for Black, Indigenous, and Latinx communities who are severely underrepresented in higher-paying healthcare jobs and whose health needs are grossly underserved.

Washington Senate Democratic leadership named healthcare and racial equity as top priorities for the 2021 legislative session. Dental therapy simultaneously increases access to healthcare and addresses racial disparities in our healthcare system.

Tell your senator that this is their opportunity to put action behind their words and truly serve the needs of their constituents. E-mail them now to urge the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee to hold a hearing on SB 5142.

You can also call or e-mail Senator Cleveland, Chair of the Health & Long Term Care Committee, and urge her to schedule a hearing for SB 5142: (360) 786-7696, [email protected].