GOVERNMENT BITING INTO DENTAL HEALTH FUNDING
The Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock MP said today that the Coalition will lodge a motion to disallow the cancellation of the Medicare dental items which provide a rebate for patients with chronic and complex dental health problems.
“The Coalition program allowed patients with chronic and complex dental health conditions to see the dentist of their choice following a GP referral and provided up to $4250 for treatment over 2 years and this will affect constituents in the Federal seat of Berowra,” Mr Ruddock said.
On 2 March, the Minister for Health and Aging announced the program would be cancelled. Patients using the program would need to commence treatment by 30 March and have it completed by 30 June if they were to be covered by the rebate.
There was poor uptake however, from the commencement of the program on 1 November 2007 to 30 April 2008, 311,943 services were provided.
“Clearly this shows the need for such a program and I am concerned for my constituents as the Government claims it wants to do something about dental health but they are closing down a program which is having an effect,” Mr Ruddock said.
“The Rudd Government’s solution to the dental health issues facing citizens is to simply throw money at the states and territories and ask them to cut dental waiting lists.
“If Mr Rudd believes this plan can replace the program introduced by the Coalition then he is kidding himself and the Australian public. He is passing the responsibility to the states again.
“Dental waiting lists will only increase if the Government is allowed to scrap the current system.
“The proposed changes to the Medicare Levy Surcharge threshold with further increase public waiting lists as people opt out of health insurance,” Philip Ruddock said.