Dental Benefits Bill before Parliament

The Dental Benefits Bill 2008 has been introduced to the Commonwealth Parliament to deliver on the ALP promise to establish a new Commonwealth Dental Health Program and the Teen Dental Program.

According to the Explanatory Memorandum, the Dental Benefits Bill:
• establishes an entitlement to dental benefits;
• provides for the payment of dental benefits;
• provides a framework for the issuing of vouchers (for example, in respect of teenagers who are eligible for the Teen Dental Plan);
• establishes provisions for the protection (and, where authorised, the disclosure) of protected information;
• creates general offence provisions relating to assignment of benefit agreements and the giving of false or misleading information;
• allows the Minister for Health and Ageing to make Dental Benefits Rules under the Bill (through a legislative instrument); and
• provides for funds relating to the payment of dental benefits to be appropriated through a new special appropriation.