Don't blame dentists for failings of poor scheme - ADA

Dentists have been made the scapegoats for failures of the Medicare Chronic Disease Dental Scheme, ADA’s Federal President Dr Neil Hewson says in a media statement issued on 10 June.

Following the announcement that a Medicare taskforce is conducting audits on 250 dentists who have possibly abused the scheme, Dr Hewson said dentists should not be blamed “for the failures of a poor scheme”.

He added: “To place dentists as the demons in this scenario is unjust. The Government maintains its opposition to the scheme and wants to close it. It now seeks to cover its own budgetary ineptitude by blaming the dental profession for providing services under its own scheme.”

Dr Hewson said that ADA is willing to work with the Government and the Opposition to devise an effective and more targeted scheme to help people with chronic illness, such as the Association’s DentalAccess proposal.

Dr Hewson said dentists should not be blamed for failures of the scheme because:
• ADA told the Government that the scheme would create demand for services and the budgetary allocation would be inadequate
• Determination of eligibility for the people to use the scheme is through a medical GP – not a dentist
• Non-compliance by dentists with the scheme’s regulations was – as Minister Chris Bowen stated - largely “accidental”
• Fraud by dentists is not condoned and ADA has offered to help Medicare in such cases.
• Despite the poor structure of the scheme, it has provided many genuinely needy and deserving people with valuable treatment
• ADA has frequently called on Parliament to stop playing politics and support disadvantaged Australians gain access to timely dental treatment.