Thursday, February 09, 2012

No closing date set for CDDS - Labor MP

No closing date has been set for the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme (CDDS), a Labor backbencher has told the House of Representatives.

Mr Daryl Melham (Banks) said “it is the Government’s intention to close down this scheme, which is not well targeted and does not provide access to dental services for those most in need”.

He claimed “that some dentists are preying on the fears of vulnerable people by claiming that the CDDS is about to be closed down without explaining that the Government intends to introduce a broader scheme”.

The Government had said that the scheme would end last December but then changed the time to be by the end of next month. With this notice, ADAVB has advised members to alert patients that when the CDDS is closed, benefits under it will probably end immediately, possibly leaving them with unfinished work for which they will not be receiving funding.

Mr Melham claimed that “the Government’s proposed Commonwealth Dental Health Program, when implemented, will be better targeted and provide additional dental services for pensioners and concession card holders”.