Wednesday, August 29, 2012

$4 billion dental package

The Federal Government announced today a $4 billion subsidised dental care package for children and low-income patients.

It involves:

• $2.7 billion to provide subsidised treatment for children aged between 2 and 18 years whose families are eligible for Family Tax Benefit A

• $1.3 billion early intervention care for low income Australians and those in remote rural areas.

The Australian Dental Association welcomed the announcement, saying the package is in line with what the Association had been advocating.

Under the scheme, children will be eligible for up to $1000 in free care over two years. However the package is contingent on the States and Territories continuing to fund dental care at or above their current levels of spending. The funding comes on top of the $515 million announced in the current Budget.

The deal was brokered with the Greens.