Federal Budget 2015/16 - Dental Impact

The 2015/16 Federal Budget handed down by Treasurer Hockey tonight had mixed news for public dental patients.

While $155m has been allocated to a one year Adult Dental Scheme, this is reduced from the previously promised $395m over four years.  As it only lasts for one year, the future funding of adult dental care, including treatment required by the chronically ill, remains uncertain.

The Medicare Child Dental Benefit Schedule is to be reduced by $126m over the coming four years, and so fewer children will receive the treatment they require.

The Dental Relocation and Infrastructure Support Scheme (DRISS) is also to have incentive provisions reduced by an uncertain amount. This scheme seeks to encourage dentists to relocate to under-served rural areas.

Health promotion funding also appears to have been reduced, and this is likely to impact on excellent oral health promotion programs in Victoria which had relied on Federal funding.

More detailed analysis will follow in ADA publications.

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