Changes to Medicare allied health and dental care initiative

According to the Commonwealth Government, a new Determination streamlines administrative arrangements for the allied health and dental care initiative, introduced on 1 July 2004 under their Strengthening Medicare package. The amendment changes the method for counting patient eligibility for rebates from five allied health services and three dental care services in a 12 month period (which was taken from the date of first service) to five allied health and three dental care services in a calendar year.

The Regulations are available here and the Explanatory Statement is available here.

WorkChoices gains Royal Assent

The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon. Kevin Andrews MP, has announced that the Australian Government’s WorkChoices reform programme has been given Royal Assent.

Notably this means that:

1. The Australian Fair Pay Commission will now come into effect and Professor Ian Harper will become its Chairman.
2. Small businesses with 15 or less employees will be exempt from redundancy pay. This is in line with the Government’s election commitment to preserve the status quo so that redundancy pay obligations contained in an award made before the AIRC’s decision on 26 March, 2004 are not affected.
3. The bulk of the WorkChoices Act will be proclaimed in March 2006.

New Plumbing Guidelines - Dental Consoles

The Victorian Plumbing Industry Commission (PIC) recently updated the Technical Guidelines for plumbers regarding Water Supply for Dental Consoles.

This update follows a seminar program convened by the ADAVB in May this year, at which a range of industry, Water Authority and regulatory representatives recognised that zone protection for a dental console in Australia is classified as low hazard (AS/NZS 3500 Part 1 Water Services Appendix F). This means that the recommended device is a non-testable backflow prevention device, the recommended version of which is a Dual Check Valve with Atmospheric Port (DCAP).

This is a welcome development as it will mean most practices can avoid the considerable cost of fitting a testable device, and the ongoing cost of annual test visits by specially licensed plumbers. The PIC note however that backflow containment protection for dental surgeries is at the discretion of the local Water Authority.

Dentist fined and suspended for 6 months

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) heard an appeal by Dr Leonid Exler against findings made by the Dental Practice Board of Victoria, and on 8 December ruled that charges against him were upheld. Read the VCAT Decision here.

Fines imposed by the Board were reduced from $30,000 to $17,500, however a total of 6 months suspension of registration was confirmed, commencing on 3 January 2006.

ADA Inc. calls for dental care within HACC

The ADA Inc. yesterday issued a media release calling on the federal Government to make provision for inclusion of dental care within expanded funding arrangements for the Home and Community Care (HACC) program.

With the Enhanced Primary Care program resulting in so little treatment for patients at most risk of hospitalisation or institutional care, this measure could well reduce medical costs by providing better oral care, and dietary support for selected 'at risk' patients.

Software of Excellence acquires Oasis

Software of Excellence International (SOEI) announced last week that it has acquired Australian dental software vendor, Oasis Software Pty Ltd .

In the SOEI media release, Chief Executive, Brian Weatherly, said "the acquisition fits perfectly with the company’s new strategy, which is to concentrate exclusively on the development of its Professional business".

“The combined Oasis and SOEI business will have 1400 clients or a 35% share of the Australian Professional market, compared with an estimated 850 or 21% held by the next biggest competitor”, Mr Weatherly said.

SOEI also announced recently that it is progressively withdrawing from its Enterprise business, which involves selling software to dental schools, teaching hospitals, public health providers and other larger clients.

New Graduate Incomes

The Graduate Careers Council of Australia has published their annual report on graduate destinations, work profiles (full time Vs part time), study, salaries and course satisfaction.

The Gradstats 2005 report notes that new graduate dentists earned an average of $65,000 in 2005.

The ADAVB considers that this relatively high figure can be attributed in part to the lack of sufficient Commonwealth funded training places and the unmet demand for dental services.

CDC Call to Action

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the federal U.S. agency with primary responsibility for supporting state- and community-based programs to prevent oral disease, promoting oral health nationwide, and fostering applied research to enhance oral disease prevention in community settings.

The CDC offers an oral health resources website which contains numerous helpful guidelines and publications for reference by dentists and others interested in oral health.

Their recent publication Oral Health: Preventing Cavities, Gum Disease, and Tooth Loss - At A Glance 2005, describes both the current oral health status of US citizens and initiatives being implemented to improve their oral health.

Review of the Health Act 1958

The Department of Human Services has published a draft policy paper for the review of the Health Act, with submissions due by 21 December 2005.

The ADAVB has been invited to make a submission on this matter, and would welcome member feedback on any issues or concerns with the directions set in the draft policy paper. Given the very short timeline, suggestions would be appreciated to the CEO by 14 December.

ACCC Report on health funds

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has noted some concerns, but also some progress, with the private health insurance sector in its Report to the Senate on anti-competitive and other practices by health funds and health service providers in relation to private health insurance. This report, which was tabled yesterday, is the seventh prepared by the ACCC in compliance with a Senate order. It covers the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005.

According to an ACCC media release "The report outlines the ACCC's activities in relation to the private health sector during the last financial year, and also some concerns about some of the current practices in the sector. ... The report also notes, however, that the major issues of concern are either being addressed or are best dealt with outside the ACCC's role of enforcing the Trade Practices Act".

The report notes (p.22) that the main areas where complaints were received during this reporting period were:
> advertising by health funds, or statements by health fund staff
> premium increases or benefit changes by health funds (including in relation to inadequate
notification of premium increases or benefit changes)
> suspected arrangements between competing health funds, medical practitioners or other
providers of health services
> enquiries as to why some health service providers (e.g. private hospitals, dental and day
surgeries) did or did not have purchaser provider agreements with certain health funds.

2006 CPD program launched

ADAVB President Dr Chris Callahan and the Dental School's Associate Professor Mike Morgan last night launched the Continuing Professional Development 2006 program prepared by The University of Melbourne and ADAVB. The extensive program is contained in an eye-catching booklet which ADAVB members will receive next week.
At a function at the Dental School, Dr Callahan said "this fine publication" offers 34 courses, providing 215 hours of hands-on CPD. Associate Professor Morgan said the booklet testified that Victoria was at the forefront of CPD.
Members with queries relating to the university should contact Stacey Watts - phone 9341 1506. Questions concerning ADAVB's program will be handled by the Branch - 9826 8318.

Fee survey available now

The 2005 ADA Fee Survey is now available for members. To order a copy, phone ADAVB (03) 9826 8318.

Find alternative to Citanest, Dentsply advises

ADAVB Council last night issued a warning to members to find alternative anaesthetic supplies following advice from Dentsply Australia that its parent company had suspended production of injectable dental anaesthetics. The company says that product supply to Australia will not be available for some time.

The warning was distributed via an ADAVB Alert! which was emailed to subscribers overnight. If you are not receiving ADAVB Alerts, please subscribe here.

Queensland Health Fluoride Resources

Members interested in fluoride information resources can find new materials, some of which are adapted from Victorian literature, at the Queensland Health website. This material includes:

• Reducing tooth decay in Queensland
• Fluoridation of water supplies and your health
• Water fluoridation helps protect teeth throughout life
• Queensland household survey - November 2004

• Water fluoridation - Information for health professionals
• Water fluoridation - Snapshot (for health professionals)
• Code of Practice for the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies
• Water fluoridation - Information for the consumer

Dental Neglect and Malnutrition Reports

According to a report in The Age today, "many of Victoria's estimated 400,000 elderly are so malnourished they are falling ill and dying in what has been described as an unspoken national scandal. Neglect of the dietary and dental needs of the elderly is occurring in private homes and some of the state's 800 privately run aged-care facilities."

The Age has also run an Editorial on this story criticising both Federal and State Governments for allowing this situation to develop.

The story quotes Melbourne University's Professor Allan McLean, director of the National Ageing Research Institute, who describes the situation as a ''national shame''. He said "the parlous state of the elderly was linked to the near impossibility of obtaining public dental care. More than 650, 000 Australians, many of them elderly, are on waiting lists for public dental work because they cannot afford private dental treatment. Professor McLean says the result is malnutrition. "

The article notes that his view is supported by a recent study from Deakin University's School of Exercise and Nutritional Science. "Associate Professor Caryl Anne Nowson found nursing home residents are routinely undernourished, and fail to meet required standards on most dietary measures. Eighty per cent of the 169 elderly residents surveyed did not get enough calcium, 60 per cent did not get enough energy and 40 per cent failed to get enough protein. Residents were also vitamin D deprived because they were not getting enough sunlight."

"Professor McLean blames ignorance of the nutritional needs of the elderly, who are less active and therefore have a reduced appetite and do not get the nutrients they need. They often also prefer to stay indoors so do not get vital vitamin D from sunlight. Many also face difficulties in getting dentures since the Howard Government axed the national dental program in 1997."

''Dental problems often limit the ability of older people to chew nutritious foods such as fruit and vegetables and nuts, '' the report says.

MBS now available online

The Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Aboott MHR today announced that Medicare scheduled fees and benefits will henceforward be available via a new website - MBS Online.

According to the Department of Health and Ageing, changes have been made to the allied health and dental care items within the MBS as at 1 November 2005:
- The referral form has been modified and a copy will no longer be required to accompany Medicare claims. Refer explanatory note A.23.19 -23.21.
- The method of counting patient eligibility for services will change from 1 January 2006. Refer explanatory note A.23.23.
- The requirements for written reports back to the referring medical practitioner have changed. Refer explanatory note A.23.27.
- Links between new chronic disease management items (721-731) introduced on 1 July 2005 and access to Medicare rebates for eligible allied health and dental care services (items 10950-10977) are outlined in Explanatory notes A22 - 22.51.

Dentists wanting to advise medical practitioners on use of the Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Program Referral Form for Dental Care under Medicare, should refer them to this link
Referral Form for Dental Care under Medicare (PDF 89 KB)

or suggest that they fax their request to (02) 6289 7120.

Welcome to new graduates

Branch President, Dr Chris Callahan and a panel of speakers welcomed new graduates to the profession at a seminar conducted at Rydges Hotel today.

Around 50 new graduates from the School of Dental Science at The University of Melbourne attended to hear presentations on Professional Practice, Risk Management, Defence and Ethics, Financial Planning, Country Practice and ADAVB Member Services.

ADAVB strategic allies Guild Insurance Limited and Moneywise supported the event, and representatives of these firms were amongst the presenters.

Branch representatives who contributed to the program were Dr Ros Barrett, Chairman of the Recent Graduates Committee, Dr Neil Hewson, Honorary Secretary, Dr Fred Widdop AM, Community Relations Officer, and the CEO, Mr Garry Pearson.

Pictured at the reception which followed the seminar are (L-R) Dr Hiromi Nagano, Dr Maria Pham, Dr Chris Callahan, Dr Sushma Malipatil, and Dr Danusha Sivakumar.