A reason to smile
The federal government will spend $4 billion to provide subsidised dental care for millions of low income patients – including pensioners – across Australia. Health Minister, Tanya Plibersek, says the spending will come on top of the $515 million announced in the 2012-13 Budget.
The federal government will spend $4 billion to provide subsidised dental care for millions of low income patients – including pensioners – across Australia.
Health Minister, Tanya Plibersek, says the spending will come on top of the $515 million announced in the 2012-13 Budget.
“We know that one in five of Australia’s lowest income people have not been to a dentist in over five years – if ever,” Ms Plibersek says in a statement.
“And we know low income households have more than doubled the number of family members with untreated tooth decay compared with high income households. It’s just not good enough.”
The public dental scheme will receive a $1.3 billion funding injection over four years. Low income earners, including pensioners, concession card holders and those with special needs, are expected to benefit.
About $225 million will be spent on dental services in rural and regional Australia to tackle workforce issues and provide extra services for indigenous people.
The scheme is focused on preventative dental health – not just emergency care.
“While Medicare and free hospital care have been a basic right for Australians for decades, millions of people in this country still go without adequate dental care,” Ms Plibersek says.
“We also know low income households have more than double the number of family members with untreated tooth decay compared with high income households,” she adds.
The scheme comes into effect in January 2014 for children and July 2014 for adults.
