Threat to public dental program for pensioners too great to ignore

The future of accessible dental and oral health care for pensioners and low income earners is in jeopardy, with the impasse between political parties on Commonwealth oral health programs, according to the Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association (AHHA).

“The AHHA is deeply concerned that the Government’s new dental program is unable to proceed, because the Senate is blocking closure of the previous Coalition Government’s non-means tested Medicare program, for courses of dental care for people with chronic diseases,” said Prue Power, executive director of the AHHA.
 
“For too long, oral health has been invisible to the Commonwealth.

“The Medicare chronic disease program was very ineffective in providing accessible care for people whose oral health was affecting their chronic illness.  

“In the past year with so called ‘enhancements’ to the program, the main effect has been to open up the scheme to excessive wastage.

“Over the coming months and years, we will see a massive budget blow out on costly treatments of doubtful value such as crowns and orthodontics that have little or no impact on chronic medical conditions.
 
“By tightening the criteria for the Medicare dental scheme around the types of treatment provided and the most critical chronic illnesses, the Government could save more than enough money over the next few years to implement both programs.

“This can only be achieved if all sides of politics support the principles of universality and ensuring priority access for those Australians who most need oral health care but can least afford it,” said Ms Power.