The Australian Dental Association (ADA) is “flabbergasted” by the federal government’s plan to reallocate and therefore end funding for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS). They have started a petition, which has attracted over 10,000 signatures, and have encouraged dentists, patients and stakeholders to use the hashtag #savetheCDBS on social media and in email correspondence.

President of the ADA, Dr Rick Olive, said:

“This election year plan to end the Child Dental Benefits Schedule is bad health policy which theADA is flabbergasted to hear about. This decision, if announced in the Federal Budget, will significantly disadvantage children from low income families, who we know have greater oral health needs.

Once tooth decay develops, it’s likely to have to be managed for the rest of
that child’s life. Recent research indicating that Australian children have increasing prevalence of tooth decay further confirms that this is a critical area that requires government to play a responsible role.

Sadly it seems the Australian Government is abandoning its commitment to children’s oral health. To sacrifice this scheme as a budgetary measure is plainly wrong. This is a scheme that squarely benefits disadvantaged children.”

The CDBS in its two years of operation has provided over 9.7 million services to children in dental treatment, with 80% of CDBS dental services
being provided to children in the private sector and 97% being bulk billed or billed at rebate levels-so at no cost to families.

According to the Australian National Audit Office, approximately 1 million children each year have received dental treatment under the
CDBS. The 30% take up of the scheme has been very disappointing with the Audit Office feeling this is due to the fact that government
has not made a real effort to promote it.

Dr Olive also said that Minister Ley’s likely plan is contrary to the recently announced National Oral Health Plan, which she and her fellow
State and Territory Health Ministers have signed.

In a pre-budget submisison, the Australian Dental Association (ADA) has proposed the Australian Dental Health Plan (ADHP) for the Commonwealth Government’s involvement in the delivery and funding of dental care in Australia. The paper has attempted to answer the need to adopt an integrated approach to the promotion of both oral and general health, as common risk factors affecting general health such as high sugar diets, poor oral hygiene, smoking and excessive alcohol intake also apply to dental health.

ADHP was designed to deliver access to equitable, timely and appropriate oral healthcare for all Australians. The ADA has recommended some modifications in current Commonwealth Government involvement, including Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS), Pensioner/Elderly Dental Benefits Schedule (PEDBS), and Adult Dental Benefits Schedule (ADBS).

Proposed funding options for the introduction of the ADHP components could include one or more of the following:

• a 0.5% increase to the Compulsory Medicare Levy
• modification to the 30% private health insurance rebate
• allowing Private Health Insurance General Treatment cover to offset costs
• the introduction of a tax on the consumption of sugar
• an increase in the taxation of tobacco products

The ADAs position is that to be fully effective, funding of dental care must be supported by immediate action to several foundational areas of good oral health, including fluoridation, tobacco control, dietary and sugar control, and to promote awareness of the importance of good oral health.

Also in profession, the Australian Dental Industry Association has reported that the fall of the Australian dollar against the US dollar has put pressure on dental product suppliers. While the results of the latest Dental Products Business Conditions Survey by the Australian Dental Industry Association have indicated that businesses in the dental industry had positive sentiment, the falling value of the Australian dollar was increasing the costs of purchasing products from overseas.

More articles on My Health Career:

• Who is avoiding the dentist, and who is likely to get a toothache? Latest Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures released
• The 10 commandments of patient-centred care
• Are dentists discriminating against patients in wheelchairs?