Latest news with #ChildDentalBenefitsSchedule
7NEWS
7 days ago
- Business
- 7NEWS
Free dental care extended for struggling Australians
As health costs continue to rise, eligible individuals can benefit from free dental care, including check-ups, cleans, fillings, and extractions. Those eligible are placed on the public clinic waiting list and may sometimes receive a voucher for a private clinic to access treatment sooner and help ease pressure on the public system. 'The Australian Government acknowledges the importance of accessing affordable dental services and the role good oral health plays in supporting general health and wellbeing,' a Department of Health, Disability and Ageing spokesperson told The number of vouchers provided varies depending on demand, location, type of treatment required, and service capacity. When an individual receives a voucher, they are also provided with a list of private clinics that accept it. The vouchers fall under the Federation Funding Agreement on Public Dental Services for Adults. There were concerns about whether the vouchers would continue following the agreement's expiration on June 30, but those concerns were quashed in the 2025–26 budget announcement. 'The Government will provide $107.8 million in 2025–26 to state and territory governments to support public dental services for adults,' the DHDA spokesperson said. 'This funding will be provided through a one-year extension of the Federation Funding Agreement on Public Dental Services for Adults.' Those eligible include Queensland adults holding current concession or health cards, as well as children eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule or listed on a valid Centrelink concession card. 'The Child Dental Benefits Schedule has provided $3.1 billion in benefits and delivered over 51 million services to 3.5 million children since it commenced in January 2014,' the DHDA spokesperson said. 'Queensland Health is committed to improving the oral health of Queenslanders and increasing access to public oral health services,' the state's Chief Dental Officer, Dr Ben Stute, told The vouchers are issued by Queensland Health's Hospital and Health Services (HHS) and are designed to alleviate strain on public dental clinics. In 2022–23, those on the public dental list waited an average of 578 days to be seen in Queensland and 387 days in New South Wales, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). While the dental services are free, patients are responsible for their own transport to and from appointments. Appointments are provided at hospitals, community outreach clinics, public clinics, and schools across Queensland. When a voucher is obtained, patients can also access care at a private clinic. Many dentists recommend a check-up twice a year, as it provides a range of benefits. 'It not only prevents dental diseases but contributes to improved nutrition, communication, and self-esteem, which are crucial for leading a healthy and fulfilling life,' Stute said. 'In contrast, poor oral health is linked to chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart and lung disease, and may lead to people needing care in hospital.' The most common oral diseases affecting Australians include tooth decay, tooth loss, and gum disease, according to AIHW. Approximately one in three adults has at least one tooth affected by untreated decay, and one in nine children aged 5 to 14 has never seen a dentist. The best way to prevent dental issues is through regular check-ups, brushing twice a day, using products like floss, and limiting sugar and alcohol intake. For those without any assistance, a standard dental check-up costs, on average, $219, according to the Australian Dental Association. However, the Government is working with states and territories to develop a new National Oral Health Plan. 'This will include goals to improve the oral health status of Australians and reduce inequalities in oral health status across the Australian population,' the DHDA spokesperson said. A National Dental Reform Oversight Group has been established, comprised of senior government policy officials 'tasked with developing options for sustainable and longer-term dental funding arrangements that better meet community needs'. In 2025–26, access to private health insurance will also be made more affordable, with a $7.8 billion Government contribution to the rebate.
ABC News
01-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Australians struggling to afford oral healthcare, dentists say, backing calls to expand Medicare
Expanding Medicare to cover more dental services has the support of about two thirds of Australian dental practitioners recently surveyed. Among the nearly 450 professionals who participated, including dentists, oral health therapists, and dental hygienists, support was strongest for a means-tested and capped dental scheme. That would mean patients would be eligible for subsidised care based on their income, and only covered up to a certain financial limit. Many of those surveyed reported their patients struggled to afford oral healthcare, and that affordability had become more of a problem in the past 12 months. "We're in this cost of living crisis at the moment and … dentistry — which should be a necessary expenditure — has for a lot of people perhaps shifted over into a luxury item," said Matt Hopcraft, dentist and lead researcher. "We see consequences of that play out in poor oral health in a lot of people." Both Labor and the Coalition have The Greens, on the other hand, have been , irrespective of income. The vast majority of dental care in Australia is provided by the private sector and predominantly funded out of patients' own pockets. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule covers part or all of the cost of basic dental services for eligible children, while adults with a concession or health care card are eligible for free public services — Photo shows Dental xray illuminated on a light screen. A new report shows many Australians are delaying dentist visits or waiting years to receive publicly funded care. According to the dental practitioners surveyed, about 40 per cent of their patients, on average, had difficulty affording general dental care, while nearly half delayed care or chose less ideal treatment because of the cost. While the survey was "relatively small", Dr Hopcraft said, he believed the findings — Calls to increase publicly-subsidised care Research shows approximately one in three Australians aged 15 and over have untreated tooth decay, while around 30 per cent of adults have gum disease. In 2023, a Senate inquiry into the provision of dental services in Australia recommended the federal government work with states and territories "to achieve universal access to dental and oral health care" through Medicare or a similar scheme, over time and in stages. Health minister Mark Butler said in a "We're focused very much on strengthening Medicare as it currently stands. But I think over time it would make sense to bring the mouth into our universal health insurance system," he said. Many Australians rely on public dental services, which have extensive waiting lists. ( ABC News: Luke Bowden ) Similarly, shadow health minister Anne Ruston said the focus of the Coalition was on primary care. "All of the statistics … tell us we have a crisis in primary care and first and foremost, that has to be addressed," she said. Speaking to the ABC in April, Greens leader Adam Bandt said his party had successfully negotiated getting children's dental care into Medicare under a Labor minority government in 2012, and now wanted to "get it in for everyone". The proposal, which would expand Medicare coverage to include check-ups and teeth cleaning, fillings, dentures and orthodontic work for all Medicare-card holders, is Read more about the federal election: Want even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 Both the Public Health Association of Australia and the Grattan Institute, an independent policy think-tank, have advocated for The Grattan Institute has also said the scheme should exclude cosmetic services and orthodontics — a recommendation backed by the dental practitioners surveyed. Dr Hopcraft said the survey showed dental practitioners primarily supported subsidies that targeted Australians "most in need", both to manage government costs and reduce the significant wait times in the public sector. But it also found there was support for a capped universal scheme — akin to what the Greens and other groups have proposed — as well as a scheme for older Australians. National body wants focus on seniors The Australian Dental Association (ADA) has called for a . Government data shows in 2022–23, nearly 16,000 Australians aged over 65 were hospitalised with potentially preventable dental issues. "The dilemma is that it's a massive amount of money … to get every person in Australia to be able to go and see a dentist under the Medicare scheme," said Andrew Gikas, ADA board member and clinical director of the University of Melbourne Dental School. "If we've got a children's scheme that works reasonably well, and we've got the infrastructure in place plus all the legislation to make it work, why don't we just flick the switch and produce something that will target the other end of the scale, which is a senior's scheme?" Photo shows A middle aged woman with brown hair sitting at a table with a small dog As the election draws closer, the Australian Dental Association is calling for a scheme that gives seniors access to free dental work. The introduction of a seniors program was recommended by the 2023 Senate inquiry as well as the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety in 2021. By providing subsidised care to older Australians, Dr Gikas said more space would be freed up to treat adults aged 18 to 65 in the public system. "There is a system already in place for public dentistry — it's just a matter of making sure we either prop that up better or we take away some of the burden, and one of the burdens is the elderly and those in nursing homes," he said. Despite the many different proposals for increasing publicly-subsidised care, Dr Gikas said it was clear that advocates agreed more government funding was needed. "We're going to keep lobbying to make sure that whoever ends up in power starts thinking about a better way of doing it, because the current way is not working, and is leaving a significant amount of gaps." Health in your inbox Get the latest health news and information from across the ABC. Your information is being handled in accordance with the Email address Subscribe
