Vol. 562 No. 4
437 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the exact charges now being made to insured workers and to dentists for each type of dental work under the insurance scheme; and the terms under which insured workers who were forced to pay for their own treatment during the dispute can now reclaim the standard refund. [6363/03]
To benefit under the dental benefit scheme, an insured worker must be treated by a dentist who has entered into an agreement with my Department to provide treatment under the scheme on a contract basis and at fees specified in the agreement. Under these arrangements and with limited exceptions, treatments are provided to the patients either free of charge or at a reduced fee and the Department pays the balance of the cost directly to the dentist at the agreed rates. The dispute arose because dentists were imposing increased fees, which in some cases were considerably in excess of the agreed levels. As this was in clear breach of the contract, the departmental contribution could not be paid to dentists who acted in that way. The position in this regard was made clear at the outset, as was the fact that the Department could not make refunds directly to patients in these circumstances.
During the dispute, patients were advised to check that their dentist was continuing to operate within his or her contract with the Department and in cases where this was not so, they were advised to use my Department's lo-call service to get details of dentists adhering to the agreed fees for treatments. This service was heavily used by patients who were directed to alternative dentists who were providing a service at the agreed rates.
Under the settlement reached with the Irish Dental Association, oral examination and scale and polish treatments will continue to be available to patients free of charge. In addition, extractions will continue to be provided as heretofore on a fixed fee basis for those earning under €45,000. The cost to the patient will increase by 10% in respect of these treatments as will the contribution by the Department towards the costs of these treatments. This means that a patient will pay nothing extra for oral examination or scale and polish but will pay an extra €1.08 for extractions. In the case of fillings, my Department's contribution towards the cost of each filling will increase by 10%, for example from €26.54 to €29.20 in the case of a simple amalgam filling. The cost to the patient will be the normal private fee, less 15%, less my Department's contribution. The cost of other treatments, such as dentures, also increases by 10% as does my Department's contribution towards the costs of these treatments.
438 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will get back the money they had to pay when they had to attend a dentist urgently during the recent dispute; and the way in which she will compensate people such as this. [6389/03]
To benefit under the dental benefit scheme, an insured worker must be treated by a dentist who has entered into an agreement with my Department to provide treatment under the scheme on a contract basis and at fees specified in the agreement. Under these arrangements and with limited exceptions, treatments are provided to the patients either free of charge or at a reduced fee and the Department pays the balance of the cost directly to the dentist at the agreed rates. The dispute arose because dentists were imposing increased fees, which in some cases were considerably in excess of the agreed levels. As this was in clear breach of the contract, the departmental contribution could not be paid to dentists who acted in that way. The position in this regard was made clear at the outset, as was the fact that the Department could not make refunds directly to patients in these circumstances.
During the dispute, patients were advised to check that their dentist was continuing to operate within his or her contract with the Department and in cases where this was not so, they were advised to use my Department's lo-call service to get details of dentists adhering to the agreed fees for treatments. This service was heavily used by patients who were directed to alternative dentists who were providing a service at the agreed rates.
