It is regrettable that a significant number of dentists chose to leave the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) during the pandemic. Approximately 1,150 private dentists continue to hold a contract with the HSE for the provision of dental services to medical card holders, but that number is down about 300 since the start of the pandemic.
I have acknowledged immediate issues of concern with the Dental Treatment Services Scheme, which I am addressing as a matter of priority. Officials from my Department and from the HSE have held three rounds of discussions with the Irish Dental Association (IDA), the most recent on 2nd March when my Department and the HSE presented proposals to invest additional resources in the DTTS.
Following the consultation with the IDA on 2nd March, I have now given approval for significant fee increases to be paid to contracted dentists across a number of items, including the Dental Examination and Fillings. I have also approved the reintroduction of Scale and Polish for medical card patients on the DTSS. These new measures are designed to address access problems for patients, and address dentist’s concerns about the viability of the DTSS, while aligning the DTSS more closely with the Dental Treatment Benefits Scheme, which is widely operated by private dentists for PRSI patients.
These measures should amount to an additional investment this year of about €26 million over what was spent on the Scheme in 2021. My Department and the HSE will work together to quickly implement the changes to the Scheme for the benefit of patients
