Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:155. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of restoring the extended gum cleaning entitlement under the dental treatment services scheme. [15147/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 9 June 2016
Ceisteanna (155, 156, 191)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:156. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of removing the annual cap on fillings which was introduced in budget 2010 under the dental treatment service scheme. [15148/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraLouise O'Reilly
Ceist:191. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of restoring the bi-annual scale and polish entitlement, under the dental treatment services scheme. [15258/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 155, 156 and 191 together.
The Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Dentists) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 171 of 2009) set out payments in respect of services rendered by a registered dentist to or on behalf of the Health Service Executive under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS), including restorations (fillings) and prophylaxis (scale and polish). The fee payable for an amalgam restoration is €50.06 and €51.88 for a composite restoration. The fee for prophylaxis is €31.00. Fees for other procedures, for which there had previously been regional variations, are set out in the Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Dentists) Regulations 2011. These Regulations provide for payments for Protracted Periodontal Treatment Services of €26.36 per visit.
The cost of restoring treatments which had been provided before 2010 to all medical card holders would depend on a number of factors, including the underlying oral health of the population and the likely level of take-up of such services. The HSE continues to monitor the operation of the DTSS to ensure the most beneficial, effective and efficient use of available resources.
The Primary Care Reimbursement Service of the HSE regularly publishes detailed reports on expenditure. These reports are available on the following website, www.hse.ie/eng/staff/PCRS/PCRS_Publications.