Australian Government must assist CDDS patients

"Australian dentists are reporting that many patients will not be able to complete their course of treatment under the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme (CDDS) by the treatment closure date of 30th November 2012," stated Dr Shane Fryer, ADA President.

The Australian Dental Association Inc. (ADA) again calls for deferral of the final date for treatment to be provided under the CDDS.

"A 12-week period, to complete treatment, will mean that patients under the CDDS will not be able to finalise their treatment plans. Treatment of the chronically ill, for which this Scheme was designed, is often complex, requiring an extended period of time. Complex treatments are often staged to allow adequate healing.

"Making dentists the scapegoat for the scheme closure is grossly unfair. Dentists have provided valuable and worthwhile services to this group of Australians. Many Australians have been treated under this Scheme with a complaint rate of only a tenth of one per cent. These patients have received treatment that they could not have otherwise accessed. Administrative red tape breaches by dentists do not constitute 'rorting'."

The ADA calls on the Australian Government to recognise that it is critical that arrangements are put in place to allow for treatment services to be completed even if this requires introducing a transition process for existing patients on a case by case basis.