A group of oral health care providers has banded together to speak out against misinformation about the Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP) being spread by organizations representing dentists.
“I don’t understand why they’re saying it’s an administrative burden when dentists haven’t even registered or applied,” said Kelly Mansfield, president of the Canadian Association of Dental Assistants. “We’re not seeing any issues.”
The national association of dental assistants, hygienists and technicians says workers in the profession have generally had positive experiences with the program, which began targeting seniors on May 1.
The group is hosting an online information session for dentists this Tuesday, hoping to dispel so-called misconceptions about the CDCP and encourage more dentists to get involved.
Dental associations, which represent dentists, continue to voice their concerns about the NHS, with many of their presidents saying that dentists themselves would not support treating CDCP patients in their own practices.
$13 billion Canada Dental Care Plan It subsidizes dental care costs for low- and moderate-income residents who do not have private insurance.
Health Canada says about 50 per cent of oral health care providers, or 12,000 in total, are enrolled in the program, including dentists, self-practicing dental hygienists, dental technicians and dental specialists.
Health Canada told CBC News it couldn’t provide a breakdown by type of health care provider, but said other oral health associations have higher participation rates compared to dentists.
Sylvie Martel, director of dental hygiene operations at the Canadian Dental Hygienists’ Association, said about 70 per cent of qualified independent dental hygienists are participating.
“We’ve embraced the program,” she says, “and while it’s not perfect, it’s helping a lot of vulnerable Canadians who have never stepped foot in a dental office before.”
“We hear a lot of misinformation, a lot of negative information, and dentistry is probably putting out more of that negative messaging.”
Martel said dental associations argue the program is complicated, time-consuming and administratively burdensome.
“What we’re hearing from our members is that it’s no different than how they process dental claims from any other dental insurer,” she said.
The Canadian Dental Association report called on the federal government to clear up misconceptions about the federal dental care plan. Health Minister Mark Holland said participating dental practices don’t have those concerns and encouraged those that don’t to join.
Prosthodontists also have a higher registration rate than dentists, with about 80 per cent participating, said Jaro Wojcicki, president of the Canadian Association of Prosthodontists, who runs a denture clinic in Penetanguishine, Ont.
“Overall, I think this is a very positive thing for dental technicians,” he said, adding that procedures are being reimbursed within 48 hours, faster than some private insurance plans.
“It’s been great for me and my practice. Patients come in and are excited, thrilled and grateful. Most patients are very touched.”
Wojcicki said there are issues with the “patient experience” when dentists aren’t part of the program.
“If a dentist who has patients in common with me hasn’t accepted the program, there will be some friction if I refer that patient to that dentist and that dentist doesn’t accept CDCP,” he said.
“I would urge health care providers not to just rely on what the association says, but to do their own research, talk to their colleagues and make an educated decision,” he said.
The Canadian Dental Association, which represents dentists, says the misinformation is coming from the federal government. The association says Ottawa has not clearly explained how the program works, creating confusion and anger among patients, with dental offices often bearing the brunt.
The association said dental practices spend a significant amount of time trying to clarify for patients which dental procedures are covered by CDCP, time that it argues would be better spent providing dental care.
it is Implementing its own public education program The bill aims to address misconceptions Canadians have about the plan, they say.
In a statement to CBC News, the association’s president, Dr. Joel Antel, praised the work Ottawa has done to simplify plan terms and conditions, improve covered treatments and address patient privacy concerns.
“We hope that these changes will encourage more dentists to consider participating,” Antel wrote.
“Each dentist must decide whether to join CDCP and what is best for their practice and their patients.”
Dentists are moving the goalposts, advocates say
The founder of a group that advocates for publicly funded dentistry says the backlash from dentists today is similar to the opposition from doctors when universal health insurance was introduced in the 1960s.
“Dentists know they can’t be outright opposed to this program because it makes it seem so unrealistic,” said Dr. Brandon Dorsett, a Halifax dentist and founder of the Dental Care Coalition.
“Essentially, they’re saying, ‘We can’t support this program.’ Health Canada has listened to them, addressed their concerns, and then just moved the goalposts and said they still don’t support the program.”
Doucet said the CDCP is very friendly to dentists and their private practices, in part because it allows for “balance billing,” which is charging patients extra costs not covered by government programs.
“It’s very fair to dentists, but there’s a lot of misinformation about the program in the dental community and many dentists don’t know about it.”
He warned that without buy-in from more dentists, the program won’t work.
“If dentists don’t participate in the program and people have insurance but can’t use it, the program will be considered a failure,” he said.
“It would be easy for the Conservatives to eliminate this program in whole or in part, and the dental association and many of my fellow dentists are happy to go along with it, using their influence to try to make this program fail, even though millions of Canadians desperately need it.”
The opposition Conservative Party did not respond to CBC questions about how it would deal with the CDCP if it formed government.
“This latest attempt by the chaotic Trudeau government proves that this government bungled the plan from the start,” a spokesperson for Conservative health critic Stephen Ellis said in a media statement.
“It’s clear that the Trudeau government is incapable of managing a basic government program, let alone the flagship dental program it has been promising for months.”
Have questions about how Canada’s new dental plan affects you? Email us at ask@cbc.ca .
