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Health and Community Services
March 5, 2013

Changes Implemented to Sustain the Adult Dental Program

The Adult Dental Program, introduced last January, has seen an unprecedented uptake among eligible clients over the past year. To ensure that the program can continue to offer dental and denture services, effective tomorrow (Wednesday, March 6) a prior approval process will be put in place and an annual per person cap will be implemented on April 1, 2013, to keep the program sustainable into the future.

“The Adult Dental Program is a very progressive and significant program that is providing dental health services to thousands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services. “While our objective is to serve as many people as we can with our social programs, it is our responsibility to ensure that our programs are sustainable in the long term and on budget. This program has far exceeded our initial expectations so it is prudent that we implement this new policy so we can continue to offer these valuable services.”

The Provincial Government will operate the prior approval process that will allow clients and providers the ability to design and develop dental treatment plans as well as prioritize needed services. The prior approval process will approve clients up to the limit of the existing budget, minus funding specifically allocated for exceptional or emergency cases throughout the year.

Prior approval will not be required for eligible exams and x-rays. All denture work currently in progress as of March 6, 2013, will be honoured without prior approval in order to conclude services. A portion of the annual budget will also be reserved for these services.

In addition, the per person cap will allow clients to receive up to $150 in basic dental services and $750 in dentures each year, for services eligible under the program. The cap will ensure that more beneficiaries will have access to services each year within the allocated budget of the program.

“It is our duty and responsibility as a government to provide services and programs that respond to the needs of the people of our province,” said Minister Sullivan. “However we must do so in a way that is fiscally responsible within our fixed budget. This year we have invested approximately three times the allocated budget to support this program. Our decision to implement this policy will ensure that this program remains available for the people who need it.”

The Adult Dental Program was launched in January 2012 and offers select diagnostic and therapeutic dental services to eligible clients once every three years and dentures every eight years. The program was designed for individuals enrolled in three plans under the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program – the Foundation Plan, Access Plan, and the 65+ Plan.

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Media contact:
Jennifer Tulk
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 699-6524
JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca 

2013 03 05                                    1:40 p.m.

 
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