UPDATE: Since this story was published, Sun Life, which manages the Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP), has released a list of providers by location on its website, HERE.
The much-lauded CDCP is set to start covering seniors who qualify in just over a week, but area resident Margaret-Anne Baker wonders whether dental care providers in Muskoka will sign on.
Baker said her dental office has indicated it will not join the program because, as the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) states, there are too many uncertainties.
As of last week, there was no list available for qualifying seniors to see which dental care professionals had signed onto the plan near them. “This program starts on May 1st; you’d think there would be a list available,” said Baker last week. A list has since been released, but the uptake in Muskoka has been slow.
That’s because, according to Dr. Brock Nicolucci, President of the Ontario Dental Association, the dental community has concerns. They include having to sign an open-ended agreement with Health Canada to offer the plan and the human resources required to manage it. He questioned why the plan doesn’t follow patients rather than requiring dentists to sign up.
“It allows the dentists to have a relationship with the patient, not with the government,” said Nicholucci. “We were brought to the table at the 11th hour… after they develop a plan, then they bring us to the table.”
In a conversation with Health Canada staff, they noted that the voluntary plan would not work without the dental healthcare practitioners and indicated that Health Canada is working through some of their concerns. Staff also noted that putting the onus on patients to pay out of pocket and then get reimbursed, rather than the care provider, is not realistic; many may not have the funds.
“One in four Canadians have reported avoiding visiting an oral health care professional because of the cost. The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will help ease financial barriers to oral health care for up to 9 million Canadians,” stated Christopher Aoun, with the office of the Minister of Health, via email.
“We know that oral health care professionals are critical in ensuring the success of the plan. Health Canada and the Minister of Health Mark Holland have personally met with each association to consult on the program since 2022. We are working collaboratively to make it a success for everyone. We are excited to see that thousands have already chosen to sign up and support our efforts. We are continuing to have meaningful conversations with providers who want to ensure that Canadians have access to oral health care.
“It is easy for providers to participate, the CDCP works like existing systems that providers use when direct billing private insurance plans. Providers can visit Sun Life and complete a quick form to confirm their participation. Similarly to private insurance, once they are set up in the system, they will receive payment from Sun Life within 48 hours of submitting their patient’s visit. However, we have heard that some oral health care providers would like to be involved but don’t want to have to register. We are looking at an alternate way they can help provide care without registering and will have more to share on this new option soon,” according to Aoun.
More information about the plan is HERE.
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