Salmon Arm residents expecting free coverage under the federal government含羞草研究社檚 new dental plan may wish to readjust their expectations.
The new Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP), a $13-billion program resulting from an agreement the federal Liberals struck with the NDP two years ago to prevent an early election, began rolling out to people aged 70 and up on May 1. When fully implemented in 2025, the program is expected to provide dental coverage to as many as 9 million low- and medium-income families.
According to the B.C. Dental Association (BCDA), as of Wednesday, May 1 around 15 per cent of the province含羞草研究社檚 dentists had registered to take part in the program. The only two in Salmon Arm. One of them is Dr. Elizabeth Kovalcik, who experienced 含羞草研究社渘o problems at all含羞草研究社� Wednesday with qualifying patients or the federal portal used to determine what and for how much a patient is covered through the CDCP.
含羞草研究社淵esterday was our first day 含羞草研究社� it went fantastic,含羞草研究社� said Kovalcik. 含羞草研究社淭he portal did not crash. My understanding is a million claims went through and it didn含羞草研究社檛 crash.含羞草研究社�
One hurdle Kovalcik and staff did face was explaining to patients that their CDCP coverage would not cover 100 per cent of their dental bill. She explained staff would provide an estimate of what the visit would cost, and was then quickly able to determine how much of that would be covered under the federal program. However, CDCP doesn含羞草研究社檛 cover fees under the fee guide prescribed by the BCDA.
含羞草研究社淧eople need to understand, I bill the provincial fee guide,含羞草研究社� said Kovalcik. 含羞草研究社淭hey don含羞草研究社檛 pay the provincial fee guide, so every appointment you含羞草研究社檙e going to you have to pay the difference. We really clearly explained that to people. It went very well.含羞草研究社�
Kovalcik called the CDCP含羞草研究社檚 fee guide 含羞草研究社渃omplex,含羞草研究社� and noted there are certain limitations and things 含羞草研究社渢hat are off the table.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淧eople have to be aware that even if they含羞草研究社檙e 100 per cent covered under that system, they are not 100 per cent covered if the dentist is billing under the provincial fee guide,含羞草研究社� said Kovalcik. 含羞草研究社淣ow keep in mind, I含羞草研究社檓 not required, I含羞草研究社檓 private industry, I don含羞草研究社檛 have to stick to the provincial fee guide. I have a right to bill as I choose. I go by the provincial fee guide. Most do. Or very close.含羞草研究社�
The Observer called the offices of several Salmon Arm dentists not yet registered with the CDCP. Staff at each explained they are not opposed to the program, but wish to have more information before signing on.
含羞草研究社淭he biggest thing is we just don含羞草研究社檛 have the information, and as soon as it含羞草研究社檚 made available, our provincial associations will get that information out to us as soon as possible so that providers can then make an informed decision about where we含羞草研究社檙e going with this,含羞草研究社� commented one office manager who asked not to be named.
Other concerns shared locally revolved around the limitations of CDCP coverage and compensation, as well as the relatively short process leading to the program含羞草研究社檚 initial roll out. Kovalcik agreed a better job could have been done by the federal government.
含羞草研究社淚 like the Canadian Dental Association and our provincial associations and I think they could have done a better job working with us but they didn含羞草研究社檛 and we含羞草研究社檝e got what we含羞草研究社檝e got,含羞草研究社� said Kovalcik. 含羞草研究社淭here would have been better ways to deliver it and better ways to explain it to people. They initially came out with things like it含羞草研究社檚 free含羞草研究社� It含羞草研究社檚 not like medical, it just isn含羞草研究社檛.含羞草研究社�
Those from other dental offices who spoke with the Observer said they were waiting on further guidance from the BCDA.
The BCDA said it含羞草研究社檚 onboard with the plan, but wants to make sure its members have enough information to make an informed decision on participating.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e providing the information we含羞草研究社檝e been given by Health Canada含羞草研究社� and we含羞草研究社檙e advising members to decide on their own to see what the Canadian Dental Care Plan has currently, if it makes sense for their practice, for their patients, and make a decision accordingly,含羞草研究社� said the BCDA.
Kovalcik said her office is treating the CDCP as it does individual insurance plans which typically have limitations to what and how much is covered.
含羞草研究社淚 think the important thing for people with the plan is they need to understand if the dentist is charging their fees off the provincial fee guide, it will not cover everything and I think that含羞草研究社檚 the hardest part to communicate,含羞草研究社� said Kovalcik.
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