Chronic Disease Commonwealth Dental Scheme

A Chronic Disease Dental Scheme was introduced on 1 November 2007, for people with chronic conditions and complex care needs, whose oral health is impacting, or likely to impact on their general health.

Eligible patients can receive Medicare benefits of up to $4250 in total over two consecutive calendar years for dental services, on referral from a general practitioner. Even though the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Nicola Roxon MP announced the discontinuation of this service in March 2008, the legislation was not passed. As a result eligible people can continue to have access to this scheme (items # 85011-87777 in Medicare).

Consumers with chronic conditions where the condition causes deterioration of teeth (e.g. as a side effect of some medications which reduce saliva flow), or where their dental condition is impacting on general health, should ask their GPs about the scheme. Not all may be eligible but it is worth asking about.

What’s up with Medicare Services?

Medicare Australia wants to know about issues with their services or shopfronts which are affecting persons with disabilities. For example, the accessibility of their website might be bugging you, or the inaccessibility of the touch screen queuing console at your local shopfront. You might be impatient to get your GP surgery to install Electronic Claiming facilities so that you can get your reimbursement paid direct to your bank account before you leave the surgery.

You might have a problem with one of the other services which Medicare operates : the Organ Donor Register; Family Assistance Office services; Australian Childhood Immunisation Register; Disaster Relief Payments; Teen Dental Scheme; Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, etc.

Or you may feel that your knowledge about Medicare Australia services is so minimal that you want them to give you some better feedback.

You might have words of praise for the service you get in a shopfront.
Feedback is welcome from specific Disabled People’s Organisations and individuals. Anything at all will go into a feedback presentation to Medicare Australia managers at their next meeting with their consumer representatives.

Please get your feedback to AFDO representative on the Medicare Australia Consumer Consultation Group, Sue Salthouse, before the AFDO conference on 28-29 May.

Sue may be contacted on: sue.salthouse@gmail.com or by phoning 02 6291 6842