Medicare Teen Dental Plan and Medicare chronic disease dental scheme
Important announcement - changes to dental services under Medicare
The government has announced the closure of the Medicare Chronic Disease Dental Scheme from 1 December 2012 and the Medicare Teen Dental Plan on 31 December 2013 and the introduction of the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) from 1 January 2014.
The Medicare Chronic Disease Dental Scheme closed on 1 December 2012. No Medicare benefits will be paid for dental services provided under Medicare dental items 85011-87777 from this date. The cost of any future dental services will need to be met by the patient.
Patients without a GP care plan in place before 8 September 2012 will not be able to access the Medicare Chronic Disease Dental Scheme which closed on 1 December 2012.
The Medicare Teen Dental Plan will close on 31 December 2013. Eligible teens will be able to access the program until this date.
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) will replace the Medicare Teen Dental Plan from 1 January. This $2.7 billion measure will provide a Commonwealth funded capped benefits entitlement for basic dental services for children. Around 3.4 million children aged 2-17 in families who meet a means test will be eligible for benefits each year. The means test will be the same as the existing Medicare Teen Dental Plan , which requires receipt of Family Tax Benefit Part A or certain government payments.
Services for basic essential dental treatment, such as check-ups, x-rays, fillings and extractions will be included in the CDBS, the total benefit entitlements will be capped at $1,000 per child over a two year period.
More information is available on the Department of Health and Ageing
website.
Forms available
Medicare Teen Dental Plan forms for dentists
Online Medicare eLearning for dentists
A self-paced eLearning program has been developed to support dentists. The 45 minute program ‘Medicare and You—for dentists’ is interactive and easy to use.
Last updated: 30 November, 2012