Alberta's NDP government will create a dental fee guide

[taco.vidal]

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/e...osts-1.3887198

Alberta's NDP government will create a dental fee guide to try to take a bite out of skyrocketing dental costs.

The announcement by Health Minister Sarah Hoffman Thursday was part of the results of a provincial review of the dental industry, launched more than a year ago.

The review confirmed that fee rates in the province are higher, and growing faster than anywhere else in the province.

Alberta's dentists stopped publishing a fee guide in 1997, arguing that getting rid of it would stimulate competition and lower prices for patients.

Prices for dental procedures in the province have climbed rapidly over the past decade, increasing by about 5.6 per cent each year, far outpacing all other provinces as the priciest in the country.

[Kybosh]

It's about time.

[Locke]

Are they going to post a fee guide to inform people of prices or are they going to regulate fees?

I'll admit this is a good move as more transparency in Dental fees has been sorely needed for a long time, and honestly, there are other areas this needs to get into as well.

For too long nobody has cared because the vast majority of people are insured and so dental fees, along with other medical areas, were basically just a thinly veiled insurance scam.

[Ozy_Flame]

This is great news, dental costs in Alberta are atrocious.

[wooohooo]

When it costs the same to fly to go to BC and get a cleaning or get it done here, there is something not right. Makes perfect sense

[socktape]

How would it stimulate competition when they aren't allowed to advertise their pricing according to the association? If the government wanted to lower costs of health and dental care, they need to look into the pricing of the supplies and services that they have to purchase. Anything "medical" is easily 20-50% more for the same item not deemed "medical".

[You Need a Thneed]

Why again are dental and eye not covered under universal medical coverage?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

This is great news, dental costs in Alberta are atrocious.

The Dental industry in this province is so screwy, awesome to see our government doing something about it. It's a start.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Why again are dental and eye not covered under universal medical coverage?

Because you dont need your eyes or your teeth to live or work! They're a luxury!

[undercoverbrother]

#thanksNDP

[Nufy]

Originally Posted by Locke

Are they going to post a fee guide to inform people of prices or are they going to regulate fees?
.

A guide will do nothing unless its enforced.

Waste of time without regulation.

[Torture]

About time!

[Top Shelf]

The Dental system in this province is corrupt and a massive frustration. $5000 for an implant? $12,000 for braces? Who the hell can afford this? Only a small percentage is even covered by benefits...such BS

[LanceUppercut]

I think my head is going to explode. The NDP government has done something I don't hate.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Why again are dental and eye not covered under universal medical coverage?

Especially when periodontal disease has been linked with heart disease, diabetes, dementia and arthritis. Makes no sense that things like cleanings, fillings etc aren't covered.

Instead we have hidden fees and dentists that take advantage of insurance by booking children in for things like baby root canals. $$$

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Nufy

A guide will do nothing unless its enforced.

Waste of time without regulation.

See...I guess...but then you have to look at it like this:

Now a Dental Office cant control their prices, their costs of supplies and they are limited in their ability to control wages and rents.

If they want to Nationalize dental offices and roll them into AHS then they shouldnt half-ass it and just do it.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by LanceUppercut

I think my head is going to explode. The NDP government has done something I don't hate.

I guess odds were that it would happen at least once over the course of 4 years. Something, something broken clock.

[Nufy]

Originally Posted by Locke

See...I guess...but then you have to look at it like this:

Now a Dental Office cant control their prices, their costs of supplies and they are limited in their ability to control wages and rents.

If they want to Nationalize dental offices and roll them into AHS then they shouldnt half-ass it and just do it.

Agree fully...

Then again what's the point of the fee guide...

NDP: "Here's what we feel you should charge...but we wont actually make you do it. Carry on as if nothing happened and we can still feel like we did something for Albertans..."

[Knut]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Why again are dental and eye not covered under universal medical coverage?

Serious Eye issues are covered by AHC. If you need surgery to repair an eyelid due to injury or have an eye disease it is certainly covered by health care.

Pink eye, foreign body removals, corneal abrasions and other medical related eye problems ARE covered by health care. Patients under 19 and over 65 ARE covered by health care.

This is the main distinction between Dental and Eye coverage.

Only your routine eye examination are not covered.

Another big distinction between Dental and eye, in Alberta, is that our college actually sends out a FEE guideline yearly. It is based on factors like urban vs rural and economic factors. It makes a lot of sense to to so and prevents a government entity from stepping in to regulate fees, while also creating an internal pressure to prevent undercutting and excessive increases.

BTW: This is going to a be difficult battle as Dentistry is considered a self-regulating health profession. There is likely some legal issues related to the government trying to control fees. Most likely it will just lead to the College of Dentistry setting up their own fee guideline for its members.

[InglewoodFan]

Currently sitting in the dentist waiting room getting fillings for my two kids. Dental prices are a huge kick in the nuts when you don't have insurance.



Dare to dream the government will have the city put fluoride back in the water. Cavities seem way up since they took it out.