Report on the Fifth Review of the Dental Benefits Act 2008
Author: Dental Benefits Act 2008 Fifth Review Committee
Publisher:
Published: 2023
Total Pages: 0
ISBN-13: 9781760074012
DOWNLOAD EBOOK"In July 2022, the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Mark Butler MP, commissioned an independent review of the Dental Benefits Act 2008 (the Act) pursuant to section 68 of the Act. The Minister approved the Terms of Reference for the review, and appointed members to the independent review panel (the Review Committee), who completed the review. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is the only program to operate under the Act and was the focus of the Terms of Reference. The Terms of Reference included specific consideration of the administration and operation of the Act; assessing access to dental services and uptake of the CDBS by vulnerable cohorts; and identifying opportunities to improve the CDBS to allow for the most efficient, effective and sustainable delivery of dental benefits and services. The Review Committee found that broadly, the Act is achieving its aim of providing a legislative framework for paying dental benefits and supporting the administration of the CDBS. However, the Committee noted that although the program has been operating for nine years, uptake of the CDBS has not reached desired levels and remains below 40 per cent. Furthermore, the review identified marked inequities experienced by children from priority groups - children living in rural and remote locations, First Nations children, and children with disability - and the significant barriers they face in accessing appropriate services under the CDBS."--Executive summary.