Australian Politics Forum - Greens Announce Medicare Funded Dental Care

whiteknight

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Greens Announce Medicare Funded Dental Care
Mar 16^th, 2019 at 5:48am

Greens announce $5.8b dental policy

Richard Di Natale 14 Mar 2019 Health

$5.8 billion would be invested in providing Medicare-funded dental care in a policy announced today by Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale and Greens candidate for Macnamara Steph Hodgins-May.

“Your health shouldn’t be determined by your postcode or bank balance,” said Dr Di Natale, a former GP and public health specialist.

“Untreated dental disease can dramatically impact on a person’s health and quality of life, and it is the most vulnerable people in our community who are impacted the most. The Greens will invest $5.8 billion to provide Medicare-funded dental care to all young people, aged pensioners, full benefit recipients and concession card holders.

“Millions of Australians have delayed visiting the dentist because of high out of pocket costs, which is why the Greens have long been champions of Medicare-funded dental care. In 2012 the Greens secured Medicare-funded dental care for 3.4 million children and now we commit to build on that foundation.

“The Coalition has never supported Medicare but if the Labor party really support affordable universal healthcare Bill Shorten should commit to working with the Greens to bring dental into Medicare,” Di Natale said.

Hodgins-May said the out of pocket costs of dental treatment undermined Australia’s health system.

“I’m proud to live in a country with universal healthcare but the cost of seeing a dentist is a huge gap,” said Hodgins-May.

“There is no reason why your mouth should be treated differently to the rest of your body. Going to the dentist should be just like going to the GP and that’s exactly what the Greens will deliver.”

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Bam

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Re: Greens Announce Medicare Funded Dental Care
Reply #1 - Mar 16^th, 2019 at 11:03am

Quote:

Untreated dental disease can dramatically impact on a person’s health and quality of life, and it is the most vulnerable people in our community who are impacted the most. The Greens will invest $5.8 billion to provide Medicare-funded dental care to all young people, aged pensioners, full benefit recipients and concession card holders.

A good start but this doesn't go far enough. Bulk-billed basic dental care should be available to all Australians. The mouth is a part of the body, it is about time it was treated as such.

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You are not entitled to your opinion. You are only entitled to hold opinions that you can defend through sound, reasoned argument.

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whiteknight Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 7633 melbourne Gender:	Re: Greens Announce Medicare Funded Dental Care Reply #2 - Mar 16^th, 2019 at 2:19pm Well said Bam, yes a very good idea. We want the bulk-billing doctor. Why not have the bulk-billing dentist?. Seems a good idea to me.
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PZ547

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Re: Greens Announce Medicare Funded Dental Care
Reply #3 - Mar 16^th, 2019 at 2:26pm

Bam wrote on Mar 16^th, 2019 at 11:03am:

Quote:

Untreated dental disease can dramatically impact on a person’s health and quality of life, and it is the most vulnerable people in our community who are impacted the most. The Greens will invest $5.8 billion to provide Medicare-funded dental care to all young people, aged pensioners, full benefit recipients and concession card holders.

A good start but this doesn't go far enough. Bulk-billed basic dental care should be available to all Australians. The mouth is a part of the body, it is about time it was treated as such.

Indeed

makes you wonder why LNP didn't seize the initiative

Gillard was all for it, way back then

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All my comments, posts & opinions are to be regarded as satire & humour

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Bam Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 21905 Gender:	Re: Greens Announce Medicare Funded Dental Care Reply #4 - Mar 18^th, 2019 at 8:13am Calls mount for expanded Medicare-funded dental care in Australia Quote: Key points * Most spending on dental care in Australia comes out of patients' pockets * New report calls for universal coverage of oral healthcare * Last week, Greens announced $5.8 billion dental care election policy
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tickleandrose

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Re: Greens Announce Medicare Funded Dental Care
Reply #5 - Mar 18^th, 2019 at 9:51am

Bam wrote on Mar 18^th, 2019 at 8:13am:

Calls mount for expanded Medicare-funded dental care in Australia
Quote:

Key points
* Most spending on dental care in Australia comes out of patients' pockets
* New report calls for universal coverage of oral healthcare
* Last week, Greens announced $5.8 billion dental care election policy

Try as the Greens might, but I think Australia have truly missed the boat when it comes to dental. When medicare started, the dentist opted not to join. I find it hard to believe that dentist would suddenly change their views right now.

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Bam

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Re: Greens Announce Medicare Funded Dental Care
Reply #6 - Mar 18^th, 2019 at 11:11am

tickleandrose wrote on Mar 18^th, 2019 at 9:51am:

Bam wrote on Mar 18^th, 2019 at 8:13am:

Calls mount for expanded Medicare-funded dental care in Australia
Quote:

Key points
* Most spending on dental care in Australia comes out of patients' pockets
* New report calls for universal coverage of oral healthcare
* Last week, Greens announced $5.8 billion dental care election policy

Try as the Greens might, but I think Australia have truly missed the boat when it comes to dental. When medicare started, the dentist opted not to join. I find it hard to believe that dentist would suddenly change their views right now.

They would get about 10% more customers because that's roughly the proportion of Australians who are unable to get dental care. Why would they turn down this opportunity?

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tickleandrose

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Re: Greens Announce Medicare Funded Dental Care
Reply #7 - Mar 18^th, 2019 at 11:55am

Bam wrote on Mar 18^th, 2019 at 11:11am:

tickleandrose wrote on Mar 18^th, 2019 at 9:51am:

Bam wrote on Mar 18^th, 2019 at 8:13am:

Calls mount for expanded Medicare-funded dental care in Australia
Quote:

Key points
* Most spending on dental care in Australia comes out of patients' pockets
* New report calls for universal coverage of oral healthcare
* Last week, Greens announced $5.8 billion dental care election policy

Try as the Greens might, but I think Australia have truly missed the boat when it comes to dental. When medicare started, the dentist opted not to join. I find it hard to believe that dentist would suddenly change their views right now.

They would get about 10% more customers because that's roughly the proportion of Australians who are unable to get dental care. Why would they turn down this opportunity?

There is alot of logistics involved as well. For example, this basic dental care. What does it really cover. For example, just a basic check? What if something was found, and they need more care, is that covered? If so, how is that going to be funded. And if not, then what is the duty of care of this program extends to. Back to the basic check, how much is the greens going to fund the visits at. How is that comparing to the market cost dentist charges now? Is that amount going to adequately cover the cost of delivering the care? Will the dentist able to charge a gap like doctors do with medicare.

Alot of questions, its all and well to float a number of 5.8 billion. I would like them to go into more details.

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