In New Brunswick, a critical shortage of dental professionals is impacting the enrollment in the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), according to the New Brunswick Dental Society (NBDS).
Rene Comeau, Marketing Communications Specialist at NBDS, explained that many dental practices in the province are already operating at full capacity and therefore cannot accommodate new patients. This has led to a limited number of dentists fully enrolling in the plan. Instead, many are choosing to participate on a “claim by claim” basis.
On August 7, Health Minister Mark Holland announced a notable rise in the number of dentists agreeing to offer services under the CDCP. Holland reported that around 16,612 dentists, or approximately 75% of all dental professionals in Canada, are now part of the plan. This expansion is designed to cover about 2.3 million patients who have quickly signed up.
Comeau highlighted the need for further data from Health Canada to understand how many claims are being processed on a “claim by claim” basis in New Brunswick. Preliminary indications suggest some level of participation among local dentists, but confirmation is still awaited.
An additional challenge for the CDCP is increasing public awareness. A recent NBDS survey revealed that New Brunswick clinics are spending an extra hour daily responding to inquiries about the CDCP. This increase in workload is attributed to widespread misconceptions about the plan and difficulties in locating participating providers.
“We field numerous calls each day from patients confused about the plan’s specifics and how to find enrolled providers,” Comeau stated.
The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) also reported similar issues in June, noting that confusion among seniors regarding income-based co-payment requirements has been prevalent. In response, the CDA, along with the Provincial and Territorial Dental Associations (PTDAs), initiated a public education campaign titled “Know Before You Go” to address these misunderstandings.
Despite these challenges, Comeau expressed optimism about ongoing improvements to the CDCP. “The CDA’s advocacy efforts and continued collaboration with the government are promising for the development of an effective plan for both Canadians and dental providers,” he concluded.
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