What impact will the federal government dental program have on the profession?

[VivaColombia]

Recently spoke to a few dentists who aren't too pleased about the new federal government dental plan. The full plan hasn't been released but there are talks of funding 50-60% of the dental fee guide for those on the dental plan. Many employers may choose to forgo dental benefits for their employees and push them to the federal program. This would mean a good chunk of the population would have access to dental services but dentists would get paid less. I'm not sure if there would be enough volume to cover overhead expenses. 

A couple recent grads have considered moving to the States based on what the federal government releases for the dental plan. How do people feel about this new push and whether it will cause wages to go down for dentists in the long run? Will the government mandate dentists to accept the federal dental plan?

[footballdude14]

1 hour ago, VivaColombia said:

Recently spoke to a few dentists who aren't too pleased about the new federal government dental plan. The full plan hasn't been released but there are talks of funding 50-60% of the dental fee guide for those on the dental plan. Many employers may choose to forgo dental benefits for their employees and push them to the federal program. This would mean a good chunk of the population would have access to dental services but dentists would get paid less. I'm not sure if there would be enough volume to cover overhead expenses. 

A couple recent grads have considered moving to the States based on what the federal government releases for the dental plan. How do people feel about this new push and whether it will cause wages to go down for dentists in the long run? Will the government mandate dentists to accept the federal dental plan?

Out of curiosity, why would dentists get paid less? Wouldn't treatment costs remain the same and charge the government instead? Thanks!

[VivaColombia]

54 minutes ago, footballdude14 said:

Out of curiosity, why would dentists get paid less? Wouldn't treatment costs remain the same and charge the government instead? Thanks!

The government won't pay out at the fee guide rate. Take the ODSP rates, they barely cover overhead expenses. The government wants to pay at 50-60% of the fee guide rates (initial conversations). Even if they end up negotiating 80% fee guide rates, that will still be a cut from private insurance payouts. 

[dentistrydmd]

Probably very few dentists will opt for the program. The ones that do may put out high volume and lower quality work unfortunately. Id imagine it would be similar to the results of Medicaid/Medicare dental funding in the US, which less and less clinics are taking. Im not sure how much impact it will have on dentistry as a whole however.

[koft]

As a practicing OMS.  I see everyone, although I am Jaded, because there will be a patient coming in for emergency care on government program who drives a nice car with the latest smartphone and top to bottom luxury brand.  And I get paid ~$20.  I know friends (general and specialist) who does not accept government programs such as welfare, disability and First Nation etc.  there are multiple issues from this program. Most of my colleagues complained about remuneration at 30-40% to the dollar, thus literally just doing pro Bono to cover overhead.  Other complained the patient pools are terrible such as no show on appointment etc. 

At the moment it is approved for 12 and under potentially up to 18 next year. There are programs in Ontario which covers that population with low incomes (Healthy Smile). Of course only cover very basic needs. One specialty that won’t get affected at least much will be orthodontics because there is no fee guide to it. And in general government doesn’t cover that. 
 

 

[Hokage777]

On 3/27/2022 at 7:38 PM, footballdude14 said:

Out of curiosity, why would dentists get paid less? Wouldn't treatment costs remain the same and charge the government instead? Thanks!

Apparently you get paid less for each procedure you do. So essentially you're doing double the work or getting paid half the amount. I have a relative that works in the states and she says that the medicaid clinics are awful. She described it as getting overloaded with patients and being forced to do low-quality work, not to mention lower salary unless you do shady stuff.