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- Category:
- News
- Author:
- Harley Dennett
- Posted:
- Wednesday, 1 October 2008
A Rudd Government push to dismantle a generous dental scheme used by HIV-positive people has failed for a second time.
The Enhanced Primary Care Dental Scheme for people with chronic conditions was given a boost in the final months of the Howard government where a HIV-positive person could seek up to $2,165 a year in services from any dentist through Medicare.
In June and again two weeks ago the Government tried to repeal that scheme in favour of a $290 million scheme that would attempt to reduce dental waiting lists for all people, but both attempts were blocked in the Senate by the Opposition and minor parties.
“This [Medicare] program is helping thousands of Australians who have been accessing these health services, in some cases for the first time,” Greens senator Rachel Siewert told Parliament.
“The government needs to come back with a better funding proposal for their dental scheme.”
But the government was defiant, claiming usage of the existing scheme was highly skewed to some states and not others.
“It had failed abysmally. It had also been wrongly targeted and it allowed people to gain access to a system that they did not need because they could afford it themselves,” Labor Senator Joe Ludwig said.
“It is a program that needs to be closed down and it needs the Senate to do so.”
The Government must wait another six months before it can try the push again.
HIV advocate groups such as ACON praised the existing Medicare scheme because it meant the most vulnerable could skip the lengthy dental queues at public hospitals.
“Attempt to have all work done before 17 March 2009. The Government will more than likely introduce a bill to disband the scheme as soon as they can after this date,” ACON’s advice to clients stated.
Have your say: Should people with HIV get free dental work?
October 2nd, 2008 @ 3:02 pm
Last time I bought a Toothpaste and brush, I paid for it, not the Government!
October 2nd, 2008 @ 4:48 pm
In answer to the question ‘yes’ if you mean by free ‘taxpayer-funded’. Medicare is a taxpayer-funded scheme and it should cover dental work - for everyone not just people with HIV.
October 3rd, 2008 @ 8:31 am
Perhaps Oliver would have been more understanding of the special needs of the HIV+ if your article had pointed out that some medications used by people with HIV such as indinavir (Crixivan) and ddI (didanosine, Videx) — and even HIV itself — may cause decreased salivary flow which is known to contribute to rampant caries and abscesses, and
periodontal disease. Perhaps not.
October 3rd, 2008 @ 9:27 am
Little euff help comes our way from self-interested Hiv bodies, but thx to advice in ‘Poslink’ last issue, I learnt of this scheme and have completed over seven hundrd dollars of necessary work. Take advantage promptly!
October 3rd, 2008 @ 9:27 am
Little euff help comes our way from self-interested Hiv bodies, but thx to advice in ‘Poslink’ last issue, I learnt of this scheme and have completed over seven hundred dollars of necessary work. Take advantage promptly!
October 3rd, 2008 @ 12:08 pm
Care factor Shayne..
October 4th, 2008 @ 7:31 pm
This scheme isn’t just for people with HIV but also for people with diabetes and other life threatening conditions. If the Govt. took this away it would end up costing the taxpayer more in the long term because their health would worsten and use up more medical resources.