The end of the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme has been criticised in Federal Parliament

October 10, 2012

Member for Maranoa Bruce Scott has spoken out against the Federal Government’s closure of the Medicare Chronic Disease Dental Scheme (CDDS) by sharing harrowing stories in Parliament from South Burnett residents battling chronic pain and tooth decay.

“These are actual examples of constituents who have very real concerns as the government has no plans until 2014,” Mr Scott said.

“The CDDS has worked well for many years but it will be cut by the government in an attempt for a fictitious budget surplus.”

Addressing Federal Parliament yesterday Mr Scott outlined a Nanango constituent’s ordeal.

“My constituent is a 49-year-old disability pensioner who has been on the disability pension for some 16 years,” Mr Scott said.

“He is currently suffering from abscesses, bleeding of the gums and is in serious pain.

“On September 14, this year, he made an appointment to see his general practitioner.

“His local GP told him that the CDDS was cancelled in early September this year and nothing would be available to him until 2014, notwithstanding his condition.

“My constituent is now investigating other options for financing the dental work himself … for anyone on a disability pension to access dental services and pay for them is very limited.

“This constituent has (previously) accessed the Medicare Chronic Disease Dental Scheme because of his need for dental work and without continuing dental work his whole health will deteriorate.”

Mr Scott said he also received an email from a Gordonbrook constituent imploring the government not to abandon the CDDS.

“This constituent is 65 and was diagnosed with diabetes 15 years ago, with complications of tooth decay and gum disease,” he said.

“During recent years, with the support of his doctor and dentist, he received considerable help under the CDDS.

“In his email the constituent said he was shocked to learn of the scheme’s pending closure and he asked me to support the retention of the CDDS.

“He ends his email by saying, ‘Thank you for listening’.

“I can assure the House that I am listening to my constituents.

“The Coalition is listening to the broad range of people out there who have gained considerable health benefits by being able to access the Medicare-funded CDDS that this government wants to scrap, with no plans to put anything in place until 2014.”

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The CDDS is set to close on November 14.

The Federal Government claims the scheme, which has blown out to about $1 billion a year, is being rorted.

A replacement  program, targeted at people on low incomes, is proposed to begin in 2014.

Critics are angry about the gap between the times. They fear the State’s public dental health scheme will be overwhelmed in the meantime.