Update on the Canadian Dental Care Plan As of early July, more than 2 million people were approved for coverage under the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). Health Canada reported that 250,000 seniors had received care under the federal plan. About 12,000 oral health care providers had registered for the plan, which is about 40% of all providers in Canada. This includes dentists, dental hygienists, denturists and dental specialists. On June 27, the program expanded to include eligible and uninsured children under age 18 and adults who receive the disability tax credit. In a July 8 new release, Health Canada said they had received nearly 10,000 applications for people with disabilities and 25,000 for children. Health Canada informed these applicants that it could take up to 3 months for them to receive their CDCP insurance information. Beginning on July 8, oral health care providers in Canada couldprovide services toCDCP-insuredpatients on a claim-by-claim basis without formally signing on to the CDCP. Oral health care providers seeing a CDCP patient would need to agree to bill Sun Life directly and accept payment for services covered under the CDCP, regardless of how they choose to participate. As well, oral health providers who participate in the CDCP on a claim-by-claim basis will have to agree to the same terms and conditions with Sun Life as those who sign up with the CDCP. Once a claim is approved, providers should receive reimbursement from Sun Life within 48 hours, with the goal of 24-hour turnaround times coming soon, according to the federal government. “CDA is encouraged to see that the federal government has worked on and heard some of our immediate concerns regarding CDCP,” says Dr. Joel Antel, CDA president. “While acknowledging the progress made so Beginning on July 8, oral health care providers inCanada could provide services to CDCPinsured patients on a claim-byclaim basis without formally signing on to the CDCP. 9 Issue 4 | 2024 |
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