The NIHB Program and the Power of Compassionate Dentistry When Dr. Scott Leckie reflects on his decades of practise in Winnipeg, one underlying theme emerges—service. “I’ve always had a strong sense of our profession’s social contract and helping people,” he says. “Oral health is a part of total health, and I’ve always wanted to give back to underserved communities here in Manitoba. I truly believe that everybody deserves the same level of care.” For Dr. Leckie, participating in the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program has been both a professional commitment and a personal mission. “It’s about equity,” he says. “With patients served by the NIHB program, there can be different challenges or barriers initially in accessing care, but I’ve always tried to reduce those barriers.” A Program Transformed Dentists who have been practising in Canada for some time may know that the NIHB program has carried a reputation for having a large administrative burden and slow feedback and communication. Dr. Leckie remembers that well, but notes how far things have come since then. “When I first started in dental practice, it was a bit of a cumbersome program, to be fair,” he recalls. “But today, the new portal system makes it far easier and more convenient. You can check the patient’s eligibility and you can check when their next available date is for treatment in real time. That makes the program a much smoother process.” The new NIHB portal now allows dentists to manage claims, confirm coverage, and streamline patient scheduling without administrative bottlenecks. Removing Barriers, Expanding Care One of the biggest NIHB improvements is the removal of cost limits on restorative work and the elimination of predetermination requirements for some procedures, such as endodontic therapy and prefabricated posts. “These are treatments that we see on a day-to-day basis when treating our patients,” says Dr. Leckie, “And these improvements help increase the care we can provide for the NIHB-eligible population.” One of the biggest NIHB improvements is the removal of cost limits on restorative work and the elimination of predetermination requirements for some procedures. Dr. Scott Leckie 17 Issue 1 | 2026 |
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