VERONICA SCANLAN,
Madam, - I write in response to the letter in your edition of December 4th from Mr Atkins of the Irish Dental Association.
The scheme has always operated on the basis of a scale of fees for items of dental treatment agreed with the Association. The present dispute arose when the association advised its members last March to ignore these agreed fee levels and charge open-ended fees for all treatments under the scheme, in breach of their contract.
The Department has made every effort to settle this dispute through negotiation with the IDA. A set of proposals was put forward in a bid to resolve the issue, but was rejected by the IDA.
On October 10th, in the light of the progress made in discussions, the IDA recommended members to return to operating the scheme. However, on November 22nd, the association decided not to continue in negotiations with the Department and to resume its action.
The nub of the dispute is the need, as stated by Minister Coughlan, to protect insured workers from excessive charges for dental treatment. A mechanism to protect insured workers is vital. The Department appreciates that there are dentists who are continuing to operate under their contract but it cannot do business with dentists who charge more than the contracted rates.
The Department remains ready to resume discussions with the association in order to find a way to resolve this dispute, if necessary through using an independent third party. Mr Atkins purports to be concerned about the impact on insured workers; the best way to protect the position of such workers would be for his association to return to the negotiating table.
People wishing to avail of dental benefit under the PRSI-based scheme should check if their dentist is operating his or her contract with the Department before treatment starts. Where patients find their dentist is not operating the contract, they should contact the Department at Locall 1980 400 400 ext. 4480 for names of alternative dentists in their area. - Yours, etc.,
VERONICA SCANLAN,
Press Officer,
Department of Social
and Family Affairs,
Store Street,
Dublin 1.