Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Benefits

9:00 pm

Photo of Olwyn EnrightOlwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 721: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of dental applications made on behalf of multiple customers without their knowledge regarding the treatment benefit scheme; the action she will take in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2061/10]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Changes to the Treatment Benefit scheme were announced in Budget 2010. From 1st January 2010, treatments available under the scheme are limited to a free Optical and Dental examination together with the treatments previously available under the medical appliance scheme, namely hearing aids and contact lenses required for medical reasons.

People who, at 31st December 2009, were undergoing a course of treatment or who had applied for approval to commence treatment, will have their applications for dental benefit processed under the rules which operated prior to January 1st 2010.

In the period immediately after the changes were announced in the budget, there was a sharp increase in the number of enquiries from customers and from dentists on behalf of customers seeking approval for dental treatment. It was clear from the level of correspondence received, that some dentists were submitting bulk applications on behalf of their patients. Claims involving many hundred customers were received from 8 dental practices. These applications were supplied in alphabetical order, as if downloaded from a database.

On checking with a number of customers, it became evident that many of them had not approached the dentist to seek treatment nor had they authorised the dental practice to submit an application on their behalf. The dentists concerned were contacted and agreed to withdraw the enquiries and re-submit them in the proper manner.

In order to avoid any repetition of the problem, a letter issued to all dentists clarifying the procedures to be followed in submitting eligibility/approval enquiries. These procedures include the need to ensure that the patient had given approval for the enquiry to be made and the need to provide a confirmed appointment date and contact number for each customer.

It has been noted that since the letter issued, the vast majority of enquiries have been submitted in the correct manner. Enquiry applications received without all the relevant information are being returned. A number of dentists have been in contact since the issue of the letter, to advise that they may have submitted enquiries in error and to ask for these to be withdrawn and advising that they will submit a revised list of enquiries in the correct manner.

In the period between the budget and December 31st it is estimated that in excess of 150,000 eligibility enquiries for dental treatment have been received, these are currently being processed. Priority is being given to confirming patient eligibility, however officials will spot check enquiries to ensure they have been submitted with patient consent. Any breaches of these guidelines will be reported to the data protection commissioner for appropriate follow up action.

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