Liberal government hopes changes to dental care program will increase uptake
CTV
Less than one year after federal Liberals announced a new dental care program to mixed reviews, the government is making changes in hopes to get more providers on board.
Less than one year after federal Liberals announced a new dental care program to mixed reviews, the government is making changes in hopes to get more providers on board.
Since its launch, the federal government says the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) has seen 11,800 dental care providers sign up with Sun Life Financial to officially take part. To grow that number, Ottawa is now allowing providers to seek reimbursement from Sun Life on a claim-by-claim basis, dropping previous requirements to sign up for the program itself.
Speaking in Dartmouth today, Health Minister Mark Holland said the government heard from many dental professionals who wanted another way to participate given “bad experiences” with other programs in the past.
Speaking about the changes, Holland said he hopes the ability to take part in the program on a claim-by-claim basis will rapidly increase the number of dentists who accept CDCP patients.
“One of the things I hear is that, you know, they have been burned by other programs, that they didn't have positive experiences,” he said about why some dentists have been hesitant to sign up. “Making sure that they see and feel that this program is really listening to them and is responding to their needs and is there for them, is a fair partnership, is extremely important.”
Before today's change, clients seeking coverage under the plan could only seek treatment from participating dentists and other providers that were listed on the insurance company’s website. Officials speaking on background say they hope the change will make it easier for clients to see the dentist of their choice.
"There are providers, and we wanted to listen to them, who had concerns about the need to sign up formally to Sun Life but wanted to see CDCP clients," said one Health Canada official speaking on background during a technical briefing. "As of today, they can submit a claim and it will be processed by Sun Life."
A miniature Christmas village made of decorative houses and buildings has been slowly growing in a Regina home.
With the number of homeless people in Saskatoon at an unprecedented high, it’s no surprise people are looking for places to warm up.
The next chapter of the Lemay Forest saga has unfolded as the sounds of trees coming down could be heard Monday.
The stormy weather in the forecast for B.C.'s South Coast is already disrupting many Christmas Day travel plans.
A break in, theft, and continued property damage has led to the boarding up of the Palace Theatre over the Christmas holidays.
Police in Nova Scotia are investigating after two deaths in Truro, N.S., over the weekend have been ruled homicides.
Calgary police shut down Glenmore Trail overnight following a crash between a car and a crane truck.
Ontario's Human Rights Tribunal has awarded members of an Indigenous family in North Bay $15,000 each after it ruled they were victims of discrimination.
A heavy snowfall has guaranteed much of Quebec a white Christmas, but it has also sent cars skidding off the province's roads during the busy holiday travel period.
For many of the women attending My Sister’s Place (MSP) in London, Ont. the holidays are a difficult time.
RCMP in New Brunswick are investigating after a business in Janeville was broken into and a number of items were stolen.