The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has included a number of key Australian Dental Association recommendations for dramatically overhauling the delivery of oral health care in its final report released by the Government last week.
The Government outlined a five-year road map to fix the broken aged care system, starting with an extra $425m for the beleaguered sector, and more funds to be announced during the May budget. It’s not yet known how much of this will be spent on dental services.
Key to the report is that the commissioners have recommended the adoption of the ADA’s recommendation to adopt the Seniors Dental Benefits Schedule (SDBS) to help make dentistry affordable to all older Australians.
“It’s great news that the aged care commissioners have recognised the validity and worth of a number of our recommendations in their final report to the Government—including adopting the SDBS,” federal ADA president Dr Mark Hutton said.
“If the Government acts on this report, it will mean funding dental care for older Australians as well as [finally putting into place] some fundamental systems to ensure better dental care for those in residential and home care.”
Further oral health recommendations from the report can be read here.
This article was sourced from an ADA media release.
The Final Report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety can be accessed here.
