David Bushby (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Human Services, upon notice, on 20 September 2011:

In regard to the Medicare Chronic Disease Dental Scheme (CDDS):

(1) What is the scheduled fee paid to general practitioners (GPs) for each referral under the CDDS.

(2) How many practitioners have been: (a) audited; and (b) found to be non-compliant.

(3) What are the main reasons for breaches in compliance.

(4) By financial year, what is the total amount paid out under the CDDS since its inception, and how does this compare with that budgeted for each respective year.

(5) What is the total amount paid to dental practitioners since its inception, and every year.

(6) How many dentists have had to, or will have to, make re-payments and what is the procedure for making re-payments.

(7) When was the decision made to undertake audits of the scheme and/or compliance by participating dentists in the CDDS.

(8) (a) Who decided to undertake the audits; (b) was it decided to do so at a departmental level or was the decision made by the Minister; (c) why was the decision taken; and (d) if the decision was not made by the Minister, was the Minister or the Minister's office consulted prior to the decision being made.

(9) Given the initial decision to conduct audits of the scheme and/or compliance by the participating dentists: (a) how many audits were initially to be carried out; (b) on what basis would dentists be selected for audit; (c) what resources were made available to conduct the audit; and (d) from what budgetary measure were those resources sourced.

(10) Since first deciding to conduct these audits, has any decision been made to vary the number of participating dentists to be audited; if so, on what basis and for what purpose.

(11) Has the department conducted any assessment of the total amount paid out under the scheme that is likely to be recovered as a result of the audit process and related follow-up of audited dentists; if so, can the results of that assessment be provided.

(12) What programs or other actions did the department conduct or take to ensure that dentists participating in the CDDS were fully aware of the terms on which they participated and what their obligations were under the CDDS.

(13) What is the difference between dentists being asked to participate in 'information gathering' and undergoing an audit.

(14) How many practitioners found to be non-compliant have been given a caution.

(15) If a dentist is required to participate in 'information gathering' does this preclude the department from undertaking an audit; if not, how does Medicare ensure they are given a fair audit in light of the information they have already provided.

(16) How specific was the education in respect of dentists' obligations regarding the administrative requirements under the CDDS.

(17) What were the dates of these programs and or other actions.

(18) As part of any of those programs, were participating dentists specifically educated about the consequences of non-compliance; if so, how (for example, in writing).

(19) Were dentists advised at any time that failure to comply in all respects with the administrative requirements under the CDDS would result in their being required to repay monies received under the scheme; if so, how and when were they advised and what steps were taken to ensure that all participating dentists were advised.

(20) Where audits have found irregularities, what processes are taken to assess whether those irregularities should result in repayments by the dentists concerned.

(21) Where audits have found irregularities, have any dentists been re-educated on their obligations under the CDDS and not asked to repay any or all of the related monies paid under the scheme; if so, how many dentists and for what amounts.

(22) Why are all monies being reclaimed, including treatment expenses.

(23) How has the projected number of cases referred by GPs each year compared to the actual number of referrals under the CDDS since its inception.

(24) Has the Government taken into consideration issues raised by stakeholders, including that the CDDS is not means tested, and that the sole criteria for eligibility was through a GP identifying that a patient had a chronic disease and that dental treatment may alleviate the illness.

(25) Are administrative oversights by dentists being used to penalise them even though treatments have been legitimately provided.

(26) Why did Medicare wait more than 2 years to embark on any research as to dentists' compliance with these administrative requirements.

(27) Why was it not until the Australian Dental Association met with Medicare in early 2010 that any education program was embarked on in respect of these administrative requirements.

(28) Why, when the services have been legitimately provided by dentists, has Medicare demanded repayment from dentists of monies received under the CDDS instead of just asking that the paperwork deficiencies be addressed.

(29) How many times has Medicare received a complaint from a GP that a dentist has failed to provide a treatment plan to them.

(30) Is the Minister aware of any dentists who have been audited under this scheme, since having taken their own life.