Dentists agree to treat PRSI workers

FAMILY dentists last night decided to accept proposals which will restore treatment to 1.7 million PRSI workers.

The decision, reached through a ballot of Irish Dental Association (IDA) members, brought to an end a bitter and long running dispute with the Government.

"This decision allows family dentists to get back to treating the 1.7 million PRSI workers who were caught in the middle of this seven-month-long row," said Donal Atkins, general secretary of the IDA.

The peace proposals, negotiated by the IDA directly with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Coughlan, include a 10% fee increase on all treatments excluding fillings.

Fillings will be charged at the normal fee less a 15% discount and the department's own contribution.

Extractions will now cost the patient €12.34, up from €10.67 and X-rays €6.49, up from €5.90. The department's current contribution to an amalgam filling will rise from €26.54 to €29.19.

The department has a contract with the IDA for the provision of certain dental treatments which patients with PRSI benefit receive for free or at a reduced rate.

The department pays the difference directly to dentists for an agreed rate.

Both sides have also agreed on the establishment of a review of the Dental Treatment Benefit Scheme, which will be headed by an independent chairperson and which will issue a report of its findings not later than June, 2003.

"The association's priority now is to get on with this full review," Mr Atkins said.

The dispute arose from the IDA's belief that the rates were not sufficient and it recommended that its members charge patients an increased fee.

The department refused to sanction this and would not accept claims from dentists who charged the increased fee.

Dental benefit expenditure last year was €35.1m, up by €100,000 on the previous year. The row hit a wall last August when a majority of dentists withdrew from the scheme.