Smile
When confronted with the fact that his government was forcing people to wait years for dental treatment, this is what Tony Abbott said:
The Keating government’s program did reduce waiting times, no doubt about that. But the Keating government’s program was less over four years than the Federal Government is putting towards dental services in a single year by the private health insurance rebate.
In other words, we’re spending more money for worse outcomes — but that’s okay, because the cash is being funnelled into the private profits.
Genius.
How did we reach the point that cash spent was it’s own outcome? Aren’t these guys the same ones who whinge at socialism’s waste and high taxation?
But becuase it’s now private sector money somehow “the market” makes it all good. Of course, now we are having the wonderful situation where the funds are putting up fees, gap payments and reducing benefits, because they have too many members!
Because dental problems can be the cause of other health problems, I’ve never understood why basic, essential dentistry such as fillings, extractions and cleaning are not covered by Medicare.
Eye examinations (every optometrist I’ve been to bulk bills) are covered so why not dentistry?
If it ever did come under Medicare there would have to be better policy for bulk billing than there is in the medical system.
The private health funds are clearly not working at the moment. On the News today, it is reported that they are wanting to increase fees yet again and make the gap charge on private beds even greater.
And it is virtual impossible to get decent mental health coverage.
Subsidies for those that can afford it. What a marvellous idea.
Maybe Abbott is an anti-dentite
The distinction between doctor and dentist has always bemused me. Does the body stop at the teef? Did aliens bring them so they are not genetically created? Are there completely different families of bacteria in my rotting fangs than on my ageing tongue?
You get the point.
I do know why of course. The dentists wanted to keep on gouging the public for cash and the government was terrified of the bill. One of the really crap pieces of medical policy disinformation you will hear around the traps is that the Brits have bad teef because of the national health.
If you want half an hour of comedy, ask a Citizens’ Electoral Council person handing things out at the polling booth what their policy on dentistry and water flouridation is.
Listen as they make it to sinister conspiracies in under a minute…