ADA calls for more dental funding in the wake of CRS increase for dental

Long-term advocacy by the Australian Dental Association on the need for increased public funding of dentistry has received a significant boost in the light of recently released Australian Tax Office (ATO) data on the Compassionate Release of Super.

The ATO figures show dental care is the highest (1) category for the Compassionate Release of Super (CRS), with $817.6 million released last year to 32,850 applicants to pay for vital dental treatments, up from $526.4 million the previous year and $66.4 million in 2018-19.

In a report featured across all channels of ABC News on Wednesday 29 October, ADA President Dr Chris Sanzaro said it was a concerning trend, exacerbated by long waiting lists in the public dental system.

"We see the significant increase in demand for this as driven because people are facing a cost-of-living crisis. They're unable to afford the treatment that they require," Dr Sanzaro said.

The ADA has released guidelines on CRS to provide more clarity for both dentists and patients in a bid to address some systemic issues associated with drawing down of super for dental treatments.

The guidelines also seek to reiterate that CRS can only occur when there’s a life-threatening injury or illness, acute or chronic pain, or where dental treatment will help with a mental illness and there’s no other way to afford it. To fulfill these criteria there must be two reports from medical practitioners, one who must be a specialist or dentist. For an application to treat mental illness, a report from a specialist psychiatrist is required.

Dr Sanzaro said: “We’re also stressing that as well as reports, patients need a quote from the practitioner about the cost of treatment necessary to treat the acute condition, as well as an indication of future treatment and maintenance costs. That way there’s complete transparency for both sides.”

Sources

(1) 2024 ATO CRS data