Ministers Call for Dental Contract Overhaul to Tackle Fraud
Ministers have called for the dental contract to be overhauled following an investigation into fraudulent claims.
An investigation carried out by NHS Protect revealed that of 5,000 bills analysed, around 3 percent of the 37.5 million claims, which equated to £73 million, were “inappropriate.”
Ministers have blamed the current dental contract, which allows dentists to claim per treatment, for the high rates of fraud and called for a fairer system, which focuses on patient care, as well as making it easier for both dentists and patients to understand the payment system.
Dermid McCausland, managing director of NHS Protect, said that appropriate action will be taken against the minority of dentists who try to cheat the system for their own gain. He added that “valuable NHS resources” must be protected.
Conservative health minister, Lord Howe, says that a new system is required and a pilot project is already underway at 62 practices across the UK. The coalition government confirmed that a new contract would be introduced when they first took over and the findings of the pilot study will be used to establish a fairer, more efficient and effective service.
The pilot study is focusing on dentists being paid according to the size of the patient list, the quality of care dentists provide and the number of courses of treatment completed. The aim is to put an end to the ‘drill and fill’ culture, which ministers claim has arisen as a result of the 2006 dental contract.
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