Dentists, Auditor disagree
Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Oct 30/00) - Changes that dentists say are creating a crisis in the North are winning praise in Ottawa.
In his recent report, Auditor General Denis Desaultels praised the federal government for its 1997 decision to require preapproval for dental work costing more than $600. The policy covers non-insured patients, who are mostly aboriginal.
Desaultels said the move has saved $13 million since 1997.
The NWT Dental Association says Desaultels' report paints the wrong picture.
"They put together statistical data that shows things in a good light," said Don Portz, the association's executive director.
"They've had some significant savings but that's on the backs of the aboriginal people.
"Fewer aboriginal people are getting dental care and there's no indication there has been improvement in their dental health."
Essentially, the policy slows down the work dentists can do and, Portz said, the amount of people they can see.
And that's just one of the problems faced by Northern dentists. The association has been negotinag fees for Northern dentists with the federal government since June.
