Changes to Dental Services (Years 1 and 2 of the Multi-Year Funding Agreement)

The five year funding agreement between the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) provides for an annual incremental fee increase of 2% plus an annual incremental repair to base amount of 1% which can also be applied to fees.

New Fee Codes for Dental Services

The agreement provides for annual targeted funding of $300,000 to introduce new fee codes which represent technological advances in dentistry. 79 new fee codes will be introduced in the first two years of the five-year agreement. The new fee codes will be available in a new dental schedule of benefits effective January 1, 2004. The new schedule will be available on the ministry website (www.health.gov.on.ca) in January 2004.

Retroactive Payments

Retroactive fee increase payments will be made to all dental surgeons for services as follows:

• An additional 1% of all services rendered from April 1, 2002 to March 31, 2003**
• 3% of all services rendered from April 1, 2003 to December 31, 2003

Retroactive payments for targeted funding will be made to all dental surgeons for services as follows:

•  A prorated portion of $300,000 for all services rendered from April 1, 2002 to March 31, 2003
• A prorated portion of $225,000 for all services rendered from April 1, 2003 to December 31, 2003

** A retroactive 2% fee increase payment for 2002/03 was paid to dental surgeons in the summer of 2003.