Sue Stutlz recently put the blame on dentists for holding up services for the poor due to stalled contract negotiations between dentists and province -- people on social assistance get subsidized dental care but dentists says reimbursement rates need to go up due to increase costs.
Dental Society President Dr. Kent Orlando tells CHSJ News the 70 percent reimbursement rate is unsustainable and they want the rate to increase to 85 percent.
He says the group has been trying to negotiate new contract for over a year and it is up to the province to figure out what it wants to provide to its clients. He says it's the government that is stalling the process.
He adds no dentist wants to see a patient in pain and while there is no contract at the moment, dental work is being done. However, payments are handled between the province and the client.
