Dentists miffed that new fee guide isn’t on the agenda
Members question why association isn’t providing updates on key issue
As Alberta dentists huddle this week in Jasper with their governing body, some are questioning why a fee guide for procedures, slated to be implemented by the province later this year, isn’t on the formal agenda.
Last year, when dentists gathered in the mountain town to hear from the Alberta Dental Association and College (ADA&C), tension reigned as a number of members took aim at the professional association and college, which has come under the microscope of the provincial government and the insurance industry while being embroiled in a class-action lawsuit brought by several dentists.
In December, the province released a review of sky high dental fees in Alberta, which revealed Albertans can pay as much as 44 per cent more for dental procedures than other provinces, and pledged to create a fee guide that would set standard rates allowing patients to compare prices.
Dr. Thayne Blunston, an Airdrie dentist who’s one of three named complainants in the lawsuit accusing the dental association of fostering a “climate of intimidation and bullying” for its aggressive pursuit of dentists who advertise their services, said he’s puzzled by the apparent exclusion of any update on dental fees, which could have a major impact on the industry.
“We know the province is working on the fee guide but we’re not getting consulted, there’s been no surveys or anything,” he said. “We’re worried that it’s going to be members of the ADA&C that are probably going to be making decisions on this stuff and we’re not sure what’s going on. “There’s been so much secrecy.” Alberta’s dental fees have continued to be a major sore point for the insurance industry, which has lobbied both the provincial government and the ADA&C to curb costs they say are forcing patients to pay out of pocket.
“The industry remains concerned that without fundamental change, the cost of dental care will remain much higher in Alberta than any other jurisdiction in Canada and continue to put strain on the employers who provide these plans, and their employees,” read the letter from Karen Voin, assistant vicepresident with the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association.
“We encourage the Government of Alberta to consider a ‘reset’ of fees to bring them more in line with the rest of Canada. We also strongly encourage that Alberta develop and publish an annual dental fee guide, consistent with the rest of Canada, to provide transparency and competition on dental fees in the province.”
Adding to the challenge for patients looking for affordable dental care is the stance taken by the ADA&C on dentists advertising their services, expertise and prices, a policy that’s at the heart of the class action lawsuit and has also sparked criticism from the health minister.
In a letter last year, Sarah Hoffman, who’s also Alberta’s deputy premier, admonished the ADA&C for a lack of transparency created by its advertising guidelines and encouraged them to review the policy and provide the government with an update.
“I expect that ADA&C will support dental providers by providing them with clear direction on how to apply the advertising guidelines,” she wrote. “In turn, this will provide Albertans with clear information regarding dental services and fees.”
Hoffman, who wasn’t available for an interview, said in a statement the government is committed to hammering out a dental fee guide during 2017 and hopes the ADA&C will take a look at their controversial advertising policies.
“We are working with Alberta dentists to produce a fee guide that will be finished later this year,” Hoffman said. “I have also made it clear that I expect the Alberta Dental Association and College to clarify their advertising guidelines with members.”
Alberta hasn’t published a dental fee guide in 20 years.
Dr. Lawrence Stanleigh, a Calgary dentist who’s also part of the class action suit that’s expected to be heard by a judge in the fall, said members are eager to know what progress has been made on setting a fee guide, something he personally opposes.
“It should be on the agenda, if nothing else than to provide an update to members on where the process is,” he said. “We’re being left in the dark.”
Despite the storm clouds that have hung over Alberta’s dental industry for the last several years, there are some signs the relationship between dentists and the ADA&C is improving.
Blunston, who’s also president of an industry lobby group called Alberta Dentists For Change, said he and his group has met with the new executive of the ADA&C and have had some promising discussions in recent months. But he notes there’s still plenty of work to be done to assuage dentists who fear reprisals for speaking out against the ADA&C, which has the power to fine and suspend dentists.
“I was pleasantly surprised with the discussions,” he said. “It does seem there’s been a bit of a change of attitude with the new administration versus the old guard in there.”
Representatives with the ADA&C weren’t available for comment this week, citing their heavy workload ahead of the May 25-28 Jasper congress.
We know the province is working on the fee guide but we’re not getting consulted ... There’s been so much secrecy.