Maxillofacial dental surgeons opt out of MCP
Department of Health looking at other options
Three maxillofacial dental surgeons (specialists in surgeries to the jaws and face) in the province have opted out of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Medical Care Program, leaving the province looking for other options for low-income patients.
Three maxillofacial dental surgeons (specialists in surgeries to the jaws and face) in the province have opted out of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Medical Care Program, leaving the province looking for other options for lowincome patients.
Health Minister John Haggie told reporters Wednesday at Confederation Building the surgeons gave notice to his department that as of the first of August, they would no longer take MCP patients.
“Since then we’ve worked with Eastern Health and the RHAs (Regional Health Authorities) to put in place plans for emergency treatment and we’re also working with the community of dentists to put in place referrals,” Haggie said. “We are exploring several initiatives.”
The minister said the issue is about “elective surgeries, planned jaw surgeries,” and how those might be performed.
He said some might fall within the category of plastic surgery and the province has “an excellent core of plastic surgeons here who we have approached.”
He said his department is working with the local dental community as well, with respect to referrals.
“One option is to fly people out, another is to fly clinicians in.”
Haggie said the three maxillofacial surgeons in the province feel they have not got financially what they need.
“We disagree,” he said. “When we approached the maxillofacial surgeons in Halifax and showed them our fee schedule, they were quite happy to jump on planes.”
The minister said it’s a speciality service and there are only three surgeons currently in Newfoundland and Labrador providing it.
MCP Newsletter explains decision of surgeons
An MCP newsletter on the provincial government’s website explains the decision of the surgeons to opt out of MCP.
It can be found at http://www.health.gov.nl.ca/ health/mcp/providers/mcp_newsletters/newsletter_16-08.pdf
It states, “Effective August 1, 2016 Drs. Amin Alibhai, Peter Stefanuto and Rebecca Woodford have stopped accepting referrals for services that are insured under the Surgical Dental Program. This includes referrals for in office and in hospital insured services. Additionally, there will be no further on call or emergency hospital coverage provided by these surgeons.
They have however indicated that those insured patients whose treatments are in progress will have their surgery completed under the Surgical Dental Plan. It is our understanding that any patient waitlisted for insured services who has been seen by either of these OMFs for consultation and where further treatment is pending would be considered in progress”