The necessary approvals have been received to implement fee schedule parity for independent dental hygienists early in the new year, Minister of Health Mark Holland said on Oct. 18, according to the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA).
“It’s fundamentally unfair that the fee schedule isn’t the same for independent dental hygiene practices as it is in dental offices,” Holland said. “I am here today to tell you it’s fixed. There will be parity as soon as possible in the new year. All necessary approvals have been received.”
The CDHA expressed enthusiasm for the announcement, which aligns with the association’s call for equal treatment of hygienists working in dental offices and private hygiene clinics.
The fee guide for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) currently shows that reimbursement rates for independent hygienists are significantly lower than those for services completed in a dentist’s office. The association has argued that this disparity is unfair, particularly since many hygienists face similar overhead costs to dental offices and, in some cases, incur additional expenses for mobile clinics.
