SUPPLEMENT TO COMMUNITY HEALTH STUDIES. IX, 1. 1985

STRATEGIES FOR INTRODUCING DENTAL PLANS INTO THE WORKPLACE

Clive Wright

Department of Conservative Dentistry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052.

We also had some very frank and searching discussions in the Working Group concerned with "Strategies for Introducing Dental Plans into the Workplace." I have tried to summarise some of the issues that we worked through in Table 1. Although we did not actually work through this scheme in a linear fashion, preferring tojump from one issue to another, the areas covered in our discussion would, by and large, be contained within the overall structure.

One of the greatest burdens we encountered was the interpretation of the Dentists Act and subordinate legislation relating to dentists and the practice of dentistry in the State. There was considrable discussion on the point as to whether the Act was flexible enough to allow a variety of options, such as union dental plans, in promoting dental health. Issues raised included the question "Can dentists make information available to

organisations, such as unions, to encourage them to use dental services?" If they are able to d o this, then the question arises as to how these organisations evaluate the service options available and information offered. We considered also issues such as taxation relief both for an individual and employer organisations; whether or not it was possible for such organisations to act intermediate between dentists and unions, in' other words, organisations acting in some sort of brokerage capacity. It was suggested that there may be a place for the health benefit organisations in this role. The role of the Australian Dental Association (ADA), perhaps in a brokerage capacity, but a t least in playing a more active promotional role was raised. There was some criticism that the ADA had been far too passive; however, there were indications also that the ADA was developing more positive options.

TABLE 1

Areas and issues discussed by the Working Group in copsidering strategies for introducing dental plans into the workplace

Area Issues discussed

Parameters

Understanding the consumer

Initiatives and restraints

Industrial relations in Australia The Dentists Act

Employers and corporations Employees and unions

The entrepreneurial spirit The role of the ADA Providing operational guidelines

The Working Group also looked at the possible role of the health funds in a consultative capac i ty f o r employer a n d employee organisations, and the possible administrative arrangements between dentist and patient in the workplace. Although the predominant view was to maintain the private enterprise spirit in such arrangements, a position sponsored largely by the dentists within our Group, there was also the suggestion that salary dentists could be employed within industry or by the union movement. There were clearly differences in approach to meeting consumer needs, with different unions been concerned with different strategies for providing benefits to their members. There were three main

issues which the group believed needed resolution prior to any large scale introduction of dental plans into the workplace. First, the Dentists Act had to be clarified with respect t o dent i s t - employee/employer arrangements. Second, the ADA had to develop a more active and expansive policy toward alternative methods of delivering dental services; and third, the employer, employee, and health benefit agencies required information, guidance, and consultation with the dental profession in order to develop specific plans to meet the varying needs of different groups. As no one single plan appeared to satisfy all needs, specific plans would need to be developed to meet the needs of specific groups in the workplace.

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