CDA
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Volume1 Issue3
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Thepolicy focusof thisyear’smeetings, held
onMay14and15,was theNon-InsuredHealth
Benefits (NIHB)programofHealthCanada. The
CDAdelegationof 11dentistswas joinedby
representativesof theAssemblyof FirstNations to
make thecase for aneffectiveandpatient-focused
NIHBprogram.
“Ourmissionwas to identify togovernment a
numberof administrativeburdens tocare for
Canada’sFirstNationsand Inuitpopulations,
including thecentralizationof thepredetermination
processwhichcancause frustratingdelays in
treatment,” saysDr.GaryMacDonald, CDApresident.
“Wealso raisedconcernsabout the lackof effective
preventivecareandoral healtheducationprograms.”
CDA representativesmetwithMinisterofHealth
RonaAmbrose, aswell asNDPLeader Thomas
Mulcair andLiberal Leader JustinTrudeau. Teamsof
dentistsalsometwithofficials in thePrimeMinister’s
Office, seniorofficialswithin theNIHBBranchof
HealthCanada,membersof theParliamentary
StandingCommitteesonHealthandonAboriginal
Affairs, andwithotherMembersof Parliament.
“MinisterAmbroseconfirmedwithus that therewill
bea joint reviewof theNIHBprogramwithHealth
Canadaand theAssemblyof FirstNations, and she
invitedCDA to submitour concerns toher,” adds
Dr.MacDonald.
Inaddition toNIHB, CDA spokewithMembers
of Parliament about theoral healthcareneeds
of veterans in long-termcare (LTC) facilities. CDA
delegatesunderlined thecapacity forVeteranAffairs
Canada to show leadershipon standardsof care for
seniors inLTC facilities.
“VeteransAffairs is inagreatposition to influence
the levelsof oral healthcare for seniorsacross
Canada through their contract specificationswith
the individual healthcareunitswhere thereare
designatedbeds for veterans. It’sanopportunity for
government to recommend somebasicoral health
care services,” saysDr.MacDonald. “Many seniors
andveterans inLTC facilitiesarenot ambulatory,
they’renot able toget inavehicleand justdrive
to thedentist’soffice. It’softenverydifficult for
them. Facilities shouldbeavailablewithin these
LTC locations toallowbasicdental services tobe
performedon site.”
Other issuesdiscussedduring the2014Dayson the
Hill includedprescriptiondrug shortagesandabuse,
aswell as funding support fororal health research.
a
Dayson theHill
DentistsMeetParliamentariansonNIHB,Seniors Issues
CDA’sDayson theHill event—anannual initiative that
connectsdentistswith federalparliamentarians todiscuss issues
affectingdentistry—wasanopportunity toadvocate forpolicy
change tohelp improve theoralhealthofCanadians.
