Most provincial and territorial dental associations release their annual dental fee guides at this time of the year. Typically, there is an overall increase for dental services provided by general practitioners. Insurers use the information contained in the provincial/territorial fee guides to establish reimbursement levels for the dental services members receive and to ensure that fees are representative of what the majority of dentists charge. The increase is a weighted average, which is based on the frequency of procedures occurring in the average dental practice.
The provincial Dental Association Fee Guide provides suggested fees, however dentist are free to set their fees based on the circumstances within their own practice. The following chart outlines the suggested fee guide increases announced for 2016:
* The Alberta Dental Association (ADA) has not published an annual fee guide since 1997. As a result, insurers must determine their own reimbursement benchmark for Alberta
For over 20 years, Chris Pryce of Human Capital Benefits has been advising employers on all aspects of managing employee benefits programs and related products. If you have any questions, you can contact Chris at 416.924.8280 or by email at chrispryce@www.humancapitalbenefits.com