Consultation: Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)

Overview

About the Child Dental Benefits Schedule

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a national program funded by the Australian Government and managed by the Department of Health and Aged Care and Services Australia. The CDBS replaced the Medicare Teen Dental Plan in 2014 and provides children who are eligible for Medicare and who satisfy a means test with up to $1026 in benefits over a two calendar year period for basic dental services (refer to the CDBS Brochure at Attachment A).

The CDBS is legislated under the Dental Benefits Act 2008 (the Act) and the Dental Benefit Rules 2014 (the Rules). Under the Act, an independent review of the Act must occur one year after the Act commenced, and once every three years thereafter. Previous reviews were commenced in 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2018.

Since the CDBS commenced on 1 January 2014 through to 30 June 2022, more than $2.6 billion in benefits and around 42.7 million services have been delivered to nearly 3.2 million Australian children.

Why your views matter

Why are we asking questions about the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?

The fifth review of the Act is currently underway. The Fifth Review Panel, appointed by the Minister for Health and Aged Care, is considering how the CDBS program can be improved.

Additional information about the CDBS can be found on the Department’s website. The Terms of Reference and the Fifth Review Panel membership are located at the end of this document (refer to Attachment B).

You can make your submission:

• Online using the below link
• By emailing us at DAHM@health.gov.au
• By calling us on 02 6289 3800

What happens next

All feedback is welcome and will be provided to the Fifth Review of the Dental Benefits Act 2008 Committee.