The Yukon Dental Association is urging the territorial government to keep the “far superior” Yukon dental program because the federal government’s plan doesn’t cut it in comparison, according to a letter tabled by the Yukon NDP in the legislative assembly.
Dr. Kenny Liu, president of the Yukon Dental Association, addressed a March 14 letter on behalf of the dental community and patients to Health and Social Services Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee and carbon copied it to opposition party leaders.
Liu acknowledges the “massive success” of the Yukon dental program among dentists, staff and patients.
However, the Yukon program is “at risk of being displaced” by the federal plan, Liu writes.
Noting that negotiations between the feds and the territorial government are underway, Liu is calling on the Yukon government to “fight to keep” the Yukon dental program and proposes using the money allotted to the federal plan to pay for and up the coverage of the territorial program.
According to the letter, the dental community feels that a program administered by the feds like this one will not meet the “unique challenges” of providing dental care in the North and will take a “step backward” for eligible Yukoners if it replaces the Yukon program.
The letter lists reasons why the Yukon program is better than the federal plan: The Yukon program has no added “administrative burden” plus it offers “true universal coverage” with eligible patients paying zero dollars out of pocket, while the federal plan requires providers to register which potentially “denies a patient’s right to choose.”
The letter indicates the federal program is cumbersome for patients to get access to and for dental staff to administer.
Under the federal plan, eligible patients can only be treated by a dentist that’s participating in the program, per the letter. If a patient’s dentist doesn’t subscribe, unless the federal government program allows clients the option to be reimbursed directly through the plan, then the patient-dentist relationship may be severed.
“All Yukon dentists are already participating in the [Yukon dental program], and we have worked extensively with our territorial government partners for the last two years to promote this program to Yukoners,” Liu wrote.
“To introduce uncertainty at this stage, when a vast majority of Yukoners are already familiar with the [Yukon dental program] and already have accessible dental care, would be antithesis to the mandate of a public health program.”
Representatives of the Yukon Dental Association met with federal Health Minister Mark Holland in Whitehorse on March 11, as noted in the letter.
Liu said the feds are “open to the idea” of each province or territory carrying out their own dental care, as long as the program is equal to or better than the scope and the coverage of the federal plan.
Yukon NDP Leader Kate White pressed McPhee on demands in the letter in the legislature on March 18.
McPhee did not commit to keeping the Yukon dental plan but did commit to working with Health Canada on the roll-out of its new federal program and the impacts to the Yukon dental plan.
“Our government believes that dental care is, in fact, improved health care for Yukoners,” McPhee said.
The Yukon dental program launched in January 2023. It was a stipulation in the territorial confidence and supply agreement between the Yukon Liberal Party and the Yukon NDP. It runs alongside the Yukon children’s dental program.
A statement from Jordan Owens in Yukon government cabinet communications reiterates the Yukon government’s commitment to having accessible dental care for Yukoners.
Owens notes that as of this February, 1,757 people have signed up for the Yukon dental program. Of those, 1,156 have gotten dental care.
Owens adds that a new federal plan is being rolled out as a result of the federal confidence and supply agreement between the Liberal Party of Canada and the federal NDP.
“Within Health and Social Services, work is underway to compare the two programs to determine the course of action that best serves Yukoners,” reads Owens’ statement.
“We appreciate the feedback we have received from the Yukon Dental Association and the Department of Health and Social Services will continue to work with the organization as they review potential paths forward.”
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com