The state spends around eight billion kronor this year on dental subsidies. The idea of the subsidy is to limit costs for patients. But because dentists have raised prices, some of the money has ended up with them. The higher the state subsidy has been, the more healthcare providers seem to raise their prices.
The support is based on the person who goes to the dentist comparing and questioning prices themselves. But that's not how it works.
A fifth of patients are not aware that prices can vary, says Filippa Hagersten at the National Audit Office, who led the review.
The situation is made worse by the fact that healthcare providers rarely fulfill their obligations to inform patients about price differences. It is possible to go to tandpriskollen.se and compare clinics, but few people know about it.
“Being horrified”
Another consequence of the design of dental care support is, according to the Swedish National Audit Office, that certain procedures, such as extracting a tooth and replacing it with an implant, have increased significantly over the last ten years.
One reason for this is likely that dentists receive more compensation for it, even though from a dental perspective it is often better to keep the tooth and have it filled. But it gives less compensation, explains Filippa Hagersten.
Åsa Lindestam, chairman of PRO, is horrified by the review.
"Many older people say they choose not to go to the dentist because they can't afford it. I feel sad when I hear this," she says.
Confirming the image
Minister of Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed (KD) confirms the picture the report gives and highlights the new dental care reform for everyone over the age of 67. The reform comes into effect after the new year and means that prices are regulated for those over the age of 67, while a subsidy of 90 percent is introduced.
But the problems are not over. We must continue to work on more steps in the dental care reform. Changes will also be required for people under 67 years of age, says Forssmed.
To the government:
Take initiatives to strengthen the patient's position in the dental care market. Responsibility for patient information should be concentrated under one authority. Consider introducing a patient survey and regulating so that all dental care providers are obliged to join the complaints function.
Ensure that dental care support benefits patients to a greater extent and that the subsidy more effectively stimulates preventive dental care.
Take the initiative for a regulation that requires the industry to report the information to the Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV) that they need to calculate reference prices.
Dismantle the Board for State Dental Support and move decisions to the Director General of TLV.
To the Swedish Consumer Agency:
Work to specify in the industry agreement with the Private Dentists Association how much the price may deviate from a previously stated approximate price.
