This is a big issue for us, and it’s one I’m working to resolve. Children who need dental surgery under NIHB will have most of the services covered. For those who can’t afford it, we have an assistance program available under health insurance. They have to be indigent.
This is a huge challenge for us in that the biggest cost of the dental surgery service is the services of anaesthetists, who cost about $1,000 per 90 minutes. We feel that dental surgeons who are
offering this service and are getting paid for most of the funding should contribute to some of the cost of doing it. Government is willing to do that, and I’m also wanting the federal government to step up to the plate and get into a partnership with us so we can provide the services in the North for our residents. I’m working on that.