470. Dentists refuse customers who use checks of the state

The delay in the payment of checks dental clinics in the Northern region who joined the program oral health has led some to refuse patients. Are in debt of 2 380 000 euros, some for several months. The official promise is to resolve the situation even in July.

Marisa Pinto clearly assumes that, while not receiving the four thousand euros that has to do - even in respect of July party last year - by the treatments to the elderly, pregnant women and children, Cliforno not accept new patients. We treat our patients who are, not to lose them, but refuse new patients.

The dentist checks were created under the National Oral Health Program and are intended to provide dental care to pregnant women followed up in health centers, elderly beneficiaries of the solidarity supplement and children. The Ministry of Health pays 40 euros per visit to joining the private plan.

The Cliforno is just one of many credit clinics with the Regional Health Administration of the North (ARSN). The manager ensures that the debt is affecting the activity. Five thousand euros in receipts sent, only received one thousand. But he believes that part of the problem is due to the fact that only sending receipts to the conference at the end of treatment (each child has three checks, such as pregnant women, while the elderly receive two).

Another dentist (who requested anonymity) comes to six thousand euros in arrears. Not received since January. No patients refused - even ... - and warns that one can lose in quality of care.

On the side of the Order of Dentists (OMD), the Secretary-General Paulo Melo risk the amount owed: four million, only in the North. It is the only region that has not solved the problems with the argument of the link between the computer systems that make the conference of checks and process the payment after the receipt issued.

Now they say they pay a significant amount in July. But it had said it would be in June and before that, had promised in May. Paulo Melo ensures that the accumulation of debt has put into question some offices, especially at a time of crisis. And the situation threatens to worsen by the end of August, once the checks are valid for children up to 31 days of next month and now there should be a race to the clinic.

The OMD have pressed the Ministry in order to resolve the issue, which has generated criticism from dentists. Go to press for months and nothing. Just do it, questions heard by a professional JN.

Confronted with the question, the Assistant Secretary of State and Health recognizes that the situation is not fully resolved, but is improving. The ARS of the Centre also struggled, but he addressed them. But it's different accounts of the OMD to the North, are in debt of 2 380 000 euros, of which 1 200 000 will be paid until the end of the month. The rest is being processed.

But they are only accounts that involve checks already billed and do not encompass all the treatments. Manuel Pizarro admits difficulties and delays in the administration conference checks, but also ensures that many offices were late in sending bills.

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