Community Dental Support Programme (CDSP)
Programme Overview
The Community Dental Support Programme is a new service model jointly implemented by the government and non-governmental organizations. Its aim is to supplement the services of the Department of Health’s general dental clinics by increasing service capacity, expanding service locations, and broadening the service scope. The programme provides emergency dental services for designated underprivileged groups who are financially disadvantaged and require general dental clinic services.
Eligibility
Applicants for the CDSP must meet all the following conditions:
- Hold a valid Hong Kong Identity Card or Certificate of Exemption; and
- Be a current beneficiary or recipient of any of the following:
- Old Age Living Allowance (Social Welfare Department);
- Community Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly (Level 2 co-payment level);
- Integrated Home Care Services (frail cases) / Enhanced Home & Community Care Services / Home Support Services (Level 1 or Level 2 fee/co-payment level) under the Social Welfare Department;
- Patients of the Hospital Authority (HA) who have been granted medical service fee reductions under the Medical Fee Reduction Mechanism (including full and partial reductions)
- Homeless individuals applying to participate in the program are assisted by social workers from designated non-governmental organizations; and
- Be registered with the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHealth)
Application Method
Eligible individuals may directly contact participating dental clinics or obtain a referral through a registered social worker to access the programme’s subsidised services. Participants are required to pay an administration fee for services received.
Scope of Subsidised Services
Upon assessment by a registered dentist at a participating NGO clinic, and if deemed appropriate, participants may receive the following services every 180-day period:
Every 180 days:
- Oral Examination
- Medication for dental pain relief (if necessary)
- X-ray examination
- For fillings or tooth extractions, each tooth is counted as one 'filling or extraction quota' (a maximum of three 'filling or extraction quotas' can be obtained).
- Removal of dental bridges and crowns (one bridge or two crowns).
Every 365 days:
- Dental scaling
- Root Canal Treatment (Endodontic (Pulp) Treatment)(one tooth)
Every 5 years or more:
Fitting of Removable Dentures**Fitting of Removable Dentures*^, with each occasion at least 5 years apart.)
Administrative Fee / Co-payment
The funding model of the support scheme is based on a co-sharing system. In addition to government funding, participants also bear part of the service cost to manage their own health. Participants are required to pay the following fees to the non-governmental organisations providing the services.
Scope of Subsidised Services | Administrative Fee / Co-payment | Administrative Fee / Co-payment |
Every 180 days: | ||
Oral Examination | Fully subsidised by the government | Free |
X-ray examination | ||
Medication for dental pain relief | ||
Fillings or tooth extractions | $50 / per tooth | |
Removal of dental bridges | $100 / per bridge | |
Removal of dental crowns | $50 / per crown | |
Every 365 days: | ||
Dental scaling | Fully subsidised by the government | $50 |
Root Canal Treatment | $50 / per tooth | |
Every 5 years or more: | ||
Fitting of Removable Dentures* | The co-payment for each set of removable dentures is $500^ | The co-payment for each set of removable dentures is $1000^ |
Elderly persons may use the Elderly Health Care Voucher to pay the relevant fees.
*Category A: Participants who meet one of the following criteria:
- Service users of "Integrated Home Care Services (Frail Cases)" / "Enhanced Home and Community Care Services" / "Home Support Services" (charging at Level 1 / co-payment level); or
- Individuals eligible for the Hospital Authority's "Medical Fee Waiver Mechanism" (full waiver) (including recipients of the "Old Age Living Allowance" aged 75 or above); or
- Homeless persons
*Category B: Participants who do not fall under Category A
^The co-payment is calculated on a per-denture basis (referring to either the upper or lower jaw). Fitting both upper and lower removable dentures simultaneously is considered as two dentures.
Dental Services Beyond the Subsidised Scope
Dentists may, at their professional discretion, provide dental services beyond the subsidised scope. Such services are considered private arrangements between the participant and the NGO dental clinic, and participants are responsible for the full cost of these services.
Source: Department of Health Community Dental Service Website
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