§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate the Government have made of the effect of introducing a prior approval limit on treatment of £200; what percentage of dental treatment would require prior approval at 1992 prices with an immediate introduction of the £200 limit; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyIt is good management to put cost monitoring mechanisms in place for the most expensive treatments. Prior approval does not limit the range of treatments available. At £200, it will only apply to rather less than 3 per cent. of all courses of treatment.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate the Government have made of the loss in net income to dentists from a 7 per cent. reduction in dental treatment fees.
§ Dr. MawhinneyOverall, we anticipate that these changes will not only deliver the 8.5 per cent. increase in dentists' target average net income which the review body recommended, but that dentists will on average receive some £5,000 more than this target.