Dentists urged to give SDR close study

16 February 2010

Scots dentists must pay careful attention to the terms of the Statement of Dental Remuneration (SDR) in order to avoid inaccurate claims which could lead to fees being withheld or disciplinary action.

MDDUS is reminding dentists of their responsibilities regarding the SDR which is issued annually to NHS dentists in Scotland. The SDR is usually accompanied by a welcome uplift in fees but it can also necessitate additional tasks such as the updating of accounting software and recalculation of invoices.

While being acutely aware of the administrative workload under which dental practitioners are already working, MDDUS advises that time should be set aside to review the narrative that accompanies each item of service which is listed in the SDR.

MDDUS dental adviser Doug Hamilton, says:

"It is all too easy for busy dentists to inadvertently misinterpret what is, after all, a fairly opaque document. Unless it is periodically re-read, these misconceptions might lead to a pattern of incorrect claims.

"We strongly recommend that all our dental members who are in receipt of an SDR study its wording carefully. Inaccurate claims can lead to withholding of fees, disciplinary action by the member’s Health Board or even referral to the General Dental Council."

MDDUS stresses that as part of its clinical governance duties, Practitioner Services Division monitor for this possibility, with certain items being subject to particular scrutiny.

Hamilton adds:

"As an example, in cases where a patient cannot afford the complex restoration of a broken down tooth yet will not consent to its extraction, placing glass ionomer coverage and making a claim for treatment under item 1461 may seem like a logical compromise.

"But the SDR says a claim for this item should only be submitted where extraction is 'contra-indicated by exceptional medical or dental conditions', and such claims which did not satisfy these specific conditions have fallen foul of the regulations."

Some other difficulties encountered by MDDUS members relate to the provision of fissure sealants, sealant restorations, extractions of special difficulty and item 1(b) examinations.

"The narrative in relation to such items is quite restrictive, and may be suffixed by a number of important provisos," says Hamilton.

"Members who have concerns about the correctness of certain claims, or who receive a Practitioner Services enquiry, should not hesitate to contact MDDUS whose advisors have in-depth knowledge of dental remuneration systems across the UK."