Did Subsidised Dental Care Improve Access? An Evaluation of the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme Among Australian Women With Chronic Conditions

Siobhan Dickinson, Maryam Naghsh‐Nejad, Kees Van Gool and Jane Hall

Australian Economic Review, 2026, vol. 59, issue 2, 190-207

Abstract: Research Question/Issue This study examines the impact of the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme (CDDS), introduced in 2007 to provide subsidised dental care for people with chronic conditions. Specifically, it asks whether the CDDS improved access to dental care among eligible women and what characteristics were associated with receiving higher rebates. Research Findings/Insights The analysis finds no statistically significant increase in dental visits among eligible women compared to ineligible women, despite the substantial fiscal outlay of the scheme. However, CDDS rebates were more likely to benefit women experiencing financial stress, those holding concession cards and those reporting poorer dental health. Conversely, women living in regional or remote areas received substantially lower rebate, underscoring persistent geographical inequities in access. Practitioner/Policy Implications The CDDS did not increase dental access overall but did provide financial relief to some disadvantaged groups, suggesting partial success in targeting need. Future dental policy must carefully weigh costs against outcomes and address equity challenges, particularly for rural and remote populations where service provision is limited. Methods Used The study employs a difference‐in‐differences approach using panel data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (1946–51 cohort) and linked Medicare claims, alongside a Heckman selection model. The analysis is causal in design with complementary descriptive insights.

Date: 2026
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