RESEARCH

An overview of adult dental fee exemptions in NHS primary dental care in

Sagar Shah*1 and Valerie Wordley2

Key points An overview and history of adult dental fee Assessment of trends in the provision of dental care Suggestions for the decrease in fee-exempt exemptions in NHS primary dental care services. for fee-exempt adult patients with comparison to adult patient attendance over the last ten years adult fee-payers. with considerations for future oral healthcare planning.

Abstract Aims To explore the current landscape of NHS primary dental care services for fee-exempt adult patients and observe attendance, band claiming and geographical patterns. Materials and methods Data were analysed from FP17 claims submitted to NHS Business Services Authority from 2006–2019. Results Fee-exempt adult patients in 2018–2019 account for 23.7% of all adult claims in NHS primary dental care. This percentage has decreased year-on-year since 2011–2012 from 31.5%. In 2018–2019, there were signifcantly fewer band 1 claims for fee-exempt adult patients (36.0%) compared to their fee-paying counterparts (58.3%). Treatment needs appear to be higher for fee-exempt adult patients since more band 2 and 3 treatment claims were completed (49.0%) compared to fee-payers (30.8%). Band 3 claims were three times higher for fee-exempt adult patients. Discussion Adults with fee exemptions must be able to access timely oral health services since they appear to have higher treatment needs than fee-payers. The areas with the highest proportion of fee-exempt adult patients refect relative levels of deprivation across regions in England. Barriers to access must be reduced to fully engage all groups of patients and improve oral health. Conclusion Oral health inequalities appear to exist between fee-paying and fee-exempt adult patients. The post- pandemic world will ofer a unique opportunity to reassess NHS dental services.

Introduction Dental charges were frst introduced in Band 1 (£23.80), Band 2 (£65.20), Band 3 1951, with exemptions protected for those (£282.80) and Urgent care (£23.80).3 Te British NHS dental care is available to anyone who is in receipt of income support or who were Dental Association projects that by 2032 patient ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom.1 pregnant or nursing mothers. Te decision contributions will eventually exceed government However, unlike other NHS services, patients drew widespread public criticism at the time spending on NHS dental services .4 requiring dental care can incur a cost for due to complexities surrounding the new Today, NHS dental exemptions eliminate their treatment. Primary dental care services system of payment, which continue to cause or reduce treatment costs for adults with in England are provided by NHS England problems for patients to this day. Prior to the low incomes and are available under various and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I) through implementation of the current contract in government support schemes.5 Tey are also a general dental service contract or personal 2006 in England and Wales, patients could be available to those with additional health needs, dental service contract with NHS dental charged for over 400 diferent individualised such as pregnant or nursing mothers. The providers. items of treatment.2 Although the new relationship between socioeconomic status banding system has helped to simplify pricing, and oral health has been well documented in there still remains some contention around literature; those with lower status are more 1 Clinical Fellow at NHS Business Services Authority, NHS 6,7 Dental Services, 1 St Annes Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, the principle of charging NHS dental patients likely to have higher unmet oral health needs. BN21 3UN, UK; 2Clinical Fellow at NHS England and NHS altogether. Despite this, over three-quarters of adults Improvement, Skipton House, 80 Road, London, SE1 6LH Revenue generated from patient charges receive no help with the cost of their treatment. *Correspondence to: Sagar Shah has increasingly become an important source In a survey conducted by the National Email address: [email protected] of funding for NHS dental services, with the Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, 43% Refereed Paper. maximum dental charge increasing from £30 in of patients stated that they had avoided a dental Accepted 13 July 2020 1980 to £340 in 1998.2 As of 14 December 2020, check-up in the preceding 12 months because https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-021-2790-9 there are currently 4 NHS treatment charges: they could not aford the cost.8

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Materials and methods primary dental care, including community a patient may be counted more than once in dental and other specialist services. a 12-month schedule period where there have Data collection Data were requested for a breakdown of been multiple visits. Tis data do not include Requests for data used in compiling this all adult FP17 claims for fee-exempt and fee- private courses of dental treatment. document were made through Dental Insight paying courses of NHS dental treatment from Financial year 2019-2020 was excluded from (Information Services) at NHS Business 2006–. A further request was this report due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Services Authority (NHSBSA) which is a made for total exemptions by type, activity by which will have afected data towards the latter special health authority and an arm’s length band for 2014–2019 (fee-exempt versus fee- part of the year. body of the Department of Health and Social paying) and exemptions by local area team Care. NHSBSA dental services provide activity (LAT) for 2018–2019. NHSBSA reports on Data extraction processing and payment services for NHS geographical data in England according to Te total form count for all exemption claims dentists in England and Wales. FP17 forms LATs and there are 27 LATs in total. was calculated by band to allow comparison record dental activity and are completed for The data represent total numbers of with fee-paying patients. The breakdown every course of NHS dental treatment in submitted adult FP17 claims in England and of fee-exempt adult patients receiving care across each LAT was calculated as a percentage Fig. 1 FP17 fee-exempt adult claims by exemption type in 2018–2019 proportion of the total adult dental claims in that region. Tese percentages were used to

Universal credit – 46,8518 18+ in further education – 302,913 identify LATs with the highest proportion of 4.5% 7% Expectant mother – 331,324 fee-exempt adult claims. 5.0% Full remission - HC2 certificate – 300,997 4.5% Data limitations Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance Eligibility for free or reduced dental care can – 281,012 4.2% change. A patient may fall in or out of this

Tax credit exemption – 1,689,284 category depending on their employment, 25.4% maternity status, age or other changes in their Income related employment and support allowance – 1,040,895 life (for example, going to prison). Tresholds 15.6% to qualify for dental exemptions are also Prisoner – 27,721 changing and not fxed. 0.4% Income support – 676,963 Results Pension credit guarantee – 985,394 10.2% 14.8% Nursing mother – 499,031 In 2018–2019, 28,150,138 FP17 claims were Partial remission - HC3 certificate – 55,680 7.5% 0.8% submitted to NHSBSA for courses of adult dental treatment. Claims attributed to fee- exempt adult patients (6,659,732) account for nearly a quarter (23.7%) of total adult claims. Fig. 2 Total number of FP17 claims submitted for courses of adult dental treatment from Figure 1 shows these exemptions by type and 2006–2019 volume. Te most common entitlement to free dental care was a valid tax credit exemption 22 followed by income-related employment and 20 support allowance. A total of 27,721 FP17 claims 18 were submitted in 2018–2019 for prisoners, 16 which represent the smallest component of all Fee-exempt adult 14 the dental fee exemptions that year. patient claims 12 Figure 2 shows the total number of FP17 Fee-paying adult claims submitted for fee-paying and fee-exempt 10 patient claims adult patients from 2006–2019 in England. 8 Since 2011–2012, there has been a consistent 6 year-on-year decrease in the number of fee- Number of adult claims submitted (mil.) 4 exempt courses of treatment submitted – a 2 total reduction of over 2.4 million. Over the 0 same period of time, the numbers of fee-paying claims have increased by over 1.6 million. In 2018–2019, 23.7% of all adult NHS dental 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2000 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 treatment in primary dental care was for fee- Year exempt patients – a reduction from 31.5% in 2011–2012.

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Table 1 is an outline and comparison of all Table 1 A breakdown of activity claimed by band for fee-exempt and fee-paying adult activity claimed by band for fee-exempt and patients in 2018–2019 fee-paying adult patients in 2018–2019. Tere are signifcantly fewer band 1 claims for fee- Patient Urgent care Band 1 Band 2 Band 3 Bands 2 and 3 exempt adult patients (36.0%) than fee-paying Fee-exempt adult patients 14.9% 36.0% 34.9% 14.1% 49.0% patients (58.3%). Treatment needs also appear Fee-paying adult patients 10.1% 58.3% 26.4% 4.4% 30.8% to be higher in fee-exempt adult patients since more band 2 and 3 treatment claims were completed (49.0%) compared to fee payers Fig. 3 Percentage proportion of fee-exempt adult FP17 claims by band from 2014–2019 (30.8%). Band 3 claims were over three times 40 higher for fee-exempt patients. Figure 3 demonstrates the percentage 35 proportion of fee-exempt adult FP17 claims by 30 band from 2014–2019. Te graph shows that Urgent 25 Band 1 within this 5-year period the proportion of fee- Band 2 20 exempt adult claims by band have remained oportion of claims (%) Band 3 fairly constant, with very little variation. 15

Table 2 outlines the ten LATs with the entage pr rc 10 highest proportion of fee-exempt adult Pe claims. North East London had the highest 5 proportion at 39%. For interest, Tames Valley 0 had the lowest proportion at 17.8%. Te LATs 2006-2007 2009-2000 2012-2013 2014-2015 2017-2018 identifed are refective of relative levels of Year deprivation across regions in England, where concentrations can be found in cities like Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, coastal areas and in parts of East London.9 Seven of the most Table 2 Top ten local area teams in England with the highest proportion of claims for fee-exempt adult patients in 2018–2019 deprived ten districts in England for older Proportion of adult patient claims with fee people are London boroughs (Tower Hamlets, Local area teams of England exemptions attending the dentist (%) Hackney, Newham, Islington, Southwark, North East London 39.0 Lambeth and Haringey),10 which correlates with our fndings. North West London 36.2

Birmingham and the Black Country 34.3 Discussion South London 31.6

The data presented highlight the need for Merseyside 30.6 adults with fee exemptions to be able to access Greater Manchester 28.7 timely oral health services. Nearly a quarter of all adult dental claims in primary dental West Yorkshire 26.2 care in England were fee-exempt. This is Durham, Darlington and Tees 26.2 particularly important since individuals with Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 24.6 lower incomes and socioeconomic status experience poorer health outcomes and are Lancashire 24.8 more likely to suffer from chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular form a cheaper and more readily accessible For those involved in the delivery of disease.11,12,13,14 These conditions are known diet.17 Terefore, targeted dental public health primary dental care services, it is important to to be associated with oral diseases such as programmes in the LATs with the highest understand the possible reasons for this change periodontitis.15 Patients with lower incomes proportion of fee-exempt adult claims will help as signifcant numbers of patients qualify for also experience increased tooth loss in older to improve the oral health of both adults and free or reduced dental care. It is not within the patient groups.16 schoolchildren. scope of this paper to suggest reasons for the Adults who qualify for NHS fee exemptions consistent fall in attendance over the last ten must be able to access regular dental care to Trends in fee-exempt adult attendance years; however, the following two points can maintain their oral health and remain dentally patterns be considered. fit. Additionally, if individuals have lower A noticeable feature of the data is the steady Firstly, the unemployment rate has incomes, their children are statistically more decline in total numbers of fee-exempt adult decreased. Te unemployment rate dropped likely to sufer from early childhood caries, claims over the last ten years, down by 2.4 from 7.9% between March–May 2010 to 4% particularly since high sugar-containing meals million in 2018–2019 from 2011–2012. between December 2019–February 2020.18

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As more people have returned to work, although further analysis and study is required. delayed since lockdown,26 and although their eligibility for free or reduced dental One might expect, over time, a levelling out of dental practices are now open, signifcant care may no longer be valid. Te major UK care needs between fee-exempt and fee-paying challenges remain in managing the welfare system reforms implemented by the adults; however, the band-claiming incentives unprecedented backlog in NHS dental care. government from 2010 also led to changes in in the current NHS dental contract are widely As with all barriers to access, it is the low- eligibility, payments, sanctioning and changes acknowledged.21 income disadvantaged patient groups that are to assessment and entitlement to incapacity most afected and the authors worry that the and disability-related benefts.19 Improving communications for patient COVID-19 pandemic will only widen oral Secondly, an eligibility checking system for exemptions health inequalities. NHS fee exemptions was introduced in 2014 to Stakeholders have acknowledged the difculty recover funds for the NHS and deter fraud. Te patients fnd in determining their eligibility Conclusion system identifies discrepancies (accidental status. In January 2020, NHSE&I and NHSBSA or intentional) between the eligibility status began a campaign designed to help patients Adult patients in receipt of exemptions claimed by a patient and the eligibility data understand their eligibility for free or reduced generally have higher oral health needs stored. A penalty charge notice (PCN) is NHS dental treatment. Tis campaign was an and may initially require more complex issued to patients who claim incorrectly, extension of the ‘check before you tick’ exercise interventions. The long-term challenge is which includes the original cost of their dental initiated in 2018 that was successful in helping to ensure that patients with fee exemptions treatment and a penalty charge of £100. Since patients understand their eligibility for free continue to seek ongoing care, with reduced its introduction, there has been a signifcant medical prescriptions. A formal evaluation of access barriers, and that NHS dental services increase in exemption-checking activity. outcomes was reported to NHSE&I and patient are able to demonstrate improved oral health Between 2014–2015 and 2018–2019, data from behaviour was found to be positively infuenced. outcomes. Dentists and commissioning the National Audit Ofce found that the money A toolkit for dental practices included teams must collaborate creatively to reduce recovered from PCNs for dental treatment rose posters, counter cards and general information the complex oral health gradient that exists from £38 million to £72 million per year. Over directing patients to an online eligibility between fee-exempt and fee-paying adult the same fve-year period, 200,000 PCNs for checker.22 Additionally, patients will no longer patients. Te post-pandemic world will ofer dental treatment were subsequently withdrawn be issued an immediate charge and will have a unique opportunity to reassess NHS dental because a suitable exemption was confrmed to 28 days to challenge their PCN. Te initial services through a new reformed philosophy be in place following challenge.20 For patients letter sent to patients provides an opportunity of care for all patients. with a valid fee exemption, this may cause to confirm their exemption status should uncertainty and apprehension for future there be a discrepancy with the data stored on Confict of interest claiming. Conversely, before the eligibility record. Te evaluation and overall outcomes of Te authors are clinical fellows at NHSBSA and checking system was introduced, some patients the dental awareness campaign have yet to be NHSE&I. Any views expressed are those of the may have been claiming inappropriately. formally reported. authors and not their seconded organisations.

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