The ÖGK was recently optimistic, as there has already been an agreement in the area of the Insurance Institution for Public Servants, Railways and Mining (BVAEB).
Amalgam Ban: Search for a Cost-Free Replacement Continues
16-01-2025, 07:43
Following the ban on amalgam as a dental filling material that came into effect at the beginning of the year, the ÖGK and the Dental Association are once again trying to agree on a health insurance-funded replacement for the approximately 7.6 million insured individuals.
Dentists and ÖGK Negotiate Over Amalgam Replacement
The ÖGK is pushing for the relatively new, white material Alkasit, which has been tested in health insurance outpatient clinics, and would have been willing to pay 20 percent more than before for amalgam- and thus mercury-free fillings. However, the Dental Association only wanted to accept the technically inferior glass ionomer cement or other cements as free for patients, everything else the doctors wanted to be paid privately. In addition, the Dental Association demanded significant changes in the overall contract and the fee schedule. The ÖGK accused the doctors of refusing to negotiate and offered dentists - with moderate success - individual contracts bypassing the chamber.
So Far, Only Agreement Reached with BVAEB
With the Insurance Institution for Public Servants, Railways and Mining (BVAEB), the dental representatives had reached a solution at the end of December - the materials glass ionomer cement and Alkasit became health insurance benefits there. The ÖGK saw this as a positive signal. However, the approximately 50 percent surcharge negotiated there was a "very high tariff", said ÖGK chairman Andreas Huss at the time, there would be a solution between 20 and 50 percent.
The negotiations start at 11:00 am at the Dental Association. Whether a solution will be reached on the first day is uncertain.
(APA/Red)
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