title: Costly chronic diseases: a retrospective analysis of Chronic Disease Dental Scheme expenditure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate Medicare rebate claim trends under the Australian Chronic Disease Dental Scheme (CDDS) over time, region and type of service.
  
  
  METHODS
  CDDS data obtained from the Department of Human Services reflected all Medicare item claims lodged under the CDDS by dental practitioners and processed by Medicare. Retrospective analysis of CDDS rebate claims was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CDDS rebates for the period 2008-13 totalled A$2.8 billion. Just under 81% of claims were from dental practitioners working in major cities. The most frequent rebates were for crown, bridge and implant (32.4%), removable prostheses (22.4%) and restorative services (21.3%). The rebate claims of restorative services, crown and bridge, and removable prostheses per dentist in all regional areas increased over the time of the CDDS. Per capita, the rebates for every type of dental service were lower in the more remote regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rebate claims increased in each of the last 3 full years of the CDDS across all areas. The majority of Medicare rebate claims were from major city areas and for crown and bridge, removable prostheses and restorative services. The service mix varied between regions.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Rural Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1372, Launceston, Tas. 7250, Australia. Email.
authors.forename: Leonard A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Crocombe
authors.affiliation: Centre for Rural Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1372, Launceston, Tas. 7250, Australia. Email.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kraatz
authors.affiliation: Centre for Rural Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1372, Launceston, Tas. 7250, Australia. Email.
authors.forename: Ha
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.affiliation: Centre for Rural Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1372, Launceston, Tas. 7250, Australia. Email.
authors.forename: Daiyi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Centre for Rural Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1372, Launceston, Tas. 7250, Australia. Email.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Godwin
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000191:economics; D003729:Dental Care / Q000191:economics*; D006078:Government Programs / Q000191:economics*; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007347:Insurance, Dental / Q000191:economics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013648:Tasmania