Zorgverzekeraars Nederland (ZN) has asked the Ivoren Cross to participate in a study into the quality of youth dental care when it is provided with a subscription fee.

The experiment involves research into the quality of insured oral care for young people (0 to 18 years) when the reimbursement system changes from 'service' to 'subscription'. The aim is to have as little invasive action as possible with effective prevention. Its effectiveness will be measured in particular with the parameter 'effectiveness of prevention', whereby our dental care colleagues are rewarded for obtaining and maintaining a healthy mouth among young people.

The starting point for determining the subscription rate in the context of this experiment is that it is possible to work budget neutrally for young people. Because children in deprived areas often need more attention, just like with the GP, a surcharge will apply to the subscription based on the zip code of the child, because it is expected that there will be more overdue work there. At least one contact moment per year must take place for the subscription to be declared. At that consultation, the health situation of the child should then be recorded in a simple manner without too much red tape.

Call: participation in research

The Ivoren Cross is therefore looking for practices that would like to participate in this experiment, which is led by Professor Stefan Listl of the Radboud University of Nijmegen. It is supported by the Board of Advisory Dentists and the Ivory Cross.

Funding is a prerequisite for starting the experiment. Ideally, the research will start on 1 January 2023.

The condition for starting the experiment is that about forty practices want to participate. The intention is that participating practices will have a say in making changes/adaptations during the course of the experiment. This can be done, for example, by taking part in a steering committee or by directly contacting the initiators.

If you, as a practice owner, are open to an experiment based on this vision, the Ivoren Cross requests you to contact our official secretary Connie Brouwer via the e-mail address board@ivorenkruis.nl.
You can also contact her for questions. These will then be answered by the initiators in the very short term.

The board of the Ivoren Cross sincerely hopes to be able to participate in a new and innovative development of oral care for young people and would appreciate it very much to be able to count on an enthusiastic group of participants.