Background

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CBDS) provides eligible children under 17 with a capped benefit for basic dental services. Children must be eligible for Medicare and their family must receive certain government payments such as Family Tax Benefit Part A. The scheme covers essential dental services including examinations, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals, extractions, and partial dentures. Dental providers can charge their own fees and submit Patient Claims for patient benefit or Bulk Bill if they accept the CBDS amount as full payment.

Supported professions include:

Dentist
Dental hygienist
Dental therapist
Dental prosthetist
Oral health therapist

CBDS claims through Tyro Health

CBDS claims can be submitted by dental providers with an active Medicare issued provider number. Tyro Health offers two ways to process CBDS claims:

Medicare Easyclaim, via Tyro terminals
Medicare Online, via Tyro Health Online

Medicare Claiming Channels Comparison

Feature	Medicare EasyClaim	Medicare Online
Provider Registration	• Medicare provider number • Instant activation	• Medicare provider number • Medicare Online registration • Activation takes 5+ business days
Claims Submission	• Only via PMS integration	• via PMS integration • via Tyro Health portal • via batch files
PMS Integration	Integrated PMS: • Core Practice • dental4web • dental4windows • dentally • Exact • Praktika • Principle • Titanium	Integrated PMS: • Core Practice • Principle • Zavy 360
Supported Claim Types	Real-time • Bulk Bill claims • Patient claims	Real-time or batched: • Bulk Bill claims • Patient claims
Patient Claim Benefits	• Immediate - real-time benefits refunded to eftpos card	• 1-2 business days to patient bank account
Terminal Required	• Tyro terminal mandatory	• No terminal required • Claims can be submitted through any internet-connected device

Key requirements

To determine patient eligibility:
- check online through Health Professional Online Services, or
- call Services Australia on 132 150
Unlike Private Health Insurance and standard Medicare claims, CBDS claims require Informed Consent over any patient financial costs prior to treatment.
Services provided by a hygienist, dental therapist, dental prosthetist, or oral health therapist can be either:
- Claimed by the associated by Dentist if delivered on their behalf, or
- Directly claimed for some CDBS services using their own Medicare issued provider number
CDBS claims must use the Dental Benefits Schedule. The schedule is based on the Australian Dental Association Schedule and uses an additional two-digit prefix of 88. For example, the CDBS item 88011 corresponds to Australian Dental Association item 011.

Provider references

CBDS guide to the child Dental Benefits Schedule: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-01/cdbs-guide-to-the-child-dental-benefits-schedule.pdf
CBDS resources for dental service providers - forms and templates on Informed Consent: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/cdbs-resources-for-dental-service-providers

Need help?

Chat with our support team using the pink chat bubble
Email us at healthsupport@tyro.com
For general CBDS program information, visit the Department of Health website: health.gov.au/topics/dental-health