What is Deprived Areas Enhancement?
It is recognised that those living in the most deprived areas have the poorest oral health. The Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates (SGHSC) introduced the Deprived Areas Enhancement to encourage dentists to practice in these areas and to recognise the challenges dentists face treating patients from these areas.
Deprived Areas Enhancement is based on the patient’s postcode, taken from each new claim we receive for that patient. This is calculated and paid on a monthly basis. We use a reference file as part of the calculation process for making payments, called the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). This is used to determine which areas are deemed most deprived.
The last schedule to use SIMD5 to calculate the most deprived areas is the November paid December 2010 schedule. To be consistent with SGHSC data and, as a result of changes to the Statement of Dental Remuneration, from the December paid January 2011 schedule the most deprived areas will be referred to as SIMD1.
Use our new SIMD lookup function to find out the deprivation category for your patient's postcode.
Alternatively, you can view an excel speadsheet detailing the SIMD area for each postcode. Due to the size of this file, you require Winzip to open it.
Once you have opened the spreadsheet, you will notice there are four tabs (A, B, C, D). This has been split up due to the volume of postcodes exceeding the maximum number of rows allowed in Excel. Column I on each of these tabs, headed 'scsimd2009V2quintile' shows the deprivation code for each postcode.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How is the payment calculated?
A. The monthly calculation is based on patient postcodes and is made up of two components:
If you treat patients who live in a SIMD1 area you will be entitled to receive an item of service enhancement, applied as a percentage uplift.
You will also be paid a flat rate payment (supplied by SGHSC) based on the average number of registered patients living in a SIMD1 area.
Q: How will the item of service enhancements be shown on my schedule?
A: As detailed below
Q: Where is the flat rate payment for registered patients living in a SIMD1 area shown on my schedule?
A: As detailed below
Q: Do orthodontic practices receive Deprived Areas Enhancement?
A: Yes. If you have submitted claims with patient postcodes and they are in a SIMD1 area, you will receive an item of service enhancement but not a registration payment. The item of service enhancement includes an enhancement of referral fees paid.
Q: Have my associates been paid and how is the money to be distributed?
A: Payments are made to the individual list number of the dentist with whom the patient is registered. Payments are detailed in the monthly payment schedule. Any queries regarding payments to a practitioner from a principal dentist are purely a contractual matter between the parties concerned. This is out-with our remit and we are not in a position to offer advice on this.
Q: Do Vocational Trainees receive Deprived Areas Enhancement?
A: Registration payments will be paid to the list number the patient was registered to within the appropriate time period. Item of service payments will be paid to the list number who carried out and claimed the treatment within the appropriate time period.
Q: What should I do if I think I have been paid incorrectly?
A: Contact our Helpdesk.
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