ment with confirmed specific details only to find that those details were different when the patient arrived in the office a week later . In addition to these chronic insurance changes , reimbursement rates are also dropping in many cases , causing in-network offices to write off even more of their profits .
Now that the dark cloud of despair is hanging ominously over your head , let me paint the silver lining . As a dental professional , I have seen our field become entirely too dependent upon dental benefits . I have often seen a treatment plan change in order to “ maximize benefits ” for a patient . This harsh change in the dental insurance landscape is forcing us to become far less dependent upon dental benefits . How an insurance company chooses to either pay or not pay for a procedure should never sway the clinical recommendation that we make . Maybe – just maybe – these insurance changes can push us back to a primarily clinical mindset .
For now , it is critically important that all dental team members begin to communicate with uncertainty when it comes to expected payments from insurance companies . Utilizing phrases like , “ We are hopeful that your dental plan will decide to help you with your fillings ” or “ We will certainly send this procedure to your insurance company . However , if they choose not to pay , then we will send you a bill .” As patients become accustomed to the very loose expectations we have of their insurance company , I hope they will abandon their blind trust in their dental benefits and will return to valuing the dentistry itself .
Insurance has certainly changed since its inception , and the changes have escalated immensely in recent years . However , the decreased “ benefit ” of dental insurance is leading to a new era of clinically focused , financially open and honest dentistry . This new era of dentistry will ultimately lead to patients who are less dependent on what insurance says about their health and are more committed to the expertise of their dentist . Brighter days are truly ahead !
Bethany Petty is a practice management consultant that breaks the mold . In an effort to remove herself from the abrasive consultant persona , Bethany spent time receiving Masters degrees in Adult Education and in Health Communication , which enables her to present information in a way that dentists and team members understand and appreciate . Her unique approach customizes her suggestions and training to fit the personality and goals of the practice . Rather than approaching each practice with the same “ Fix-It Guide ,” she evaluates the practice , talks with team members , and listens to the dentist before making any suggestions . Bethany has a legacy of dental professionals in her family , and she has had the privilege of helping her father to build , manage , and maintain a successful family practice . With the heart to serve dentists , she has made a difference in practices all over the DFW Metroplex . For more information , visit www . hellobethany . com . For continued COVID-19 practice support , subscribe to Bethany ’ s online platform practicehappy . co .
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