Dentaltown October 2016 - 56

finance

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Continued from p. 54
of our patient base within two years. The bulk of that was gone within the first six months.
Granted, there was one of the biggest recessions at the time when we operated that change-end
of 2008-so that did not help, but it was to be expected.
Most people who go to a PPO office will not accept the FFS model. It is against their core
values. They chose you because you are on their plan, not because they like you. You will retain
some of them, some who chose you because they like you, but those are not many. ■
7/28/2014

tannhauser
Member Since: 09/09/13
Post: 7 of 43

I don't think he's talking about completely switching up whether or not he's in or out of
network, just asking for copayments/patient portions at time of service. Would he really lose
50 percent of his patient base if he asked for payment for the portion that insurance won't
cover at the time of service? I'd like to know others' experiences with this kind of transition
because I'm in the same boat as the OP. I'd like to improve the cash flow of my practice and
avoid future collection nightmares. ■
7/28/2014

eeznogood
Member Since: 02/23/06
Post: 8 of 43

I would expect that he should not have problems doing that. My personal experience is that
this was not a problem. On the contrary, most people preferred it, rather than get a surprise bill
later at an unexpected or inconvenient time.
It certainly requires some coaching of the staff, and possibly even some change of staff (one person
in our case) who just couldn't accept that we needed to get paid ... But that was just my experience. ■
7/28/2014

hmgentry
Member Since: 04/11/04
Post: 11 of 43

I switched to payment up front when I took over my practice, and for the most part it has
been fine. We have pissed off a few patients who have been with the practice for 20+ years, which
is why I give leeway to the front desk who know the patients and know who always pays their
bill, to bill them if needed. Some people are going to be upset, but most seem to expect it ... it's
the way every medical office runs, and I don't know why we should be any different. ■
7/28/2014

upnorthperio
Member Since: 01/14/04
Post: 12 of 43

In my perio practice, we collect 100 percent up front for uninsured patients and for our
BCBS patients (we are non-par and they take forever to pay). For the Delta patients and other
insurances, we usually do a pre-d and then estimate what the company will pay and then collect
that from the patient.
One thing that I try to avoid is talking about money with the patient. I always screw it up and I'm
a soft-hearted person. I leave that discussion up to my treatment coordinator. Just my two cents! ■
7/28/2014

toofache32
Member Since: 08/10/04
Post: 15 of 43

I agree with this. I have learned that patients have no problem asking me for a discount, but
not my front desk girl who is a single mom, not a rich doctor, etc.
We just switched to this model about a year ago where everyone pays 50 percent just to
schedule and the remainder on the day of service. The only patients who got pissed off were the
ones who never intended to pay to begin with. ■
7/28/2014

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