Dentaltown February 2020 - 42

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Mr DNA
Member Since: 07/03/01
Post: 32 of 193

We shouldn't be justifying the insurance companies ever paying us too much. They get
their blood from a stone regardless, probably don't need to worry about them. Their teams of
actuaries know how little they can pay us based on the market we practice in. I can't compare
what your overhead is regarding rent, staff costs, etc., but that all comes into play. My friend in
Texas has similar fees to mine but the comp costs for staff are much lower.
Edit: Also, the easy money for fluoride helps offset the pittance we get paid for a monster
two-surface restoration. ■
12/3/2019

ttowndds
Member Since: 12/19/13
Post: 33 of 193

At some point you will have to change something. I would be shocked to see these fees go up
at all in the next five years. Meanwhile, the cost of your overhead will go up by 15-20%. That
comes completely out of your profit margin. ■
12/3/2019

cowdr
Member Since: 01/19/13
Post: 35 of 193

At my office we apply varnish after a prophy. The room setup already exists. The cleanup
already happens. The patient is in the chair. Oftentimes, I am talking to mom as the varnish
is applied. The only other overhead is my assistants unpacking the box, which they easily have
time to do during the week.
My fees are 20-30% lower than the two that are mentioned above. Delta gave us a fee
increase for the first time since I opened in 2013. I still am doing OK. The fees that matter are
crowns, multisurface fillings, denture, etc. ■
12/3/2019

alanrw
Member Since: 05/16/11
Post: 36 of 193

What the insurance companies now know (or have known for some time) is that a substantial number of dentists can quit and they will still have enough dentists to serve their insureds.
And if necessary, they can always temporarily bump up the fees if they need to entice providers
back in. We are merely bringing a knife to a gun fight. ■
12/3/2019

bud
Member Since: 02/22/02
Post: 38 of 193

I think that's the point that Stephen is making. Keep your guns (metaphorically) so you can
defend yourself and so they (the insurance companies) can't rein in tyranny. ■
12/3/2019

alanrw
Member Since: 05/16/11
Post: 41 of 193

The problem is we are trained as clinicians, not ruthless Wall Street fighters. Going in for
the kill is not in our collective DNA. ■
12/3/2019

Mr DNA
Member Since: 07/03/01
Post: 42 of 193

That's the crux of the argument, isn't it? If you read the FAQ posted on a different thread,
you would see that 97% of all dentists in AZ are in network with Delta. So it's pretty easy to
say you should just drop them, but for most of us, myself included, that is only effective if a
large contingent of dentists all follow suit. AZ might not be CA, yet but we are plenty saturated.
To unilaterally drop out might make a personal line in the sand but trust me, the other jackals
are hungry and only too happy to take over as I make my stand on moral high ground. If your
experience with dentists has been different than this, please let me know. Maybe all the AZ
dentists can move near you and we can start a dental commune full of love and support amongst
ourselves. ■
12/3/2019

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