In dentistry we are familiar with a cut and dry approach to coding. Generally there is only one or two, maybe three, procedure codes on the CDT listing that apply to any given treatment. So when a practice decides to begin submissions to medical carriers...
When a new yet difficult patient comes to a practice, seeking treatments with improbable expectations, dentists could deny them in order to avoid long term problems with them, regardless of “the potential income that could be derived from a case” (“Just say no: How to handle demanding patients”...
As any dental specialist knows any good practice can fail or thrive by the volume of referrals they receive. When you have a niche market you have to work a little harder to gain a following and dentistry is no exception. General dentists don’t experience...
Some people cannot get dental care because they cannot afford it or do not have coverage (Melko 2017). Other people, such as students and the elderly, may have no time for it or lack transportation (Melko 2017; Reese III 2009). Instead of them going to...
Some people can utilize dental insurance to cover their costs. Others can pay full price for their treatments. However, some people, including those with dental insurance, cannot even afford them, causing them to delay treatment, leading to future problems for their oral health and overall...
Most dentists don't realize how frequently they see patients who have had an accident or trauma affect their dental health. Of course we are all familiar with the frantic calls from parents where boys were being too rough and it was all fun and games...
Many dental insurance companies do audits in dental practices in order to detect fraud (“Understanding dental plan audit authority” 2017). Dental practices under insurance companies must comply with their audits (“Understanding dental plan audit authority” 2017). Clinics should never engage in illegal activities, but organized...
Some dentists would commit fraud by charging patients and Medicaid for unperformed treatments in order to get “unauthorized benefits” (Lewis Jr. and Farragher 2013). Patients may not be aware about being overbilled since “[many of them] are sedated when the work is performed. Even if...
Many dental practices set the prices of their treatments and services differently. Patients need dental care, “but they avoid treatment due to cost or fear of cost” (Monahan 2017). While patients consider the prices of the dental practices, they also consider the quality of dental...
It may be one of the top three questions I get when a new office contracts for medical billing services. Should I participate in Medicare? Just like with any other insurance there is no easy answer for this - a majority of it depends on...
I will say the two words I most dreaded hearing as an office manager were the terms "medically necessary". It can be such an ambiguous term and it's true criteria can elude even the most seasoned doctor and OM. Then the term takes on a...
People can pay for products and services on their cell phones or tablets (Brian 2016). Keith Drayer, “vice president of Henry Schein Financial Services (HSFS),” and Chris Lee, “president of Moneris’ US division,” cited an eMarketer estimate, in which there would be “a 210% growth...
