Question:
A Clinic in New Jersey?
Answer:
You are confusing your macro and micro economics. My point is that if
every dentist doubled his/her fees tomorrow, less dentistry would be done
next month in the aggregate. Consumers do some sort of a mental
cost-benefit analysis every time they decide to spend money on an optional
item. Will it be the dental checkup or should I replace that bald tire on
the car? or music lessons for the kid? Or go out on the town? Dental
health is usually optional. Even when it is not, there are still differing
options with differing price tags.
I believe that you are right on target about the plight of the
individual patient, we have discussed that before.
Not precisely true. There are many things in the real world that limit
dental fees, not the least of which is the insurance industry. I seem to
recall you mentioning that you are not quite ready for that Rolls-Royce yet.
There must be something limiting what you can successfully charge in your
market area.
Okay, I agree. I think dentists should cut fees by 50% to increase volume by
100%. I am okay with that. This means working twice as hard, but hey! That's
fun. But I want to see the cash come right from some central agency, because
too many individual patients are real dirt-balls when it comes to paying. As
it is right now, treatment may be delayed until we see how patients will
handle their payments.
This is what most dentists do around here. Without good credit and/or
excellent insurance, the dentists will not bother with them! In other words,
we purposefully skip the volume practices, because the patients will get
over on the dentist in the process!
I agree! If I were in your shoes, I also would not provide services
without a reasonable prospect of sufficient payment. I am a public
employee. If my check does not arrive next Friday afternoon, don't look for
me Monday morning! I will be out looking for a paying job to support my
various obligations. What right would I have to expect different from my
dentist? By the way: Did I mention that amalgam is poison? (Kidding:
just checking to see if you were still reading)
