"Don White" wrote in message
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"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in
message

I don't envy dentists by the way - that's got to be a tough job in the
best of circumstances.


My former next door neighbour used to complain all the time that a dentist
earned more per patient visit than he did as an MD.

That's sadly (for MD's at least) is true.

Dentists charged what they want (fee schedule) while the MS's up here are
paid a fee per patient determined and paid by the gov't.

In the US, the fee is determined by the insurance companies...which is why
more and more dentists are refusing to sign on to any insurance plans. Only
40% of my patient base has dental insurance. Patients pay at the time of
service, and then we hand the patient a stamped envelope addressed to their
insurance company with the necessary froms inside, and ask them to mail it
for us. By asking the patient to mail it, they know for sure that it went
into the mail, and then they call the insurance company (rather than my
office) if they haven't received reimbursement. Physicians have screwed
themselves by accepting assignment of benefits, rather than asking for
payment at time of service.