Dropping Dental Insurance, with Dr. Kristine Grazioso
May 28, 2024
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Dr. Kristine Grazioso, a Massachusetts-based pediatric dentist, shares her inspiring journey of transitioning her practice to a fee-for-service model after years of working with major insurance providers. She discusses the challenges faced and the importance of prioritizing quality care over insurance restrictions. Dr. Grazioso provides practical advice for dentists considering this shift, emphasizing customer service and building strong patient relationships. She also touches on the debate between independent practice and corporate dentistry, advocating for the long-term benefits of remaining independent.
Dr. Kristine Grazioso's transition to a fee-for-service model showcases how prioritizing patient care can lead to practice growth despite early challenges.
The podcast underscores the rising movement among dentists advocating for independence from corporate dentistry, emphasizing the importance of maintaining ownership for quality patient care.
Deep dives
The Impact of Insurance Contracts on Pediatric Dentistry
The podcast delves into the significant impact that insurance contracts have on pediatric dentistry practices. One dentist recounts their challenging experience with Delta Dental, which mandated shifts from a premier to a PPO network, resulting in a substantial pay cut for many practitioners. This prompted a collective awakening among dentists, leading to the formation of support groups to discuss and strategize about coping with these changes. Ultimately, the dialogue emphasizes that insurance structures can interfere with the doctor-patient relationship, pushing dentists to reevaluate their reliance on such contracts.
Transitioning to Fee-for-Service: Steps Taken
One dentist shared her journey of transitioning to a fee-for-service model, emphasizing the careful planning that went into this significant shift. She spent time educating herself and her staff about the implications of going out of network, culminating in a decisive drop date despite the complications introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Key preparatory steps included multiple staff meetings to communicate the reasons behind the decision and to ensure alignment within the practice. Ultimately, the practice experienced a loss of patients, but it also highlighted that many existing patients appreciated the improved quality of care.
Challenges and Triumphs of Going Out of Network
The journey of going out of network was described as both rewarding and challenging, with early emotional rollercoasters as patient numbers fluctuated. Initially, many patients were lost during the transition, but over time, the practice began to win back patients through improved communication and relationship-building efforts. The dentist noted that increased appointment times allowed for better education on preventive care, ultimately reducing patient decay rates. This transition highlighted how quality care might flourish outside restrictive insurance frameworks, giving practices more freedom to engage with patients meaningfully.
Advocacy for Independent Dentistry
The conversation shifted towards a collective movement of advocating for independent dentistry against corporate practices and private equity buyouts. The speaker is involved in the Alliance of Independent Dentists, which supports dentists in maintaining ownership and autonomy in their practices. Concerns were raised about how corporate dentistry could compromise patient care and the future of dental practice ownership for new dentists. The discussion concluded with an emphasis on financial wisdom and being well-informed about the implications of decisions regarding insurance contracts and potential buyouts.
Dr. Kristine "Love Peace" Grazioso is a pediatric dentist with a large practice in Massachusetts. She practiced for years as contracted provider with Delta, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Medicaid. In 2020, she made the decision to drop all insurances and go completely FFS, in order to provide better care for her patients. Even though she practices in a competitive area, her practice is busy and thriving.
Dr. Grazioso shares her story about how she made this transition. She gives pointers and advice to other pediatric dentists who are interested in going OON with dental insurance plans. Dr. Grazioso has used her experience as a springboard to provide consulting and coaching services to other pediatric dentists who want to fight against being handcuffed to dental insurance companies.
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