Will this insurance move put an end to solo practices?

Insurance companies Guardian, Met Life, and others are now reducing, or not covering, numbers of restorative procedures, especially implants and crown and bridge, for out-of-network dentists. They are still maintaining reimbursement at a reduced level for in-network dentists.

Given that 70 percent of patients have some form of dental plan, numbers of patients are leaving out-of-network dentists given their insurance no longer will pay, at least at some reimbursement level, for the recommended restorative care.

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This will drive solo dentists once again to thoughtfully consider their future. If they become in-network dentists, the third party’s fee schedule must be accepted. This will drive their revenues downward. If they don’t become in-network dentists, patients will exit since many decide on their dental care based on cost.

What are the choices solo practicing dentists have?

• Become an in-network dentist.

• Sell to an existing group practice.

• Become a Concierge dentist.

• Form their own group.

• Reduce their expenses and personal income to match the reduction in revenues.

When the context changes, everything changes within it. The context has changed and insurance companies, given they are driven by their bottom-line, are changing right along with it. My work with dentists to form group practices has dramatically increased-ain’t no mystery why?

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Dentists in solo practice will be unable to survive in this new context. The ADA, State Boards, state dental societies and all their political organizations cannot stop this from occurring. And the reason managed group practices are growing at 20 percent per year, while solo practices are shrinking at 7 percent per year, is managed group practices can handle these changes in third party reimbursement.