Can I offer better treatment options to patients on a DMO plan?
Usually yes, and most dentists never check. The complaint about DMOs is always the fee, but the real issue is the contract, and most doctors have never read theirs closely. Pull your provisions. The majority say that as long as you’ve shown the patient the option the DMO covers, the one where the patient pays nothing, you’re then free to present every other out of pocket option at your regular fees. If you can’t find that language, write directly to the administrator or president of the DMO and get it in writing. Odds are they’ll say go ahead, because when a patient picks pricier out of pocket treatment the DMO pays nothing and everybody wins. Have that honest conversation and some of those patients will choose better care. Not all. But ten to fifteen percent is a big deal.
If the answers you are finding here resonate with you, my team and I work with a small group of clients each year. The next step is a complimentary Discovery Consultation and Practice Review with Dr. McAnally.