Question: Over the years, several of my colleagues and I have been the subject of investigations by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. In most of these cases it’s hard to imagine why LARA is...more
5/28/2025
/ Dental Practice ,
Dentists ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Government Agencies ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare ,
Investigations ,
Licensing Rules ,
Physicians ,
Public Health ,
Regulatory Agencies ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
State and Local Government
Question: Early in every calendar year our accounts receivable tend to build up due to patients having to pay out of pocket before annual deductibles and co-pays reach their maximums. This typically results in a corresponding...more
Question: I have had several colleagues describe their experience with dental plan audits. All of them have had to pay something back. Sometimes they say this is due to a service being deemed a “noncovered service.” Other...more
1/31/2025
/ Audits ,
Dental Practice ,
Dentists ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Healthcare ,
Insurance Claims ,
Insurance Industry ,
Insurance Litigation ,
Reimbursements ,
Risk Management
Daniel Schulte discusses why dentists should not incentivize patient referrals in The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association (November 2023).
Question: I would like to add a referral incentive program to attract new...more
Question: Due to a staffing shortage at my office, I have been forced to make some difficult choices. For example, I have had some patients who were seen previously only for an emergency visit. They had no regular dentist and...more
Question: Are covenants not to compete and liquidated damages provisions in employment agreements still enforceable? I have seen news reports about the Federal Trade Commission and National Labor Relations Board being...more
Question: I am under audit by a dental plan I participate with. The audit has identified a few issues in connection with how my billing employees have been submitting claims for payment. For example, the name of the treating...more
7/27/2023
/ Audits ,
Billing ,
Burden of Proof ,
Dental Practice ,
False Billing ,
Fraud ,
Health Care Providers ,
Insurance Claims ,
Misrepresentation ,
Participation Agreements ,
Reasonable Doubt
Question: More and more I have patients refusing exams and X-rays for financial reasons. These patients only want to have their teeth cleaned. I am uncomfortable allowing this in my practice. What will happen if diseases or...more
Question: I have a patient who is very difficult to deal with. He is rude to my employees, does not always follow my treatment recommendations, complains about my fees, and is generally very unpleasant. I do not care to see...more
Question: I read an article the other day describing the use of an assignment of benefits form. The article said that having patients sign this form is beneficial. It would result in his or her dental plan paying me the...more