Thanks for tuning in and for the feedback🙏

@alexanderhall2558 This is a question that comes up for all offices who maybe out of network on one or more plans. To get fees for procedures for out of network plans, it’s never an easy task in the beginning. When you’re unsure of what you’re going to get paid, you’re going to want to underestimate what the insurance will pay and collect more from the patient. In your example, you mentioned $100. I’d collect 80 from the patient and let them know it’s possible you may end up with a credit once we generate a claim on your behalf. As you’re doing this in the beginning, you’re building a “blue book” of fees of procedures for that particular plan. So next time you see a patient with the same plan and benefits, you know what to expect from the insurance and you can collect appropriately. This is for preventive. For basic and major restorative, I’d most definitely send in a preauth to get the fees. Again, once you get the fees, add them to the blue book. So essentially you’re building up the fees database on your end. Depending on which practice management system you’re using, you can utilize the built in blue book feature to do this. When you get started, Starting the conversation with the patient with full honesty is the best course. Don’t go around and tell the patient you accept their plan because they’ll assume they have to pay nothing for preventive. Whether it’s in person or on the phone, let them know they’ll have a small oop for preventive, but you will send in a claim on their behalf to get them benefits. Majority of the times, it’s HOW you say it to the patient. Hope this was helpful. Don’t hesitate to reach out if anything else!

@KristinaBosworth, I’m glad the video is helpful for you! For history that is important and relevant to whatever I may need to do on a patient, we just put it in the chart module in the blank note section under the tooth chart separated by dates. Keeps it simple and accessible and attached to the chart. Hope this was helpful!

@@nilaygshah Thank you!

@taeyunkim1348, thank you for the feedback! Have you had a chance to see the website at teamio.app

@fiddy7797, First of all, big congrats to you guys for paying off the student loans! That’s a big burden to get rid off! There isn’t a right or wrong answer to what you’re asking. When you start your practice, since your wife will be the one working on patients and creates the revenue, it will be difficult when you have a new born. I’m not saying it can’t be done. There are plenty of moms who go back to office right away after couple of weeks and continue because you want your practice running. Unless you decide to hire an associate right away that’s going to be there when your wife isn’t, it may be difficult to build that patient base for the beginning phase of your practice. I can say a lot about this than what I want to write in this comment here, but it can be done but you’ll have to prepare for it. Having said that, there’s never the perfect time to open your own practice. Something always comes up, you deal with it as it comes along. Although starting your own practice as soon as possible is the best thing for you financially, you don’t want to rush and you should do it when you really do want to own your practice. Feel free to email me and we can chat more! Hope this helps!

@Efahsal I don't have a video specifically for new graduates. I've delved into topics important to new graduates such as student loan debt, associateships, etc. via my newsletter in the past. All the written blog posts on dentalstartupacademy.com and the videos here on KZfaq have to do with starting your own practice, and managing it. I basically share all the things I run into in my own practice. But you're not the first one to mention this, so I will add to my list for future videos for topics for new grads for sure!

Thanks for the feedback! I realize how loud it is. I’ve already fixed it in the more recent videos. 🙏

@nilaygshah you are so detailed. I wish I could work in your office! I'm a dental hygienist who's had 2 spinal surgeries. Still recovering from my second, but I am considering the fact that I may not be able to do hygiene again....at least not in the near future. So transitioning to the front may be what is next for me... I've been in the field for over 20 yrs so can't imagine not doing dental. Hygiene is definitely my passion though..

@@chauvennamatthews3043 Thanks again! With your clinical experience as a hygienist, you'll have an advantage and will make a stellar managerial / administrative lead for a dental practice!

When my first three hirees failed when I opened my practice from scratch back in 2012, I then hired someone with no dental experience. She was a Patient Services advocate from ER in a local hospital. She was amazing and was with me for only 5 years because she had to move. You will stand out in a dental office with your experience as a Patient Services Specialist. Everything you need to know for dental front desk position can be trained, but can’t teach the work ethic and personality you’ve developed as a Specialist!

I’m assuming you’re asking about allowance amount when patient has two insurances. The primary insurance determines the allowance amount for the procedure. Whatever you collect for a procedure (prim ins + secondary ins + pt copay) cannot by be more than what the primary in-network fee for that procedure. Hope this helps!

I’m glad you found it helpful! What other topics do you want to learn more about? I’m always open to content ideas! I appreciate you taking the time in giving me feedback!

Thank you for your feedback 🙏 Anything specific you may be struggling with? I’m always open to video ideas 💡

@pbalacky I appreciate your feedback! Thanks for tuning in. I’m always open to ideas for videos!

I don't have specific dental jargon or phone calls/scripts you could use right away. That's in fact one of the reasons why I started this channel is to start talking about daily operations, training, etc. For now, I have two videos on terminology that should help with understanding office management / insurance: "Important Terms for Daily Dental Office management" and "Dental insurance Terminology Part II". Also, if they're starting, they'd need to understand Dental insurance verification. I have one detailed video on how to do it step-by-step: "Dental Insurance Verification Step-by-step" along with a template you can download. You won't be able to throw everything at once to this person and expect them to pick up right away. They'll make mistakes, but it's part of learning. If I were in your position today, I'd have them go through the terminology video so they understand the basics. Immediately, after that I'd have them make insurance verification calls after watching the verification video. Hope this helps!

Glad you enjoyed it!

Before you consider cloud based systems, you have to consider what it is you’re trying to achieve. Cost cannot be the only factor. Some cloud systems will cost you more than a server based system. Some assume that just because you go cloud, you can let go of your hired IT service company. I have never used a cloud system. But just speaking from experience of starting a practice from scratch and having started with Open Dental from the get go, I can tell you it was the best decision ever. Before dentistry, I was in software development. I’ve also worked with Dentrix (legacy, not Ascend/cloud) during my associateships. It was clunky and “heavy” and had monthly costs associated with it that just seemed ridiculously high as compared to Open Dental. For what I needed, Open Dental does everything and more. And its monthly service fees are optional as support isn’t required. So I pay zero for practice management system. But then there’s also the case of personal preference. Some people just prefer to go cloud. Hope this helps!

@@nilaygshah It sure does! You are amazing, Nilay. Keep making such awesome videos. I would love to collab someday. :)

@Teachodontist thank you! I appreciate your feedback 🙏

Thank you!

Glad it was helpful!

I’m glad you found it helpful! If you haven’t already, please support the channel by subscribing 🙏

Go to our main website teamio.app, scroll to the bottom and put in your email in the box above the button “get on the inside”. Once I get the email, we take it from there and then can set up demo at a time that’s convenient for both of us! Hope this helps!

No problem! Keep tuning in and please support the channel by subscribing if you haven’t already! 🙏

Writeoff is in the form of a discount you may offer to a patient, but it’s usually used to refer to insurance reimbursements. It cannot be used to write it off as a tax credit since it isn’t an expense that you’re incurring. What I mean by that is, write off isn’t something that would show up as an expense on a Profit & Loss statement. Hope this makes sense!

@@nilaygshah thank you!

🤷🏻‍♂️

Thank you @usamaazad6224 for your feedback!!

I’m glad you found it helpful! Thanks for the feedback 🙏

Once you go to the website, there’s a small form towards the top that asks for your email. Once you fill the info, you should receive template via email. Please let me know if any issues! Thank you for your feedback 🙏

Thanks, brother! For some reason, the link only shows up when I use Chrome, but it doesn’t for Firefox browser…! Thanks for the link🙏🏼

First of all, congratulations on starting your new journey of practice ownership! I can only tell you from experience of what I did in my practice when I started. I never took Medicaid, but I did accept some low paying insurances just to get on their lists. I accepted majority of ppos that were being utilized by patients in my area. As you move forward in your practice and grow the patient base, you will realize that some plans just aren’t worth to stay in network with, and at that point you can decide to opt out. Of course, you’ll need to consider the trade off - how many patients you’ll lose. But also consider the upside potential of increased collections, less headaches of dealing with the lower paying plans, etc. If I was in your position today, this is what I’d do: 1) research all offices in the 1-5 mile radius of your practice, and just make a list of all insurances they accept. You can get this list from the office websites. You’ll want to be enrolled in all of these. 2) when new patients call, they may ask if you’re enrolled in their plan which you or your receptionist may have not heard off. Don’t simply say no to the patient, just let the patient know their plan maybe part of the bigger plan you already accept but you can find out the info with a phone call and get back to them. 3) build up patient base and cash flow, when you’re busy evaluate which plan is the lowest paying one with the most headaches in terms of quality of patients and amount of work required for claims, etc.. then slowly start eliminating those plans. Hope this helps!

I’m glad you’re finding the info useful. I’m currently in process of recording more videos and will be releasing more content soon. Meanwhile, if you haven’t already make sure you’re subscribed to the Dental Startup Academy Newsletter to stay updated!

Will add to my list! Thank you for the request! As I’m thinking of the video, it maybe a long form video instead of a 1 minute clip.

Thank you for the feedback! More content on its way, so keep tuning in! 🙏

Thank you for the feedback 🙏 Will keep that in mind for future videos!

Thank you 🙏

Here’s the link to the full written post on different Systems: www.dentalstartupacademy.com/dental-office-systems/

@@nilaygshah Dude! You are freaking awesome. I’m starting up a private practice right now and your content is my bible. Thank you so much for putting this out 🙏❤️

Where are you starting your practice? In the process of creating more videos, what do you want to learn more about?

@@nilaygshah thank you for an excellent video Doc. Do you have a video on how to actually get more new patients? Or how to increase new patient flow when you are only contracted with one insurance and you are in a group practice? Trying to increase my patient base and kinda stuck in the mud. My other three partners are a little better but they bought larger practices than mine

@sahilsethi5871 I do not have a specific video on how to increase your patient base. I make videos on things I’ve done and share my experience. Although I’ve not done any paid marketing in the last 6 years, if i were to start again, I’d go 100% in on social media and sharing your work online. Short form videos would be the preferred method for today to start. You will have to do multiple things at once. While you’re building your organic content and audience, you can start with Google Ads. Don’t discount direct mail either. They still work. It just takes patience. Depending on your budget, you need to have 10-15k fliers go out every month for a minimum of 6 months to really figure out whether or not there is ROI for you. Of course, it will also depend on the creative (offer, design, etc) for your flier. So combination of organic content + paid digital ads (google + fb/insta), physical mailers - great combo to kick start your new patient acquisition campaign. Then you want to focus on keeping them in the office, getting google reviews from them, and following up on their unscheduled Tx to get patients on who need work! Rinse & repeat! While you’re doing it, you will keep improving your systems. Hope this helps!

Thank you @houstonbrice12 Appreciate your feedback! Make sure to stay on my newsletter from the blog. What do you want to know more of??

Hi Crystal. Teamio.app is built specifically for Open Dental. From watching my videos, you can tell that I use Open Dental. Have been using it for 10 years since I started my practice from scratch. Teamio was developed to solve our needs as owners to keep teams accountable with Patient Follow-ups, Tasks, Huddle (analytics), Wiki, Team Chat, Patient SMS two way conversations, etc. There's lots more, but I'd love to show you a demo if you want. link: teamio.app