May 2011
To My Patients,
Shortly, I will be ending 35 years as a member dentist of Delta Dental/Washington Dental Service. I want you to know of this change, but more importantly I want you to know why I’ve chosen to end my contract as a Delta participating dentist, and how it affects you.
Delta was the only insurer with whom I have had a participating agreement. I remained a member of Delta because among dental insurers it was the least intrusive in the vital doctor-patient relationship. Over recent years however, Delta has made it more difficult for our Delta-covered patients to receive optimal dental care. They have interfered in the partnership I have with you, one in which we work together to decide the very best care for your individual dental health needs. Delta recently announced they were unilaterally and significantly reducing the benefits they pay to member dentists for care. The effect of this reduction literally means that just to meet the cost of treatment we would have to spend half as much time with each Delta patient. This latest action on their part demonstrates that far from being the “partner” in your healthcare they would like us to believe, they are most committed to their profits. As far as I am concerned, my team and I work for you, not for any insurance company. Together, you and I partner to decide what the best treatment is for you, and when and how we will do it. Continuing with Delta would eliminate our ability to do that for you.
Of course, we would have to close our doors if my practice were not profitable; however, it is far from our primary goal. I am proud of our unwavering history and commitment of putting your well being first, and of our success at helping you maintain and improve your dental health. Those of you who have trusted our care over the years know that this is a commitment that is woven into the fabric of everyone who works for you here. We believe in caring for you just as we would want to be cared for ourselves, with the same personal attention and sufficient time to meet individual needs we would expect for our own care. I spend many hours each year keeping my clinical skills current and learning valuable new techniques. I have chosen to leave Delta because I want to provide you the best dentistry has to offer without the interference of a third party’s motives. I work for you, not for Delta.
Some questions you may have:
Can I still come to you now that you are not a member dentist?
Absolutely! You will always be welcome. You may get notices from Delta encouraging you to go to a Delta contracted dentist, but the truth is you can still have your dental treatment in my office and have Delta cover a major portion of it.
Will my benefits change?
To some extent yes. You are still entitled to your total yearly maximum benefit as set by your plan (usually between one and two thousand dollars) and this will not change. For individual procedures however, you may notice a slight decrease in the percentage of coverage. Delta has not been willing to give us specific information about what the decreased percentage might be, but from what we can gather, for example the non-covered amount for a visit with your hygienist might be $30.
Will you still bill my insurance?
We will continue to fill out the claim forms for you and send them directly to Delta following each visit. Each Delta program has specific services they will and will not pay for, and this remains the same for member and non-member dentists. I will continue to provide treatment descriptions to Delta to fight on your behalf to obtain the maximum coverage to which you are entitled.
Does this mean you can charge anything you want?
We have never raised or lowered fees dependent upon a patient’s insurance plan, and that will not change. I am not dropping Delta in order to raise my fees. Our fees are a direct reflection of each patient’s individual treatment need, and the care, skill and judgment we provide attempting to restore optimal dental health. My patients’ appreciation and understanding of the value of my services has kept me in business for 35 years. I want our relationship to be fair to both of us. If you have questions regarding our fees please do not hesitate to talk with me or any of the staff.
Exactly when will this change take place?
These changes will be effective for all appointments after June 14, 2011.
What do you hope to gain from all this?
It has always been my goal to help my patients keep their teeth for a lifetime in optimum health, function and appearance. In pursuing that goal there is no substitute for personal attention and individualized care, and the only way to accomplish those aspects is with professional dedication and taking time with you. The result is mutual trust, respect and understanding for which there is no insurance fee code. I believe the direction Delta and most insurance companies are taking disrupts this type of doctor-patient relationship. This may appear old fashioned, but it is timeless and it is what I believe. I want to continue to provide for you the type of dentistry of which I am capable, in partnership with you, and be able to back it up with my name and full commitment to quality individualized care.
Please feel free to contact me or any of the staff if you have any questions about this. We have never been hard to reach, and as always you can expect straight answers from us. I look forward to continuing our personal and professional relationship for many years to come.
Gratefully,
Robert W. Spreen, DDS
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