Dental Management: Health Care Reform Is Your Problem Too

I remember 15 years ago when the Clintons tried to do
Univeral healthcare; I saw so many empty medical
offices in my neighborhood!!!!! Let hope it
does not come to that again. At least if they want
to reform the healthcare; they should reform the
the legal system ,so no more nonsense lawsuits to
allow us to do mediocre jobs for the volume fees!
Or we might as well close our private office and
go work for Fed.

Dear Jim,
While I am very happy that you and your wife are making a million dollars a year, less than 5% of the dentists in this country make more than $300,000 a year. I can’t help but wonder why it is that most of the readers of your website, who statistically would have to be somewhere in the lower 95%, get so excited about you having to pay more tax when they themselves are not burdened with the same problem. In fact, I believe that if the proposed health plan works the way it is proposed; most of your readers would get some relief from the onerous health insurance premiums they are now paying for themselves and their staffs. I think there is also a possibility that if the general public gets some relief some their medical expenses, they might even send more of their health care dollars on dentistry. I am reminded of a survey I saw several years ago that showed that 25% of Americans believe that they are in the top 5% of wage earners and another 25% believe that while they are not now, they will at some time be in the top 5%. When I read this survey for the first time, it immediately clarified for me how it is that Amway stays in business. I think that America can no longer afford to believe that the sky is the limit. There is a finite limit to the number of people that can be in the top 5%.

Jim
It lloks like you are doing very well. So are many of us but if you are not providing full medical and dental insurance for your staff you are part of the problem. Any one doing as well as we are deserves to be severly taxed if they dont provde a living wage and the best benifits available. If our staff cant afford our services then who can?

Wow, some of these posts are a perfiect example of the class envy taking hold in America. Did you hear the the seething distain directed at this gentleman for his success. Listen up people. You can’t create wealth by dividing it. You create wealth by giving people a motivation to work hard and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Part of being free is the freedom to make choices for yourself that lead to different economic outcomes. Perhaps you dentists that are so judgemental of the ultra successful ones were too afraid to start your own practice. Maybe you have been going home at 5:00 every day while other dentists stay an manage their practice, work on their marketing etc. Maybe your wife plays tennis all day while other’s wives work to build the practice. Maybe you didn’t want to take the risk of opening your own practice and work as an associate instead. Or maybe you own your own practice, but haven’t been willing to risk the dollars necessary to do heavy marketing. All dentists start out on an equal playing field. If the gentleman who wrote this article makes 1M a year and you don’t, then it is because he worked harder and took more risk to build his practice than you did. Why should you get some of his profit. Also, regarding the insinuation that it is wrong for a dentist to make a million dollars and not be treating his staff like royalty. Front Desk girls and assistants had the same FREEDOM that I mentioned above to make choices for themselves. The must have chosed not to go to college. That was their choice, but the consequence of that choice is that they will make fair market value for their services which is around $20 bucks an hour here in Texas. All other benefits are offered to attract and retain the best staff possible. Most great practices are smart enough to offer good benefits because it helps them attract the best talent which in turn makes them more successful.

I am shocked at the growing sentiment in America that profit is a dirty word. I just heard Obama last week criticizin insurance companies for making a profit. News Flash people. If companies don’t make a profit, they go out of business. The whole point is to make a profit.

Another point for all of you people who are ignorant of the basic principles of capitalism. YOU CAN’T TAX A BUSINESS!!! They will either raise their prices, cut the salary of their staff, trim benefits or lay people off. Last year, we got hit with a new tax and all we did was raise our fees 10%. While it makes politicians look good to their dumb democratric constituents, taxing a business merely is window dressing. The cost will get immedietely passed on to the consumer. But I guess if it makes you all feel good that you are stickiing it to the man, then so be it. Just be aware aware that you are the man.
I hope the dentist that wrote this does 1.5 million next year.

I can see how higher taxes for wealthier entrepreneurs would diminish dental care. Successful dental entrepreneurs would just not have as much motivation.

The other side of the coin that has not been much mentioned here is how the actual bill would reduce the level of dental care in the country. I mean, has anyone seen in the 1000+ page bill how dental services will change?

Katty

I think that G. Sheppard is not a dentist.

Any of you dentists who don’t mind working hard just to let someone confiscate your money- you can come work for me!
I just returned from China, where they explained that the prosperity of recent years came from a change to a modest gov’t. share of a base percentage, and any surplus, the worker or farmer could keep 100%. Sort of a reverse progressive tax. Suddenly, the harder you worked, the MORE you were rewarded. This is the opposite of the old communist model (the one we are adopting).

Of course Dentists are apposed to being included in the health care reform… If I were a dentist, I would be opposed to it as well. But, I’m not…
Dentists are the least sued medical providers of all. Their training is far less grueling than any other, education costs less. lifestyle remains superior with virtually zero medical emergencies, no weekends, holidays, or graveyard shifts. Dentists are not required to treat anyone without insurance, who is unable to pay for services.
So why is it, that a root canal costs upwards of $1500. Think about it… Root canal therapy requires three, 1 hour visits. That’s $500 per hour!!!! The office receptionist doesn’t make that much in a week! Nor does a dental assistant make that much in a week… Its ridiculous!
Dentists have gotten away with murder for way too long.

This is a nice blog i must say, usually i don’t post comments on others’ blogs but would like to say that this post really forced me to do so!

Danny and Carl I totally agree with you. i am dentist and have worked very very hard to get to where I am .I have spent countless nights and weekends trying to build my practice…gone without pay so i may pay my employees .I do not get facials and manicures done every week like my front office lady does…..I feel if you worked hard and become successful nobody has the right to grudge you that. Period!