In this episode of The Less Insurance Dependence Podcast, hosts Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah dive into the essential strategies for attracting high-value patients to a dental practice. They open the discussion by emphasizing the importance of reducing insurance dependence, aiming to transform practices. The episode's primary focus is on high-value services. Gary defines procedures requiring more investment from patients and offering higher productivity per unit of time for the practice. These services include dental implants, adult orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, complex restorative denti ..read more

In this episode of The Less Insurance Dependence Podcast, host Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah discuss crucial payment details when resigning from PPO plans. They aim to alleviate the common anxieties dentists face when transitioning away from insurance dependence. The core topic of this episode delves into the logistics of payment collection post-PPO resignation. Gary explains that most insurance companies, except Delta, allow for the assignment of benefits, meaning the insurance company will continue sending checks directly to the practice. For Delta, however, checks are sent to the patients ..read more

In this episode of the Less Insurance Dependence Podcast, hosts Naren Arulrajah and Gary Takacs discuss effective strategies for communicating with patients about the value of being out of network. The primary focus is on framing the conversation to highlight the benefits for the patients, encapsulated by the principle of WII-FM (What's In It For Me?). Gary emphasizes the importance of maintaining high-quality care and a positive patient experience, explaining that staying out of network ensures the practice's ability to provide these consistently. By not being constrained by insurance compani ..read more

In this episode of The Less Insurance Dependence Podcast, hosts Gary Takas and Naren Arulrajah discuss the feasibility and implications of dropping PPO plans within 12 months. Gary highlights that while it is possible to resign from PPO plans quickly, success depends heavily on a practice's preparation. He emphasizes the importance of transitioning to a relationship-driven practice to retain patients and reduce overhead costs. Gary shares insights from his experience helping over 400 practices across the U.S. and notes that rushing the process without proper preparation, such as training the t ..read more

In this episode of the Less Insurance Dependence Podcast, hosts Naren Arulrajah and Gary Takacs focus on the ten key performance indicators (KPIs) that define a thriving and profitable dental practice. They highlight the importance of these KPIs in measuring and improving various aspects of a dental practice. First, they discuss the importance of new Google reviews, recommending a goal of at least ten new reviews per month to enhance online reputation and attract new patients. Next, they emphasize the need to measure new patients per month, specifically adult patients undergoing comprehensive ..read more

In this episode of "The Less Insurance Dependence Podcast," Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah engage in a detailed discussion on whether insurance companies possess the authority to establish fees for services not covered under insurance plans. They travel into the historical challenges dentists face when insurance companies dictate fees for services beyond their coverage, pondering the philosophical implications of such practices. Notably, they shed light on recent legislative advancements in select states that aim to address this issue. The conversation underscores the importance of dentists s ..read more

In this episode of the Less Insurance Dependence podcast, Gary Takas and Naren Arulrajah tackle a common dilemma faced by dental practices transitioning out of network: should they accept the assignment of benefits? They begin by elucidating the significance of this term in dental insurance processes, where accepting the assignment of benefits means authorizing the insurance company to send the reimbursement check directly to the dental practice rather than to the patient. The hosts discuss the variability in policies among insurance companies, particularly focusing on the restrictive nature o ..read more

In this episode of The Less Insurance Dependence Podcast, co-hosts Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah dive into a thought-provoking discussion on whether dentistry should be considered a profession or an industry. They acknowledge the significant influence of insurance companies on dental practices, shaping them more towards being transactional providers rather than relationship-driven professionals. Gary emphasizes the importance of the terminology used, advocating for viewing dentistry as a profession due to the expertise, care, and dedication involved in providing dental services. He urges lis ..read more

In this episode of The Less Insurance Dependence Podcast, hosts Gary Takas and Naren Arulrajah delve into the topic of reducing practice overhead in dentistry. They emphasize the importance of addressing rising expenses, particularly in the post-COVID era, where overhead costs have surged due to inflation and increasing wages. The hosts present a case study illustrating the impact of transitioning from in-network to fee-for-service, highlighting significant revenue increases and profit gains. They emphasize viewing PPO adjustments as marketing expenses and advocate for dentists to regain contr ..read more

In this podcast episode, hosts Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah discuss the importance of offering high-value services like cosmetic dentistry to attract new patients and improve practice profitability. They share tips for dentists interested in expanding their services, such as joining professional organizations and using effective marketing strategies. They also highlight the growing demand for cosmetic dentistry among millennials. Tune in for valuable insights and opportunities for practice growth!   ..read more