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Description of a Successful Budget Payment Plan
168 • THE J O U RN A L O F T H E A M E R I C A N DEN T AL A SSO C I A T I O N
D E S C R IP T IO N O F A S U C C E S S F U L B U D G E T P A Y M E N T PLA N J o h n B . W ils o n , D .D .S ., S a n M a r in o , C a lif. T h e L o s A n g e le s C o u n ty D e n t a l S o c ie ty
s e r v e a s li a is o n b e t w e e n t h e b a n k a n d th e
P a y m e n t P la n w a s p u t in t o o p e r a t io n in
p a r t ic ip a t in g d e n t is t s .
O c to b e r 1 9 5 0 . S in c e th a t tim e , m o r e th a n
T h e s e f o u r d u t ie s a r e a ll- in c lu s iv e , a n d
7 0 ,0 0 0 n o te s t o t a lin g a lit t le o v e r 18 m il
t h e b o a r d o f g o v e r n o r s c o n t r o ls t h e p la n .
lio n d o lla r s h a v e b e e n p r o c e s s e d . D u r in g
I f th e
t h is
h e ld
p e r io d ,
m any
p r o b le m s
have
been
c o n t r o l o f t h e s e p r o g r a m s is n o t
by
th e
d e n ta l
s o c ie ty ,
th e
p la n
is
m e t a n d h a n d le d th a t h a d n o t b e e n a n
doom ed
tic ip a te d . L o s A n g e le s C o u n ty h a s h a d a
tis ts m u s t n o t a l l o w
t r e m e n d o u s in f lu x o f p e o p le in t h e p a s t
th e
s ix
s e n te d to th e p a tie n t. T h e d e n tis t-p a tie n t
yea rs,
and,
b ecau se
of
its
s iz e
and
t o e n c o u n t e r tr o u b le . T h e d e n
m anner
p o p u la t io n , t h e r e h a v e b e e n o b s t a c le s t o
r e la tio n s h ip
c o n s id e r
je o p a r d y .
never
and
have
p r o v id e
been
fo r
th a t
e n c o u n te r e d
w o u ld
in
m any
The
in
m u st
board
th e b a n k to d ic ta te
w h ic h
th e
never
w orks
n o te be
is
pre
p la c e d
d ir e c tly
w ith
in and
a r e a s . W it h a r o u n d 5 0 c it ie s in t h e a r e a
c o n t r o ls t h e p o lic y p e r t a in in g t o t h e p la n
and
o f th e
164 b ra n ch es o f th e
bank
th r o u g h
bank
and
its b r a n c h e s ;
e n fo r c e s
w h ic h t h e p la n o p e r a t e s , t h e n e c e s s it y fo r
e s ta b lis h e d
a g o o d , o r g a n iz e d a d m in is t r a t io n r e a d ily
b o a r d s a n d th e m e m b e r s h ip in fo r m e d o f
ca n b e seen.
a n y c h a n g e s ; a n d a d ju d ic a te s m a tte r s b e
p o lic ie s ;
k eep s
th e
d is tr ic t
t w e e n t h e b a n k a n d t h e d e n tis t, t h e b a n k and
A D M IN IST R A T IO N
th e
p a tie n t o r th e
p a tie n t w h e n
th e p la n
d e n tis t a n d
th e
is in v o lv e d , a n d
B e c a u s e o f t h e g e o g r a p h ic a l s iz e o f L o s
r e s tr ic ts o r r e v o k e s t h e u s e o f t h e p la n i f
A n g e le s C o u n ty , t h e L o s A n g e le s C o u n ty
s u c h a c t io n is in d ic a t e d .
D en ta l
S o c ie ty
is d iv id e d
in to
fiv e
d is
T h e S o c ie ty b e lie v e s th a t t h e b o a r d o f
t r ic t s o c ie t ie s . O n e m e m b e r f r o m e a c h o f
governors
th e
board
c o u n s e l. T h e s o c ie tie s in e a c h s ta te m a y
o f g o v ern o rs. T h e m e m b e r s o f th e b o ar d
fin d t h a t t h e s t a t u t e s d if f e r o n ly s lig h t ly
o f g o v e r n o r s serv e
th r e e ye a rs, a n d
fr o m th o s e o f t h e n e ig h b o r in g sta te , a n d ,
t h e te r m s a r e r o t a t e d t o a s s u r e a m a j o r it y
t h e r e f o r e , t h e s o c ie t y m u s t in v e s t ig a t e a ll
o f e x p e r ie n c e d m e m b e r s a t a ll tim e s . B e
p o s s ib le r a m if ic a t io n s in o r d e r t o f o llo w
s id e s t h e s e f iv e m e m b e r s , t h e r e is a c h a ir
c o r r e c t p r o c e d u r e s . M a n y p r o b le m s w it h
d is t r ic t
m an
who
s o c ie tie s
serve s
fo r
m a y b e fr o m
on
a
an y on e
o f th e
s h o u ld
have
is i n
an
o b ta in le g a l g u id a n c e .
on
th e
board
no
m a tte r
le g a l
le g a l im p lic a t io n s c r o p u p a f te r t h e p la n
d is t r ic t s . E a c h d is t r ic t r e p r e s e n t a t iv e h a s eq u a l v o te
a d e q u a te
o p e r a tio n , m a k in g it im p e r a tiv e to
w h a t t h e n u m e r ic a l s t r e n g t h o f h is d is tr ic t m a y b e . E a c h d is t r ic t r e p r e s e n t a t iv e fo llo w s th r o u g h
on
any
E SSE N T IA L
F EA T U R ES
d e ta ils n e e d in g
a t t e n t io n in h is a r e a .
A b u d g e t p a y m e n t p la n , t o b e s u c c e s s f u l,
T h e d u tie s o f t h e b o a r d o f g o v e r n o r s
s h o u ld h a v e in c o r p o r a t e d in it c e r t a in e s
a r e ( 1 ) t o c o n s id e r a ll m a t t e r s p e r t a in in g
s e n t i a l f e a t u r e s . O n e o f t h e s e is a s i m p l e ,
to th e p la n ,
a n d y e t p r o p e r , p r e s e n t a t io n o f t h e p la n
th e p la n , in
(3 )
e x is te n c e
(2 )
t o s e t u p a ll p o lic ie s o f
to s tu d y 's im ila r p ro g r a m s e ls e w h e r e
and
c o n tin u a lly
to im p r o v e a n d e n h a n c e th e L o s A n g e le s C o u n ty D e n t a l S o c ie ty p la n
and
(4 )
to
C G3 ’ D ■ ” t G)
, O KG’ x KH | Kv ■ ’ SKB 3 ■ t y P Gy “ ■ ” t P )
“ G”
” K’ & , G”
.
L K&
A”
|■ ) ■ &
C Ku ” t y
BUDGET PA YM EN T P RO G RA M S . . . V O L U M E 56, FEBRU ARY 1958 • 169
by th e
d e n tis t to
th e
p a tie n t. T h e n o te
s h o u ld b e e x p la in e d t o t h e p a t ie n t , c r e d it
th e
in c e p tio n
of
th e
p la n ,
th e
am ount
w ith h e ld b y th e b a n k w a s 5 p e r c e n t o f
in fo r m a tio n s h o u ld b e o b ta in e d , t h e to ta l
th e fa c e v a lu e o f e a c h n o te , b u t, a s o f a
a m o u n t o f th e n o te s h o u ld b e s ta te d , a n d
year
th e
charged
b e c a u s e o f th e g o o d e x p e r ie n c e w ith th e
s h o u ld b e d is c u s s e d . T h e p a t ie n t s h o u ld
lo s s r a t io . T h e d e n t is t n o w r e c e iv e s 9 6 p e r
am ount
b e to ld
of
in te r e s t
to
be
th a t h e m a y m a k e p a y m e n ts a t
a n y b r a n c h o f t h e b a n k t h a t is c o n v e n ie n t ta k in g
up
to
18
to
4
per cen t
c e n t o f th e v a lu e o f e a c h n o t e , p a y a b le in f u ll in a d v a n c e .
a n d t h a t h e m a y p a y th e n o te in m o n th ly in s t a llm e n t s ,
a g o , it w a s r e d u c e d
T here
are
so m e
b a s ic
p r in c ip le s t h a t
m o n th s.
t h e S o c ie t y b e lie v e s s h o u ld b e a d h e r e d t o
A n o t h e r e s s e n t ia l f e a t u r e is t o k e e p t h e
in o r d e r to b r in g a b o u t a w o r k a b le a n d
p a p e r w o r k t o a m in im u m f o r t h e d e n t is t ,
s a t is f a c t o r y r e la t io n s h ip b e t w e e n t h e d e n
th e b a n k , th e p a tie n t a n d th e d e n ta l s o
t is t , t h e p a t ie n t , t h e b a n k a n d t h e d e n t a l
c ie ty . T h e c o n t r a c t b e t w e e n
s o c ie ty in th e o p e r a tio n o f th e L o s A n g e le s
th e p a r tic i
p a tin g d e n tis t a n d th e b a n k a n d , to o , th e
C o u n ty
c o n tr a c t b e tw e e n th e d e n ta l s o c ie ty a n d
T h e s e p r in c ip le s a r e a s fo llo w s :
D e n ta l
S o c ie ty
P aym ent
P la n .
th e b a n k s h o u ld b e sh o r t a n d t o t h e p o in t — in
te r m in o lo g y ,
u n d e r sta n d .
ea sy
fo r
everyone
F rom
th e
L o s A n g e le s
c i e t y ’s e x p e r i e n c e ,
t h is
ty p e
of
1.
to So
co n tr a c t
T h e r e s h o u ld b e n o c h a r g e b y th e
d e n tis t fo r
broken
p o in tm e n ts a s a
h as b e e n a d e q u a te . I t s h o u ld b e m e n tio n e d
a ls o t h a t t h e
a p p o in tm e n ts .
o f f ic e s m a k e c h a r g e s f o r
M any
“n o -sh o w ”
ap
r o u tin e p r o c e d u r e , b u t
t h is c a n n o t b e d o n e w h e n t h e p l a n is b e
le n g t h o f t im e in p r o c e s s in g t h e n o t e s is
in g u s e d . W h e n t h e p l a n is in v o lv e d , t o o
im p o r ta n t
m a n y c o m p lic a t io n s r e s u lt in t h e j u s t if i
d e n tis t. sh o u ld
to
An g iv e
b o th
th e
e ffic ie n tly an
p a tie n t
and
bank
c a tio n o f th e b r o k e n a p p o in tm e n t. T h e r e
r e je c tio n
fo r e , t h e S o c ie ty s ta n d s b y t h e r u le o f n o
o p e r a tin g
a cc e p ta n c e
or
th e
c h a r g e fo r b r o k e n a p p o in tm e n ts .
w ith in t w o d a y s. A n o th e r
e s s e n tia l
fe a tu r e
is
th a t
th e
b a n k a s s ig n o n e r e s p o n s ib le in d iv id u a l in it s o w n
in s titu tio n
to
c o o r d in a te
in fo r
m a t io n , p o lic ie s a n d in s t r u c t io n s t h r o u g h out
a ll
its
b ran ch es.
S o m e tim e s ,
th ere
a re m is u n d e r s ta n d in g s b e tw e e n t h e fo u r p a r tie s in v o lv e d
(d e n tis t, p a tie n t, d e n ta l
s o c ie t y a n d b a n k ) , a n d t h is lia is o n p e r s o n s h o u ld b e t h e o n e to w o r k w it h t h e d e n ta l s o c ie ty . An
e s s e n tia l fe a tu r e
to
th e
d e n t i s t is
th e e lim in a t io n o f r e c o u r se . D e n tis ts , a s a r u le , w ill n o t s u p p o r t a n y
p la n o f f i
n a n c in g in w h ic h th e fe a tu r e o f r e c o u r se is r e t a in e d . T h e r e f o r e , t h e
2.
I n in s ta n c e s o f u n c o m p le t e d w o r k ,
th e d e n tis t m u s t r e fu n d to th e b a n k th e e n tir e a m o u n t d u e fo r t h e u n c o m p le te d s e r v ic e s. T w o m a d e c le a r in
o r th r e e p o in ts s h o u ld regard to
be
th is m a tte r . I f
th e d e n ta l tr e a tm e n t h a s b e e n c o n c lu d e d o r , in t h e in s ta n c e o f a p r o s th e tic r e sto r a t io n , t h e a p p lia n c e is r e a d y f o r in s e r t io n in to
th e
m o u th , b u t
th e
p a tie n t n e v e r
c o m e s b a c k t o r e c e i v e i t , t h e w o r k is c o n sid e r e d
c o m p le te d .
If
an
in la y
is
ca st,
fin is h e d a n d r e a d y t o b e p u t in p la c e , th e r e s t o r a t io n is c o n s id e r e d c o m p le t e d a s f a r a s t h e p a y m e n t p l a n is c o n c e r n e d .
L o s A n g e le s
C o u n ty D e n t a l S o c ie ty P a y m e n t P la n w a s
3.
T h e m in im u m n o t e is $ 1 0 0 . T h e r e
s e t u p w i t h a lo s s r e s e r v e f u n d . T h is f u n d
is n o m a x im u m . T h e r e a s o n f o r t h is m i n i
w a s e s t a b l i s h e d a n d is m a i n t a i n e d t h r o u g h
m u m a m o u n t is o b v i o u s : t h e b a n k c a n n o t
th e d e d u c tio n o f a p e r c e n ta g e fr o m
a f f o r d t o d o p a p e r w o r k f o r le s s t h a n $ 6 .
p r in c ip a l o f e a c h
n o te . F ro m
th e
th is fu n d ,
w h ic h is t h e p r o p e r t y o f t h e S o c ie t y , a ll
4.
lo s s e s f r o m f a i l u r e o f p a t i e n t s t o p a y t h e
so c ie ty
M em b ers d ro p p ed fr o m th e d e n ta l
b a la n c e o f th e ir n o te s a r e d e d u c te d . A t
be
fo r
dropped
nonpaym ent im m e d ia te ly
o f d u e s s h o u ld fr o m
th e
pay
170 • T H E J O U R N A L O F T H E A M E R I C A N D EN T A L A SSO C I A T I O N
m e n t p la n b e c a u s e a m e m b e r o f th e p la n
a n d 8 p e r c e n t . I n f a c t , th is a r r a n g e m e n t
s h o u ld b e a m e m b e r o f t h e d e n t a l s o c ie t y .
is a d v a n t a g e o u s to t h e p a t ie n t , a s i t h e lp s
5.
M em bers
g o in g
in to
th e
m ilita r y
h im to b u ild a g o o d c r e d it r a t in g w it h th e
s e r v ic e s h o u ld m a in ta in th e ir s ta tu s i n th e
bank
p la n w ith o u t h a v in g t o p a y th e te n d o lla r
liq u id a tin g th e n o te .
w h ile
In
e n tr a n c e f e e o n r e tu r n in g . T h e d if fe r e n c e
h is
m o n th ly
th e b e g in n in g
p a y m e n ts
o f th e
L os
are
A n g e le s
h e r e is t h a t , w h e n a m e m b e r is d r o p p e d
p l a n , i t w a s t h e S o c i e t y ’s i n t e n t t o b r i n g
fo r n o n p a y m e n t o f d u e s, h e d o e s p a y th e
b etter
10
a r e a , a n d t h is o b j e c t iv e h a s b e e n a d h e r e d
d o lla r e n tr a n c e f e e w h e n
b e in g r e in
U n c o m p le te d
w ork
of
a
d eceased
d e n tis t s h o u ld b e p a id fo r b y h is e sta te . 7. in g
T h e p o lic y o f th e b a n k in p r o c e s s th e
lo a n s
to
m ore
p e o p le
to . O c c a s io n a lly , h o w e v e r , a f e w
s t a t e d in t h e p la n . 6.
d e n tis tr y
s h o u ld
be
s im ila r
to
th e
in
th e
p e o p le
h a v e b een en co u n te r e d w h o sto p p e d p a y in g
th e ir b a n k
n o te s b e c a u se
n o t s a t is f ie d w it h
th ey w ere
th e d e n ta l w o r k fo r a
n u m b e r o f re a so n s. T h e ir p r o b le m s h a d to b e c o n s id e r e d a n d
h a n d le d
in
a n in
p r o c e d u r e f o llo w e d in r e g a r d t o its o w n
te llig e n t a n d
“o v er -th e -c o u n te r ”
o f f i c e o f t h e S o c i e t y u s u a l l y i s a l e r t e d f ir s t
lo a n s .
The
p a t i e n t ’s
fa ir m a n n e r . T h e
b u s in e s s
c r e d it s h o u ld b e c h e c k e d , th e a m o u n t o f
to
th e lo a n s h o u ld n o t b e o v e r
10 p er cen t
a t t e m p t e d a t t h is l e v e l, b u t , w h e n i t c a n
of
h is
annual
d is a g r e e m e n t.
S e ttle m e n t
is
in fo r m a tio n
n o t b e a c c o m p l i s h e d , t h e p a t i e n t ’s c o m p l a i n t is r e f e r r e d t o a n o t h e r o f f i c i a l b o d y
li a b ilit ie s
o f th e
w h ic h
and
a
s h o u ld b e o b ta in e d a s to o th e r fin a n c ia l fo r
s a la r y ,
su ch
he
m ig h t
be
o b li
L os
A n g e le s
C o u n ty
D e n ta l
So
g a t e d . M a n y tim e s, t h e d e n t is t h a s p e r t i
c ie ty , n a m e ly , t h e C o u n s e lin g C o m m it t e e .
nent
T h is
in fo r m a tio n
about
th e
p a t i e n t ’s
f in a n c ia l p o s itio n , a n d , w h e n h e c o n sid e r s
c o m m itte e
is
com p osed
of
a
very
c o m p e t e n t g r o u p o f d e n t is ts w h o a r e e x
th is in fo r m a t io n o f v a lu e to t h e b a n k , h e
t r e m e ly w e ll q u a lifie d
s h o u ld v o lu n t e e r it.
o n t h e d e n t a l s e r v ic e s r e c e iv e d . T h e y d e
to p a ss
ju d g m e n t
c id e a s to t h e c a lib e r o f th e w o r k c o m p le te d a n d in fo r m th e b o a r d o f g o v e r n o r s
D EV ELO PM EN T O F PLA N
w h e th e r S o m e fa c to r s th a t s h o u ld in
t h e d e v e lo p m e n t a n d
b u d g e t p a y m e n t p la n
be
c o n s id e r e d
e x p a n s io n
are th a t
(1 )
of a th e
board
th e
w ork
a c c e p ts
th e
is
s a tis fa c to r y .
The
r e c o m m e n d a tio n s
of
th e C o u n s e lin g C o m m itte e a n d p r o c e e d s a c c o r d in g ly .
p la n m u s t b e b e n e fic ia l to e v e r y o n e p a r t i c i p a t i n g , s o t h a t a d e s i r e f o r i t s u s e is p r e se n t;
(2 )
E D U C A T IO N A L P R O G R A M
th e m e c h a n ic s o f th e p la n
s h o u ld b e s im p lif ie d to f a c i l i t a t e e a s e in
T h e fa c to r s ju s t r e v ie w e d
h a n d lin g b y th e d e n tis t, t h e b a n k a n d th e
p o r ta n t to th e d e v e lo p m e n t a n d
d e n ta l
s io n o f a b u d g e t p l a n , b u t t h e r e m u s t b e
s o c ie ty ;
(3 )
th e
p o lic ie s
of
th e
are
m o st im expan
b a n k a n d th e b o a rd o f g o v ern o rs m u st b e
a n e d u c a tio n a l p r o g r a m to m a k e it e ffe c
u n d e r s to o d c o m p le te ly b y a ll c o n c e r n e d ,
t iv e . W h e n
a n d th e n th e se p o lic ie s m u s t b e e n fo r c e d
tio n a l
a n d a d h e r e d to , a n d
p la n is k e p t e n t h u s ia s t ic , a n d h e is w illin g
( 4 ) t h e p la n s h o u ld
t h e r e is a n
program ,
th e
e ffe c tiv e
d e n tis t
educa
u s in g
th e
g iv e th e e th ic a l d e n tis ts a r e a l o p p o r tu n
to
ity to d o g o o d
f o r t h e ir c o n v e n ie n c e . H e is a l s o p le a s e d
d e n ta l w o rk
a n d , a t th e
recom m en d
th e
p la n
to
h is
p a tie n ts
s a m e t im e , t o a r r iv e a t a d e s ir a b le f in a n
to
c ia l a r r a n g e m e n t w ith t h e p a tie n t, w h e r e
c o m p le tio n o f a r r a n g e m e n ts f o r t h e n o te ,
b y th e
p a tie n t m a y
w ork on
a b u d g e te d
pay
fo r th e
program
d e n ta l
and
at a
fa ir in te r e s t r a te — s o m e w h e r e b e t w e e n 6
r e c e iv e
paym ent
fr o m
th e
bank
on
a llo w in g h i m t o p a y t h e d e n t a l la b o r a t o r y fe e s
w ith o u t
b u r d e n in g
h is
o ffic e
w ith
c o lle c tio n p r o b le m s . D e n tis ts w h o a r e n e w
BU DGET PA YM EN T PRO G RA M S . . . V O L U M E 56, FEBRU ARY 1958 •
p a r t ic ip a n t s in t h e p la n h a v e a n in s t r u c
D e n t a l A s s o c ia tio n , n o
tio n c la s s a t t h e t im e o f t h e ir in d u c t io n .
t o t h e p u b l i c h a s b e e n c a r r ie d o u t .
o th e r
171
p r o m o t io n
T h e s e d e n t is t s s h o u ld r e c e iv e e d u c a t io n a l p r e p a r a tio n o n h o w how
to u se th e p la n , o n
C O N C L U S IO N
t o p r e s e n t it to th e p a t ie n t a n d o n
t h e ir r e s p o n s ib ilit y t o t h e b a n k a n d t o t h e
The
d e n t a l s o c ie ty .
h e r e a s e s s e n t ia l fo r a n e f f e c t iv e b u d g e t
A ll m e m b e r s o f th e p la n m u s t b e k e p t
p r in c ip le s
and
fe a tu r e s
p r e se n te d
p a y m e n t p la n a r e o n ly a p a r t o f th e c o m
in fo r m e d b y le tte r o r p r in te d m a tte r a s to
p le t e d p r o g r a m . T h i s d is c u s s io n w o u ld b e
a c tio n s o f th e b o a r d o f g o v e r n o r s r e g a r d
r e m is s i f i t f a ile d t o in c lu d e m e n t io n o f
o r p o lic y .
th e
p u b lic in
b r in g s to t h e p u b lic b e t t e r d e n t a l h e a lt h
t h e L o s A n g e le s a r e a is b y w o r d o f m o u t h
c a r e , w it h a c o n s id e r a b le s a v in g o f tim e
fr o m
fo r t h e d e n tis t b e c a u s e h e c a n p la n a p
in g
a n y c h a n g e s in
The
o p e r a tio n
o n ly p r o m o tio n
to
th e
th e p a tie n ts o r b y t h e little p la s tic
fa c t
th a t
a
budget
p o in tm e n ts
tic ip a tin g
g a r d to a p a y -a s -y o u -g o a r r a n g e m e n t.
In
o r d e r to
c o n fo r m
o p e r a tio n s
p la n
p la q u e o n t h e d e s k in t h e o f fic e s o f p a r d e n t is t s .
and
paym ent
w ith o u t
re
1 4 2 7 S a n M a r in o A v e n u e
to t h e r e c o m m e n d a tio n o f t h e A m e r ic a n
P R O B L E M S A N D R E S P O N S IB IL IT IE S O F T H E B A N K IN T H E O P E R A T IO N O F A D E N T A L B U D G E T P A Y M E N T PLA N E m e r y J . G e s e ll, D e tr o it T h e D e t r o i t B a n k a n d T r u s t C o m p a n y in
p a r t o f th e d e n tis t to q u e s tio n a p a tie n t
c o n ju n c tio n
D is tr ic t
r e g a r d in g t h e p a y m e n t f o r s e r v ic e s i f t h e
p la n
c h a r g e s a m o u n t e d t o m o r e t h a n a s m a ll
D e n ta l
w ith
S o c ie ty
th e
D e tr o it
com m enced
its
of
fin a n c in g d e n ta l c a r e in 1 9 4 1 , w ith so m e
f e e a n d t o e x p la in t h is p la n o f f in a n c in g
s u b s e q u e n t m o d if ic a t io n . P a r t ic ip a t io n in
in
th is p l a n is a r r a n g e d t h r o u g h t h e D e t r o it
b e p e r fo r m e d if p a y m e n t o f th e o b lig a
D is t r ic t D e n t a l S o c ie t y a n d a d e n t a l p la n
t i o n w e r e a p r o b le m .
c o m m is s io n
com p osed
of
o u ts ta n d in g
order
th a t
th e
d e n ta l
s e r v ic e s
c o u ld
T h is m e th o d o f o b ta in in g p a y m e n t fo r s e r v ic e s r e lie v e s t h e d e n t is t o f t h e r e s p o n
d e n t is t s in t h e s o c ie t y . T h e r e a l o b je c tiv e s in th e fo r m u la tio n
s ib ilit y o f c o lle c t in g concern
a c c o u n ts . C o n s id e r
o f th e p la n w e r e t o p r o v id e d e n ta l w o r k
a b le
a b o u t p a y m e n t fo r d e n ta l
fo r in d iv id u a ls n o t fin a n c ia lly a b le to p a y
w o r k c a n d e v e l o p i f t h e d e n t i s t f i n d s h e is
a c o m p a r a t iv e ly la r g e a m o u n t f o r n e e d e d
c a r r y in g c h a r g e s f o r
d e n t a l s e r v ic e s a n d t o m a k e f u n d s a v a il
o f h is p a t ie n t s o n t h e b o o k s . W h e n h e is
a b le fo r th is p u r p o s e b y p u r c h a s in g n o te s
n o t f a c e d w it h c o lle c t io n p r o b le m s , m o r e
s ig n e d
by
p a tie n ts ,
th e d e n tis ts . T h e been
a c cu sto m e d
b ile s ,
fu r n itu r e ,
w ith
no
lia b ilit y
to
average con su m er h as to
fin a n c in g
a p p lia n c e s
and
tim e
can
be
a
d e v o te d
good
to
p e r c e n ta g e
t h e p r a c tic e
of
d e n t is t r y , f o r w h ic h h e w a s tr a in e d .
a u to m o
I t w a s r e c o g n iz e d th a t th e r e w o u ld b e
v a r io u s
p r o b le m s in f in a n c in g s e r v ic e s o f t h is t y p e
o th e r c o m m o d itie s o n a m o n th ly p a y m e n t
b e c a u s e o f t h e b a n k ’s l a c k o f k n o w l e d g e
b a s is .
o f fe es
C o n s e q u e n tly ,
it
w as
c o n s id e r e d
or
th e
d e n ta l
w ork
p e rfo rm ed ,
fe a s ib le f o r d e n t a l se r v ic e s to b e p a id fo r in t h e s a m e m a n n e r . I t w a s d e t e r m in e d t h a t t h e r e s h o u ld b e n o h e s it a n c y o n t h e
A & & 3 & t G” t
B G& 3 ■
’
,
D■ t ’
K3
t
B G”
(
& T ’ u & t C K“
: G”
y.
D E S C R IP T IO N O F A S U C C E S S F U L B U D G E T P A Y M E N T PLA N J o h n B . W ils o n , D .D .S ., S a n M a r in o , C a lif. T h e L o s A n g e le s C o u n ty D e n t a l S o c ie ty
s e r v e a s li a is o n b e t w e e n t h e b a n k a n d th e
P a y m e n t P la n w a s p u t in t o o p e r a t io n in
p a r t ic ip a t in g d e n t is t s .
O c to b e r 1 9 5 0 . S in c e th a t tim e , m o r e th a n
T h e s e f o u r d u t ie s a r e a ll- in c lu s iv e , a n d
7 0 ,0 0 0 n o te s t o t a lin g a lit t le o v e r 18 m il
t h e b o a r d o f g o v e r n o r s c o n t r o ls t h e p la n .
lio n d o lla r s h a v e b e e n p r o c e s s e d . D u r in g
I f th e
t h is
h e ld
p e r io d ,
m any
p r o b le m s
have
been
c o n t r o l o f t h e s e p r o g r a m s is n o t
by
th e
d e n ta l
s o c ie ty ,
th e
p la n
is
m e t a n d h a n d le d th a t h a d n o t b e e n a n
doom ed
tic ip a te d . L o s A n g e le s C o u n ty h a s h a d a
tis ts m u s t n o t a l l o w
t r e m e n d o u s in f lu x o f p e o p le in t h e p a s t
th e
s ix
s e n te d to th e p a tie n t. T h e d e n tis t-p a tie n t
yea rs,
and,
b ecau se
of
its
s iz e
and
t o e n c o u n t e r tr o u b le . T h e d e n
m anner
p o p u la t io n , t h e r e h a v e b e e n o b s t a c le s t o
r e la tio n s h ip
c o n s id e r
je o p a r d y .
never
and
have
p r o v id e
been
fo r
th a t
e n c o u n te r e d
w o u ld
in
m any
The
in
m u st
board
th e b a n k to d ic ta te
w h ic h
th e
never
w orks
n o te be
is
pre
p la c e d
d ir e c tly
w ith
in and
a r e a s . W it h a r o u n d 5 0 c it ie s in t h e a r e a
c o n t r o ls t h e p o lic y p e r t a in in g t o t h e p la n
and
o f th e
164 b ra n ch es o f th e
bank
th r o u g h
bank
and
its b r a n c h e s ;
e n fo r c e s
w h ic h t h e p la n o p e r a t e s , t h e n e c e s s it y fo r
e s ta b lis h e d
a g o o d , o r g a n iz e d a d m in is t r a t io n r e a d ily
b o a r d s a n d th e m e m b e r s h ip in fo r m e d o f
ca n b e seen.
a n y c h a n g e s ; a n d a d ju d ic a te s m a tte r s b e
p o lic ie s ;
k eep s
th e
d is tr ic t
t w e e n t h e b a n k a n d t h e d e n tis t, t h e b a n k and
A D M IN IST R A T IO N
th e
p a tie n t o r th e
p a tie n t w h e n
th e p la n
d e n tis t a n d
th e
is in v o lv e d , a n d
B e c a u s e o f t h e g e o g r a p h ic a l s iz e o f L o s
r e s tr ic ts o r r e v o k e s t h e u s e o f t h e p la n i f
A n g e le s C o u n ty , t h e L o s A n g e le s C o u n ty
s u c h a c t io n is in d ic a t e d .
D en ta l
S o c ie ty
is d iv id e d
in to
fiv e
d is
T h e S o c ie ty b e lie v e s th a t t h e b o a r d o f
t r ic t s o c ie t ie s . O n e m e m b e r f r o m e a c h o f
governors
th e
board
c o u n s e l. T h e s o c ie tie s in e a c h s ta te m a y
o f g o v ern o rs. T h e m e m b e r s o f th e b o ar d
fin d t h a t t h e s t a t u t e s d if f e r o n ly s lig h t ly
o f g o v e r n o r s serv e
th r e e ye a rs, a n d
fr o m th o s e o f t h e n e ig h b o r in g sta te , a n d ,
t h e te r m s a r e r o t a t e d t o a s s u r e a m a j o r it y
t h e r e f o r e , t h e s o c ie t y m u s t in v e s t ig a t e a ll
o f e x p e r ie n c e d m e m b e r s a t a ll tim e s . B e
p o s s ib le r a m if ic a t io n s in o r d e r t o f o llo w
s id e s t h e s e f iv e m e m b e r s , t h e r e is a c h a ir
c o r r e c t p r o c e d u r e s . M a n y p r o b le m s w it h
d is t r ic t
m an
who
s o c ie tie s
serve s
fo r
m a y b e fr o m
on
a
an y on e
o f th e
s h o u ld
have
is i n
an
o b ta in le g a l g u id a n c e .
on
th e
board
no
m a tte r
le g a l
le g a l im p lic a t io n s c r o p u p a f te r t h e p la n
d is t r ic t s . E a c h d is t r ic t r e p r e s e n t a t iv e h a s eq u a l v o te
a d e q u a te
o p e r a tio n , m a k in g it im p e r a tiv e to
w h a t t h e n u m e r ic a l s t r e n g t h o f h is d is tr ic t m a y b e . E a c h d is t r ic t r e p r e s e n t a t iv e fo llo w s th r o u g h
on
any
E SSE N T IA L
F EA T U R ES
d e ta ils n e e d in g
a t t e n t io n in h is a r e a .
A b u d g e t p a y m e n t p la n , t o b e s u c c e s s f u l,
T h e d u tie s o f t h e b o a r d o f g o v e r n o r s
s h o u ld h a v e in c o r p o r a t e d in it c e r t a in e s
a r e ( 1 ) t o c o n s id e r a ll m a t t e r s p e r t a in in g
s e n t i a l f e a t u r e s . O n e o f t h e s e is a s i m p l e ,
to th e p la n ,
a n d y e t p r o p e r , p r e s e n t a t io n o f t h e p la n
th e p la n , in
(3 )
e x is te n c e
(2 )
t o s e t u p a ll p o lic ie s o f
to s tu d y 's im ila r p ro g r a m s e ls e w h e r e
and
c o n tin u a lly
to im p r o v e a n d e n h a n c e th e L o s A n g e le s C o u n ty D e n t a l S o c ie ty p la n
and
(4 )
to
C G3 ’ D ■ ” t G)
, O KG’ x KH | Kv ■ ’ SKB 3 ■ t y P Gy “ ■ ” t P )
“ G”
” K’ & , G”
.
L K&
A”
|■ ) ■ &
C Ku ” t y
BUDGET PA YM EN T P RO G RA M S . . . V O L U M E 56, FEBRU ARY 1958 • 169
by th e
d e n tis t to
th e
p a tie n t. T h e n o te
s h o u ld b e e x p la in e d t o t h e p a t ie n t , c r e d it
th e
in c e p tio n
of
th e
p la n ,
th e
am ount
w ith h e ld b y th e b a n k w a s 5 p e r c e n t o f
in fo r m a tio n s h o u ld b e o b ta in e d , t h e to ta l
th e fa c e v a lu e o f e a c h n o te , b u t, a s o f a
a m o u n t o f th e n o te s h o u ld b e s ta te d , a n d
year
th e
charged
b e c a u s e o f th e g o o d e x p e r ie n c e w ith th e
s h o u ld b e d is c u s s e d . T h e p a t ie n t s h o u ld
lo s s r a t io . T h e d e n t is t n o w r e c e iv e s 9 6 p e r
am ount
b e to ld
of
in te r e s t
to
be
th a t h e m a y m a k e p a y m e n ts a t
a n y b r a n c h o f t h e b a n k t h a t is c o n v e n ie n t ta k in g
up
to
18
to
4
per cen t
c e n t o f th e v a lu e o f e a c h n o t e , p a y a b le in f u ll in a d v a n c e .
a n d t h a t h e m a y p a y th e n o te in m o n th ly in s t a llm e n t s ,
a g o , it w a s r e d u c e d
T here
are
so m e
b a s ic
p r in c ip le s t h a t
m o n th s.
t h e S o c ie t y b e lie v e s s h o u ld b e a d h e r e d t o
A n o t h e r e s s e n t ia l f e a t u r e is t o k e e p t h e
in o r d e r to b r in g a b o u t a w o r k a b le a n d
p a p e r w o r k t o a m in im u m f o r t h e d e n t is t ,
s a t is f a c t o r y r e la t io n s h ip b e t w e e n t h e d e n
th e b a n k , th e p a tie n t a n d th e d e n ta l s o
t is t , t h e p a t ie n t , t h e b a n k a n d t h e d e n t a l
c ie ty . T h e c o n t r a c t b e t w e e n
s o c ie ty in th e o p e r a tio n o f th e L o s A n g e le s
th e p a r tic i
p a tin g d e n tis t a n d th e b a n k a n d , to o , th e
C o u n ty
c o n tr a c t b e tw e e n th e d e n ta l s o c ie ty a n d
T h e s e p r in c ip le s a r e a s fo llo w s :
D e n ta l
S o c ie ty
P aym ent
P la n .
th e b a n k s h o u ld b e sh o r t a n d t o t h e p o in t — in
te r m in o lo g y ,
u n d e r sta n d .
ea sy
fo r
everyone
F rom
th e
L o s A n g e le s
c i e t y ’s e x p e r i e n c e ,
t h is
ty p e
of
1.
to So
co n tr a c t
T h e r e s h o u ld b e n o c h a r g e b y th e
d e n tis t fo r
broken
p o in tm e n ts a s a
h as b e e n a d e q u a te . I t s h o u ld b e m e n tio n e d
a ls o t h a t t h e
a p p o in tm e n ts .
o f f ic e s m a k e c h a r g e s f o r
M any
“n o -sh o w ”
ap
r o u tin e p r o c e d u r e , b u t
t h is c a n n o t b e d o n e w h e n t h e p l a n is b e
le n g t h o f t im e in p r o c e s s in g t h e n o t e s is
in g u s e d . W h e n t h e p l a n is in v o lv e d , t o o
im p o r ta n t
m a n y c o m p lic a t io n s r e s u lt in t h e j u s t if i
d e n tis t. sh o u ld
to
An g iv e
b o th
th e
e ffic ie n tly an
p a tie n t
and
bank
c a tio n o f th e b r o k e n a p p o in tm e n t. T h e r e
r e je c tio n
fo r e , t h e S o c ie ty s ta n d s b y t h e r u le o f n o
o p e r a tin g
a cc e p ta n c e
or
th e
c h a r g e fo r b r o k e n a p p o in tm e n ts .
w ith in t w o d a y s. A n o th e r
e s s e n tia l
fe a tu r e
is
th a t
th e
b a n k a s s ig n o n e r e s p o n s ib le in d iv id u a l in it s o w n
in s titu tio n
to
c o o r d in a te
in fo r
m a t io n , p o lic ie s a n d in s t r u c t io n s t h r o u g h out
a ll
its
b ran ch es.
S o m e tim e s ,
th ere
a re m is u n d e r s ta n d in g s b e tw e e n t h e fo u r p a r tie s in v o lv e d
(d e n tis t, p a tie n t, d e n ta l
s o c ie t y a n d b a n k ) , a n d t h is lia is o n p e r s o n s h o u ld b e t h e o n e to w o r k w it h t h e d e n ta l s o c ie ty . An
e s s e n tia l fe a tu r e
to
th e
d e n t i s t is
th e e lim in a t io n o f r e c o u r se . D e n tis ts , a s a r u le , w ill n o t s u p p o r t a n y
p la n o f f i
n a n c in g in w h ic h th e fe a tu r e o f r e c o u r se is r e t a in e d . T h e r e f o r e , t h e
2.
I n in s ta n c e s o f u n c o m p le t e d w o r k ,
th e d e n tis t m u s t r e fu n d to th e b a n k th e e n tir e a m o u n t d u e fo r t h e u n c o m p le te d s e r v ic e s. T w o m a d e c le a r in
o r th r e e p o in ts s h o u ld regard to
be
th is m a tte r . I f
th e d e n ta l tr e a tm e n t h a s b e e n c o n c lu d e d o r , in t h e in s ta n c e o f a p r o s th e tic r e sto r a t io n , t h e a p p lia n c e is r e a d y f o r in s e r t io n in to
th e
m o u th , b u t
th e
p a tie n t n e v e r
c o m e s b a c k t o r e c e i v e i t , t h e w o r k is c o n sid e r e d
c o m p le te d .
If
an
in la y
is
ca st,
fin is h e d a n d r e a d y t o b e p u t in p la c e , th e r e s t o r a t io n is c o n s id e r e d c o m p le t e d a s f a r a s t h e p a y m e n t p l a n is c o n c e r n e d .
L o s A n g e le s
C o u n ty D e n t a l S o c ie ty P a y m e n t P la n w a s
3.
T h e m in im u m n o t e is $ 1 0 0 . T h e r e
s e t u p w i t h a lo s s r e s e r v e f u n d . T h is f u n d
is n o m a x im u m . T h e r e a s o n f o r t h is m i n i
w a s e s t a b l i s h e d a n d is m a i n t a i n e d t h r o u g h
m u m a m o u n t is o b v i o u s : t h e b a n k c a n n o t
th e d e d u c tio n o f a p e r c e n ta g e fr o m
a f f o r d t o d o p a p e r w o r k f o r le s s t h a n $ 6 .
p r in c ip a l o f e a c h
n o te . F ro m
th e
th is fu n d ,
w h ic h is t h e p r o p e r t y o f t h e S o c ie t y , a ll
4.
lo s s e s f r o m f a i l u r e o f p a t i e n t s t o p a y t h e
so c ie ty
M em b ers d ro p p ed fr o m th e d e n ta l
b a la n c e o f th e ir n o te s a r e d e d u c te d . A t
be
fo r
dropped
nonpaym ent im m e d ia te ly
o f d u e s s h o u ld fr o m
th e
pay
170 • T H E J O U R N A L O F T H E A M E R I C A N D EN T A L A SSO C I A T I O N
m e n t p la n b e c a u s e a m e m b e r o f th e p la n
a n d 8 p e r c e n t . I n f a c t , th is a r r a n g e m e n t
s h o u ld b e a m e m b e r o f t h e d e n t a l s o c ie t y .
is a d v a n t a g e o u s to t h e p a t ie n t , a s i t h e lp s
5.
M em bers
g o in g
in to
th e
m ilita r y
h im to b u ild a g o o d c r e d it r a t in g w it h th e
s e r v ic e s h o u ld m a in ta in th e ir s ta tu s i n th e
bank
p la n w ith o u t h a v in g t o p a y th e te n d o lla r
liq u id a tin g th e n o te .
w h ile
In
e n tr a n c e f e e o n r e tu r n in g . T h e d if fe r e n c e
h is
m o n th ly
th e b e g in n in g
p a y m e n ts
o f th e
L os
are
A n g e le s
h e r e is t h a t , w h e n a m e m b e r is d r o p p e d
p l a n , i t w a s t h e S o c i e t y ’s i n t e n t t o b r i n g
fo r n o n p a y m e n t o f d u e s, h e d o e s p a y th e
b etter
10
a r e a , a n d t h is o b j e c t iv e h a s b e e n a d h e r e d
d o lla r e n tr a n c e f e e w h e n
b e in g r e in
U n c o m p le te d
w ork
of
a
d eceased
d e n tis t s h o u ld b e p a id fo r b y h is e sta te . 7. in g
T h e p o lic y o f th e b a n k in p r o c e s s th e
lo a n s
to
m ore
p e o p le
to . O c c a s io n a lly , h o w e v e r , a f e w
s t a t e d in t h e p la n . 6.
d e n tis tr y
s h o u ld
be
s im ila r
to
th e
in
th e
p e o p le
h a v e b een en co u n te r e d w h o sto p p e d p a y in g
th e ir b a n k
n o te s b e c a u se
n o t s a t is f ie d w it h
th ey w ere
th e d e n ta l w o r k fo r a
n u m b e r o f re a so n s. T h e ir p r o b le m s h a d to b e c o n s id e r e d a n d
h a n d le d
in
a n in
p r o c e d u r e f o llo w e d in r e g a r d t o its o w n
te llig e n t a n d
“o v er -th e -c o u n te r ”
o f f i c e o f t h e S o c i e t y u s u a l l y i s a l e r t e d f ir s t
lo a n s .
The
p a t i e n t ’s
fa ir m a n n e r . T h e
b u s in e s s
c r e d it s h o u ld b e c h e c k e d , th e a m o u n t o f
to
th e lo a n s h o u ld n o t b e o v e r
10 p er cen t
a t t e m p t e d a t t h is l e v e l, b u t , w h e n i t c a n
of
h is
annual
d is a g r e e m e n t.
S e ttle m e n t
is
in fo r m a tio n
n o t b e a c c o m p l i s h e d , t h e p a t i e n t ’s c o m p l a i n t is r e f e r r e d t o a n o t h e r o f f i c i a l b o d y
li a b ilit ie s
o f th e
w h ic h
and
a
s h o u ld b e o b ta in e d a s to o th e r fin a n c ia l fo r
s a la r y ,
su ch
he
m ig h t
be
o b li
L os
A n g e le s
C o u n ty
D e n ta l
So
g a t e d . M a n y tim e s, t h e d e n t is t h a s p e r t i
c ie ty , n a m e ly , t h e C o u n s e lin g C o m m it t e e .
nent
T h is
in fo r m a tio n
about
th e
p a t i e n t ’s
f in a n c ia l p o s itio n , a n d , w h e n h e c o n sid e r s
c o m m itte e
is
com p osed
of
a
very
c o m p e t e n t g r o u p o f d e n t is ts w h o a r e e x
th is in fo r m a t io n o f v a lu e to t h e b a n k , h e
t r e m e ly w e ll q u a lifie d
s h o u ld v o lu n t e e r it.
o n t h e d e n t a l s e r v ic e s r e c e iv e d . T h e y d e
to p a ss
ju d g m e n t
c id e a s to t h e c a lib e r o f th e w o r k c o m p le te d a n d in fo r m th e b o a r d o f g o v e r n o r s
D EV ELO PM EN T O F PLA N
w h e th e r S o m e fa c to r s th a t s h o u ld in
t h e d e v e lo p m e n t a n d
b u d g e t p a y m e n t p la n
be
c o n s id e r e d
e x p a n s io n
are th a t
(1 )
of a th e
board
th e
w ork
a c c e p ts
th e
is
s a tis fa c to r y .
The
r e c o m m e n d a tio n s
of
th e C o u n s e lin g C o m m itte e a n d p r o c e e d s a c c o r d in g ly .
p la n m u s t b e b e n e fic ia l to e v e r y o n e p a r t i c i p a t i n g , s o t h a t a d e s i r e f o r i t s u s e is p r e se n t;
(2 )
E D U C A T IO N A L P R O G R A M
th e m e c h a n ic s o f th e p la n
s h o u ld b e s im p lif ie d to f a c i l i t a t e e a s e in
T h e fa c to r s ju s t r e v ie w e d
h a n d lin g b y th e d e n tis t, t h e b a n k a n d th e
p o r ta n t to th e d e v e lo p m e n t a n d
d e n ta l
s io n o f a b u d g e t p l a n , b u t t h e r e m u s t b e
s o c ie ty ;
(3 )
th e
p o lic ie s
of
th e
are
m o st im expan
b a n k a n d th e b o a rd o f g o v ern o rs m u st b e
a n e d u c a tio n a l p r o g r a m to m a k e it e ffe c
u n d e r s to o d c o m p le te ly b y a ll c o n c e r n e d ,
t iv e . W h e n
a n d th e n th e se p o lic ie s m u s t b e e n fo r c e d
tio n a l
a n d a d h e r e d to , a n d
p la n is k e p t e n t h u s ia s t ic , a n d h e is w illin g
( 4 ) t h e p la n s h o u ld
t h e r e is a n
program ,
th e
e ffe c tiv e
d e n tis t
educa
u s in g
th e
g iv e th e e th ic a l d e n tis ts a r e a l o p p o r tu n
to
ity to d o g o o d
f o r t h e ir c o n v e n ie n c e . H e is a l s o p le a s e d
d e n ta l w o rk
a n d , a t th e
recom m en d
th e
p la n
to
h is
p a tie n ts
s a m e t im e , t o a r r iv e a t a d e s ir a b le f in a n
to
c ia l a r r a n g e m e n t w ith t h e p a tie n t, w h e r e
c o m p le tio n o f a r r a n g e m e n ts f o r t h e n o te ,
b y th e
p a tie n t m a y
w ork on
a b u d g e te d
pay
fo r th e
program
d e n ta l
and
at a
fa ir in te r e s t r a te — s o m e w h e r e b e t w e e n 6
r e c e iv e
paym ent
fr o m
th e
bank
on
a llo w in g h i m t o p a y t h e d e n t a l la b o r a t o r y fe e s
w ith o u t
b u r d e n in g
h is
o ffic e
w ith
c o lle c tio n p r o b le m s . D e n tis ts w h o a r e n e w
BU DGET PA YM EN T PRO G RA M S . . . V O L U M E 56, FEBRU ARY 1958 •
p a r t ic ip a n t s in t h e p la n h a v e a n in s t r u c
D e n t a l A s s o c ia tio n , n o
tio n c la s s a t t h e t im e o f t h e ir in d u c t io n .
t o t h e p u b l i c h a s b e e n c a r r ie d o u t .
o th e r
171
p r o m o t io n
T h e s e d e n t is t s s h o u ld r e c e iv e e d u c a t io n a l p r e p a r a tio n o n h o w how
to u se th e p la n , o n
C O N C L U S IO N
t o p r e s e n t it to th e p a t ie n t a n d o n
t h e ir r e s p o n s ib ilit y t o t h e b a n k a n d t o t h e
The
d e n t a l s o c ie ty .
h e r e a s e s s e n t ia l fo r a n e f f e c t iv e b u d g e t
A ll m e m b e r s o f th e p la n m u s t b e k e p t
p r in c ip le s
and
fe a tu r e s
p r e se n te d
p a y m e n t p la n a r e o n ly a p a r t o f th e c o m
in fo r m e d b y le tte r o r p r in te d m a tte r a s to
p le t e d p r o g r a m . T h i s d is c u s s io n w o u ld b e
a c tio n s o f th e b o a r d o f g o v e r n o r s r e g a r d
r e m is s i f i t f a ile d t o in c lu d e m e n t io n o f
o r p o lic y .
th e
p u b lic in
b r in g s to t h e p u b lic b e t t e r d e n t a l h e a lt h
t h e L o s A n g e le s a r e a is b y w o r d o f m o u t h
c a r e , w it h a c o n s id e r a b le s a v in g o f tim e
fr o m
fo r t h e d e n tis t b e c a u s e h e c a n p la n a p
in g
a n y c h a n g e s in
The
o p e r a tio n
o n ly p r o m o tio n
to
th e
th e p a tie n ts o r b y t h e little p la s tic
fa c t
th a t
a
budget
p o in tm e n ts
tic ip a tin g
g a r d to a p a y -a s -y o u -g o a r r a n g e m e n t.
In
o r d e r to
c o n fo r m
o p e r a tio n s
p la n
p la q u e o n t h e d e s k in t h e o f fic e s o f p a r d e n t is t s .
and
paym ent
w ith o u t
re
1 4 2 7 S a n M a r in o A v e n u e
to t h e r e c o m m e n d a tio n o f t h e A m e r ic a n
P R O B L E M S A N D R E S P O N S IB IL IT IE S O F T H E B A N K IN T H E O P E R A T IO N O F A D E N T A L B U D G E T P A Y M E N T PLA N E m e r y J . G e s e ll, D e tr o it T h e D e t r o i t B a n k a n d T r u s t C o m p a n y in
p a r t o f th e d e n tis t to q u e s tio n a p a tie n t
c o n ju n c tio n
D is tr ic t
r e g a r d in g t h e p a y m e n t f o r s e r v ic e s i f t h e
p la n
c h a r g e s a m o u n t e d t o m o r e t h a n a s m a ll
D e n ta l
w ith
S o c ie ty
th e
D e tr o it
com m enced
its
of
fin a n c in g d e n ta l c a r e in 1 9 4 1 , w ith so m e
f e e a n d t o e x p la in t h is p la n o f f in a n c in g
s u b s e q u e n t m o d if ic a t io n . P a r t ic ip a t io n in
in
th is p l a n is a r r a n g e d t h r o u g h t h e D e t r o it
b e p e r fo r m e d if p a y m e n t o f th e o b lig a
D is t r ic t D e n t a l S o c ie t y a n d a d e n t a l p la n
t i o n w e r e a p r o b le m .
c o m m is s io n
com p osed
of
o u ts ta n d in g
order
th a t
th e
d e n ta l
s e r v ic e s
c o u ld
T h is m e th o d o f o b ta in in g p a y m e n t fo r s e r v ic e s r e lie v e s t h e d e n t is t o f t h e r e s p o n
d e n t is t s in t h e s o c ie t y . T h e r e a l o b je c tiv e s in th e fo r m u la tio n
s ib ilit y o f c o lle c t in g concern
a c c o u n ts . C o n s id e r
o f th e p la n w e r e t o p r o v id e d e n ta l w o r k
a b le
a b o u t p a y m e n t fo r d e n ta l
fo r in d iv id u a ls n o t fin a n c ia lly a b le to p a y
w o r k c a n d e v e l o p i f t h e d e n t i s t f i n d s h e is
a c o m p a r a t iv e ly la r g e a m o u n t f o r n e e d e d
c a r r y in g c h a r g e s f o r
d e n t a l s e r v ic e s a n d t o m a k e f u n d s a v a il
o f h is p a t ie n t s o n t h e b o o k s . W h e n h e is
a b le fo r th is p u r p o s e b y p u r c h a s in g n o te s
n o t f a c e d w it h c o lle c t io n p r o b le m s , m o r e
s ig n e d
by
p a tie n ts ,
th e d e n tis ts . T h e been
a c cu sto m e d
b ile s ,
fu r n itu r e ,
w ith
no
lia b ilit y
to
average con su m er h as to
fin a n c in g
a p p lia n c e s
and
tim e
can
be
a
d e v o te d
good
to
p e r c e n ta g e
t h e p r a c tic e
of
d e n t is t r y , f o r w h ic h h e w a s tr a in e d .
a u to m o
I t w a s r e c o g n iz e d th a t th e r e w o u ld b e
v a r io u s
p r o b le m s in f in a n c in g s e r v ic e s o f t h is t y p e
o th e r c o m m o d itie s o n a m o n th ly p a y m e n t
b e c a u s e o f t h e b a n k ’s l a c k o f k n o w l e d g e
b a s is .
o f fe es
C o n s e q u e n tly ,
it
w as
c o n s id e r e d
or
th e
d e n ta l
w ork
p e rfo rm ed ,
fe a s ib le f o r d e n t a l se r v ic e s to b e p a id fo r in t h e s a m e m a n n e r . I t w a s d e t e r m in e d t h a t t h e r e s h o u ld b e n o h e s it a n c y o n t h e
A & & 3 & t G” t
B G& 3 ■
’
,
D■ t ’
K3
t
B G”
(
& T ’ u & t C K“
: G”
y.