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Third party programs: implications for the future
Opinion of Other Journals
Third party programs: implications for the future
comes as a shock to most of us that the supposedly invulnerable American economy is showing signs of stress. The energy crisis, the fuel shortage and threat of rationing, the sharp decline of the stock market, industry shut-downs, and the generally unsettled state of the world have shaken confidence in the future. Predic tions of a recession add to the gathering gloom. Dentists too have begun to feel the pinch in shortages and higher costs of many of the mate rials and supplies we depend on. In the months ahead we can expect to be affected even further as unemployment increases and the cost of living escalates. Added to this is the severe limitation in the dentist’s ability to raise fees commensur ate with the increased cost of operating a prac tice. The prospect looks poor indeed. In times of economic instability, patients are apt to forego or defer elective health services such as dental care, or choose the least costly method of treatm ent. Dentistry on credit be comes more popular as ways for deferring pay ment are sought. It is not likely that times will ever get to be as bad as they were during the great depression of 40 years ago, when many dentists had trouble making a living. There is one buffer that we now have, which did not exist then—the support pro vided by the presence of third party programs, which now make dental treatment available to many people by acting as the fiscal intermediar
8 9 4 ■ E D IT O R IA L / JA D A , V o l. 88, M ay 1974
ies for such care. There are two main types of third party programs, those sponsored by insur ance companies or dental service corporations, such as the Delta Dental Plans, and those ad ministered by government agencies, such as the Medicaid program. As third party programs have proliferated, the number of people who have some degree of dental coverage has increased immensely. These could be an influential factor in keeping dentists busy in hard times. Dentists who have shied away from partici pating in dental service plans, or treating patients under programs such as Medicaid would do well to reevaluate their attitudes toward them. They will be an ever increasing source of dentists’ in comes in days to come. Some of our readers, particularly those in in dustrial or metropolitan areas, where dental in surance plans and the Medicaid program are an accepted way of life, may wonder why comment about them is necessary. We find it needed be cause all too many dentists fail to understand the profession’s stake in them. We cannot ignore them, if we are truly committed, as our leaders state, to finding ways of bringing dental care to everyone who wants it. Third party programs are here to stay. Let us turn them to our advantage. Robert I. Kaplan R eprinted with perm ission from the J o u rn a l o f th e A m e ric a n C o lle g e o f D e n tis ts 4 1 :14 Jan 1974.
Third party programs: implications for the future
comes as a shock to most of us that the supposedly invulnerable American economy is showing signs of stress. The energy crisis, the fuel shortage and threat of rationing, the sharp decline of the stock market, industry shut-downs, and the generally unsettled state of the world have shaken confidence in the future. Predic tions of a recession add to the gathering gloom. Dentists too have begun to feel the pinch in shortages and higher costs of many of the mate rials and supplies we depend on. In the months ahead we can expect to be affected even further as unemployment increases and the cost of living escalates. Added to this is the severe limitation in the dentist’s ability to raise fees commensur ate with the increased cost of operating a prac tice. The prospect looks poor indeed. In times of economic instability, patients are apt to forego or defer elective health services such as dental care, or choose the least costly method of treatm ent. Dentistry on credit be comes more popular as ways for deferring pay ment are sought. It is not likely that times will ever get to be as bad as they were during the great depression of 40 years ago, when many dentists had trouble making a living. There is one buffer that we now have, which did not exist then—the support pro vided by the presence of third party programs, which now make dental treatment available to many people by acting as the fiscal intermediar
8 9 4 ■ E D IT O R IA L / JA D A , V o l. 88, M ay 1974
ies for such care. There are two main types of third party programs, those sponsored by insur ance companies or dental service corporations, such as the Delta Dental Plans, and those ad ministered by government agencies, such as the Medicaid program. As third party programs have proliferated, the number of people who have some degree of dental coverage has increased immensely. These could be an influential factor in keeping dentists busy in hard times. Dentists who have shied away from partici pating in dental service plans, or treating patients under programs such as Medicaid would do well to reevaluate their attitudes toward them. They will be an ever increasing source of dentists’ in comes in days to come. Some of our readers, particularly those in in dustrial or metropolitan areas, where dental in surance plans and the Medicaid program are an accepted way of life, may wonder why comment about them is necessary. We find it needed be cause all too many dentists fail to understand the profession’s stake in them. We cannot ignore them, if we are truly committed, as our leaders state, to finding ways of bringing dental care to everyone who wants it. Third party programs are here to stay. Let us turn them to our advantage. Robert I. Kaplan R eprinted with perm ission from the J o u rn a l o f th e A m e ric a n C o lle g e o f D e n tis ts 4 1 :14 Jan 1974.