Dental insurance companies can help reduce inefficiencies and enhance patient care in several ways, according to Jordan Cooper, DDS.
Dr. Cooper, of Cooper Family Dentistry in Jacksonville, Ark., recently spoke with Becker's about the changes he wants to see insurers make in 2024:
Editor's note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What changes are you hoping to see from insurers in 2024?
Dr. Jordan Cooper: In 2024, I hope to see insurers acknowledge the growing gap between reimbursements and the rising cost of operating a dental practice. It's crucial for insurers to recognize that not all dental offices offer the same quality of clinical care. Patients and dental offices alike have choices, especially considering capacity constraints, which may lead to decisions to alter plan participation in the best interest of both parties. Finally, the growing prevalence of network leasing adds unnecessary complexity and confusion, with efforts often geared toward decreasing reimbursements.
I believe insurers would be better served by implementing fair reimbursing, direct strategies that benefit all involved. Additionally, collaboration among insurers on the eligibility and verification process is needed. Many current systems are manual and provide incomplete information, leading to inefficiencies and a suboptimal patient experience. By improving access to automated electronic data, insurers and practices alike could realize significant efficiencies. Fortunately, I am an MB2 Dental partner, and they help me navigate all of these concerns, but I see what’s happening to my peers and it creates a real challenge for solo practices.