Another Medical Merger: I can't remember all the medical mergers that have occurred locally over the past few years. Another one is on the way. KINGSTON, N.Y.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I can't remember all the medical mergers that have occurred locally over the past few years. Another one is on the way.

KINGSTON, N.Y. — Nuvance Health, a hospital system that includes Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck and Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, is joining Northwell Health, which serves New York City, Long Island and Westchester, to create one of the 10 largest non-for-profit healthcare entities in the United States.

Billing is often messed up, and it takes about three months to receive a bill after a visit to the doctor. Since this new system will be even larger, I expect service to decline even more.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

jerryc41 wrote:

I can't remember all the medical mergers that have... (show quote)

Yes, slow in every aspect of medical billing and pay. A lot of doctors now do not treat patients who pay by Medicare. Recently my dentist's office of the last thirty years dropped Delta Dental as an acceptable payment plan. They will still send bills through Delta but no longer accept their adjusted payment. Whatever Delta doesn't pay, the balance will be passed on to the patient. I just received a bill from my dentist for my last cleaning and x-rays. This was covered 100% in the past but this time I'm being charged 31.00. Not a big deal for cleaning and x-rays, but if I needed heavy-duty dental work like a crown or something, (typically 2-3,000), I would be paying 50% of the cost rather than the 20% as in the past. The cost of everything is escalating at an uncomfortable rate.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

Bridges wrote:

Yes, slow in every aspect of medical billing and p... (show quote)

I've often wondered where the cost was in any kind of dental restoration or repair. Dentists don't have all the operating overhead that a hospital does (smaller building and staff), but to get a crown or veneer is pocket busting.

Stan

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

In New Zealand you pay the doctor or dentist before you leave no matter who eventually ends up paying. Different for surgeons who would expect a bank transfer very quickly after you have left the hospital unless prior approval has been obtained from your insurance. And remember we have done away with checks. Things are tightening up everywhere.

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

jerryc41 wrote:

I can't remember all the medical mergers that have... (show quote)

Forget the bill timing and draw interest on your money. How long does it take to get to see a doctor (or more probably one of his assistants)?

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

StanMac wrote:

I've often wondered where the cost was in any kind of dental restoration or repair. Dentists don't have all the operating overhead that a hospital does (smaller building and staff), but to get a crown or veneer is pocket busting.

Stan

Back about 15 years ago I saw a list of the highest paid people in medicine. #1 was brain surgeon #2 (you most likely would guess heart surgeon as I did) #2 was a dentist #3 was an anesthesiologist #4 was a heart surgeon.

My daughter dated a young man who went to a special dental program after receiving his doctorate in dentistry. The program is offered at only a few schools in the US and he was accepted to both the University of Kentucky and Ohio State. The program has only four students at a time, two in their second year and two in their first year. When he finished this school at Ohio State, he opened two offices, one in South Carolina and one in North Carolina. He spends two days at each of the offices and makes well over a million dollars a year. So now you understand why your dental work costs so much. Two years of school after getting a doctorate and the cost of one or more clinics, and the fact dentists are paid very well.

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

Bridges wrote:

Back about 15 years ago I saw a list of the highes... (show quote)

I'm sorry your daughter only dated him.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

StanMac wrote:

I've often wondered where the cost was in any kind of dental restoration or repair. Dentists don't have all the operating overhead that a hospital does (smaller building and staff), but to get a crown or veneer is pocket busting.

Stan

I don't know how true this is, but I read years ago that dentists and basketball players are the highest paid. It looks like things have changed, but dental prices are ridiculous, and insurance does not cover dental. One root canal would cost me over $2,000. Years ago, it cost me $600, total.

In the United States, the average salary for dentists is $236,728 per year. By comparison, physicians can expect to make a national average salary of $248,010 per year . Salaries often vary according to specialty, employer, years of experience and geographic location. Jun 30, 2023

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the national average annual salary for dentists in general practice was $178,260. This compared with $213,270 for general practitioner and family practice physicians as of May 2019, according to the BLS. The top 25 percent of both dentists and physicians earned at least $208,000 per year. The bottom 25 percent of dentists earned salaries of $113,060 or less per year, while the bottom 25 percent of physicians earned annual salaries of no more than $147,030

tcthome Loc: NJ

Bridges wrote:

Yes, slow in every aspect of medical billing and p... (show quote)

WOW!!! Last time I got a crown/root canal , the crown was $500 & I had to put out $150. Long, long time ago.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

tcthome wrote:

WOW!!! Last time I got a crown/root canal , the crown was $500 & I had to put out $150. Long, long time ago.

Instead of charging for "the job," they charge separately for each part of the whole project.

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

tcthome wrote:

WOW!!! Last time I got a crown/root canal , the crown was $500 & I had to put out $150. Long, long time ago.

Dental implants here cost $5,000 per tooth. I know because I unfortunately have five of them. But they are just like permanent teeth, which is wonderful.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Fredrick wrote:

Dental implants here cost $5,000 per tooth.

Well, there goes my plan for new teeth.

JBuckley

I don't believe the profession of "Dentistry" is as glorious as it seems.
Years ago, while talking with a psychiatrist, he told me that (statistically speaking), that Dentists, had one of the highest rates of mental shortcomings, (and depression), than any other professional field.

Seems to me that (being down in the mouth), could be a natural distraction from leading a joyful life.

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

JBuckley wrote:

I don't believe the profession of "Dentistry" is as glorious as it seems.
Years ago, while talking with a psychiatrist, he told me that (statistically speaking), that Dentists, had one of the highest rates of mental shortcomings, (and depression), than any other professional field.

Seems to me that (being down in the mouth), could be a natural distraction from leading a joyful life.

I believe proctologist would win that award

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

JBuckley wrote:

... Dentists, had one of the highest rates of mental shortcomings, (and depression), than any other professional field.

That doesn't inspire confidence when going to a dentist.

Guilty conscience over the prices they are charging? 😂