Precision Endodontics, LTD

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Mr [redacted] again.We categorically deny all allegations and accusations made by RS.Precison Endodontics does not offer free consulations and there is nothing on the website that indicated this.The financial policy of Precision Endodontics is clearly outlined in the patient registration packet that was emailed to RS and he filled out prior to the appointment.The FP states that payment is required at the time services are rendered.RS acknowleges that this is clearly stated.Prior to the appointment, no services have been rendered, hence the balance of $0.00.Professional services are rendered during the initial consulation, diagnosis and treatment planning in addition to the actual treatment.A patient's out of pocket cost for a specific procedure depends on several factors, including but not limited to: the particular dental issue, the imaging required, the dental insurance, the patient responsibility.For a prospective patient with an unknown dental issue who calls the office requesting a quote for a specific procedure, there is no reasonable basis to provide a quote before seeing the patient nor can the staff do so based solely on what the patient believes may be the issue.A consultation and diagnosis is legally required prior to performing dental treatment, and is not "deceptive practice" as RS alleges.RS told the staff that because it showed a $balance prior to the appointment, the initial consultation was free.The staff told RS that PE does not offer free consultations but if this offer somehow appears on the website, they would honor it.There was no indirect admission of guilt on the part of the staff at PE.RS was offered the same treatment as any patient of PE, and his rights were not restricted.PE did not entrap this patient and there are no secret services.RS never asked PE before his initial office visit if there was a fee for the consulation, and it was required to provide the requested quote for the procedure

My dental provider suggested I call PE to mk certain tht my portion of expense an apico procedure at PE hadn’t changedI informed PE of my provider they still withheldI wasn’t an out-of-pocket patient bc I had a providerNo one at PE told me there ws a fee nor did anyone state a specific amount for a consultI could have simply denied or contacted my provider to c if they covered cost for consultI was never given this opportunityDuring my initial call, I believe the staff purposely denied this info so they could make cash off of a consultBy withholding info, it prevents patients from declining a visitThe fact that a fee was never stated during the first call, on their site or within the facility indicates a questionable form of deceitPE was of endo I called to hve a fee for consultAt min, there should be a base amount stated EVERY patient consultIn addition, it should be stated that other fees may apply, if further eval is neededThe statement regarding the Financial P portion is pretty standardIt is always understood that payment in any industry is required at the time services r renderedThis however does not address deceptive practices to obtain paymentThere is a diff betwn a consult and obtaining a new patientA new patient equals a transfer of care, while a consult is an opinion/advice regarding management of a specific problemSpecifically, a consult should always b distinguished from other services and patient careThe staff informed me tht my claim would b honored if I went back onto their site, screenshot the section stating a $account balance and emailThis was to show how it ws misleadingI did as advised, which is stated on the audio tape of this provided to the [redacted] PE never insisted tht her front desk staff inform patients tht there is a fee for all consults or services until aft my visitThis is an indirect admission of guiltI was not offered this same privilege, restricting my rights

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Mr. [redacted] again.We categorically deny all allegations and accusations made by RS.Precison Endodontics does not offer free consulations and there is nothing on the website that indicated this.The financial policy of Precision Endodontics is clearly outlined in the patient registration packet that was emailed to RS and he filled out prior to the appointment.The FP states that payment is required at the time services are rendered.RS acknowleges that this is clearly stated.Prior to the appointment, no services have been rendered, hence the balance of $0.00.Professional services are rendered during the initial consulation, diagnosis and treatment planning in addition to the actual treatment.A patient's out of pocket cost for a specific procedure depends on several factors, including but not limited to: the particular dental issue, the imaging required, the dental insurance, the patient responsibility.For a prospective patient with an unknown dental issue who calls the office requesting a quote for a specific procedure, there is no reasonable basis to provide a quote before seeing the patient nor can the staff do so based solely on what the patient believes may be the issue.A consultation and diagnosis is legally required prior to performing dental treatment, and is not "deceptive practice" as RS alleges.RS told the staff that because it showed a $0.00 balance prior to the appointment, the initial consultation was free.The staff told RS that PE does not offer free consultations but if this offer somehow appears on the website, they would honor it.There was no indirect admission of guilt on the part of the staff at PE.RS was offered the same treatment as any patient of PE, and his rights were not restricted.PE did not entrap this patient and there are no secret services.RS never asked PE before his initial office visit if there was a fee for the consulation, and it was required to provide the requested quote for the procedure.

The patient came to an erroneous conclusion that there was a free initial consultation after completing Precision Endodontics New Patient Registration Packet online the day before his initial appointment. PE does not offer free initial consultations and there was nothing on the website that...

indicated as such. No one at PE told the patient that his initial consultation would be free before his August 31, 2017 appointment. The patient arrived at this unfounded belief of a free initial consultation because the Account Balance contained in the New Patient Registration Packet showed a $0.00 balance the day BEFORE his initial appointment, as no services had been rendered. The Financial Policy in the New Patient Registration Packet, and on the PE website stated that payment was required at the time services are rendered.  A patient’s out-of-pocket cost for an initial consultation depends on several factors such as:the particular dental problem at issue;the extent of the evaluation;etc.For a prospective patient with a dental issue who calls the office requesting a quote for an initial consultation, there is no reasonable basis to provide a quote before seeing the patient nor can the staff do so based solely on what the patient believes is the issue. After this patient’s initial consultation, the patient told the PE staff that because it showed $0.00 account balance on the New Patient Registration Packet the day before his appointment, the initial consultation was free. The staff told the patient that PE did not offer free consultations, but if a free initial consultation somehow appeared on the website, they would honor it. Because the $0.00 account balance language does not indicate a free initial consultation, we asked the patient respectfully to pay his bill. In conclusion, Precision Endodontics did not entrap this patient and there are no "secret services."

My dental provider suggested I call PE to mk certain tht my portion of expense 4 an apico procedure at PE hadn’t changed. I informed PE of my provider they still withheld. I wasn’t an out-of-pocket patient bc I had a provider. No one at PE told me there ws a fee nor did anyone state a specific amount for a consult. I could have simply denied or contacted my provider to c if they covered cost for consult. I was never given this opportunity. During my initial call, I believe the staff purposely denied this info so they could make cash off of a consult. By withholding info, it prevents patients from declining a visit. The fact that a fee was never stated during the first call, on their site or within the facility indicates a questionable form of deceit. PE was 1 of 6 endo I called to hve a fee for consult. At min, there should be a base amount stated 4 EVERY patient consult. In addition, it should be stated that other fees may apply, if further eval is needed. The statement regarding the Financial P portion is pretty standard. It is always understood that payment in any industry is required at the time services r rendered. This however does not address deceptive practices to obtain payment. There is a diff betwn a consult and obtaining a new patient. A new patient equals a transfer of care, while a consult is an opinion/advice regarding management of a specific problem. Specifically, a consult should always b distinguished from other services and patient care. The staff informed me tht my claim would b honored if I went back onto their site, screenshot the section stating a $0.00 account balance and email. This was to show how it ws misleading. I did as advised, which is stated on the audio tape of this provided to the [redacted] PE never insisted tht her front desk staff inform patients tht there is a fee for all consults or services until aft my visit. This is an indirect admission of guilt. I was not offered this same privilege, restricting my rights.