Dentist charging a "behavioral fee" for ASD child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP--Just to note, I asked why we were being charged a "behavioral fee," and where we had agreed to do so. After asking several questions about this extra charge, and after other parents in the office also began to take notice, I was told that we no longer had to pay the fee. But please be forewarned about this practice.

NP. The whole thing sounded very tense and stressful for everyone involved, for your DC, you, and the dentists and techs. Maybe you have become accustomed to the stress (tbh, I have not, after so many years, I'm a bit of a wreck now) but the dentists and techs aren't.

You didn't say how old your DC is or how previous other dentist appointments have gone. What is tolerated in young children is less tolerated in older, larger children. Good luck at your next dentist.

OP--thank you. DC is 7 years old and is not a large child, and although DC has anxiety around dental appointments, we've always been able to get through the visit. I am really most upset aby Dr. Shin's clear lack of grace, tolerance, patience, and understanding of kids with disabilities here--and although we ultimately did not have to pay it--a fee that no other dentist that we've visited has ever charged. Maybe this will help her practice in the end, so that she can avoid having additional ND patients in the future. Be forewarned.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm really sorry this happened to you and your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP--Just to note, I asked why we were being charged a "behavioral fee," and where we had agreed to do so. After asking several questions about this extra charge, and after other parents in the office also began to take notice, I was told that we no longer had to pay the fee. But please be forewarned about this practice.

NP. The whole thing sounded very tense and stressful for everyone involved, for your DC, you, and the dentists and techs. Maybe you have become accustomed to the stress (tbh, I have not, after so many years, I'm a bit of a wreck now) but the dentists and techs aren't.

You didn't say how old your DC is or how previous other dentist appointments have gone. What is tolerated in young children is less tolerated in older, larger children. Good luck at your next dentist.

Healthcare providers need to be able to work with people with disabilities. Full stop.

[Anonymous]

That is awful - her rejection of your child as a a patient AND her attempt to charge you for it is totally out of bounds. I don’t do this kind of stuff lightly but I would complain to the professional licensing board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP--Just to note, I asked why we were being charged a "behavioral fee," and where we had agreed to do so. After asking several questions about this extra charge, and after other parents in the office also began to take notice, I was told that we no longer had to pay the fee. But please be forewarned about this practice.

NP. The whole thing sounded very tense and stressful for everyone involved, for your DC, you, and the dentists and techs. Maybe you have become accustomed to the stress (tbh, I have not, after so many years, I'm a bit of a wreck now) but the dentists and techs aren't.

You didn't say how old your DC is or how previous other dentist appointments have gone. What is tolerated in young children is less tolerated in older, larger children. Good luck at your next dentist.

Healthcare providers need to be able to work with people with disabilities. Full stop.

+100. There could be times when it’s clear that the needs are higher (eg needs sedation the office cannot provide) but they cannot just say “too autistic sorry!” and then CHARGE you extra for it!!!

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry OP. I think it’s ok for a provider to admit they aren’t the right fit to handle a patient. Ideally there would be compassion and referral to somewhere that may be equipped to provide the service you need.

But trying to milk a fee out of you after the fact is horrible if you had not agreed to pay any such fee ahead of time. Even more so since you gave them notice of your child’s health issues ahead of time. And what was the point of asking where your child is on the spectrum if she doesn’t even intend to keep treating your kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP--Just to note, I asked why we were being charged a "behavioral fee," and where we had agreed to do so. After asking several questions about this extra charge, and after other parents in the office also began to take notice, I was told that we no longer had to pay the fee. But please be forewarned about this practice.

I mean, to be fair you admitted in your post that your child’s behaviors were a lot. And required extra time and accommodations, which Dr shin provided? (And did YOU give the office advanced notice that this type of extra time and accommodation would be necessary for your child?—and did they “agree” to it?) Just trying to apply your rationale for NOT paying to their rationale for charging to begin with.

The fact that it took extra time and accommodation to successfully complete this appointment was not in dispute by you. But how can they warn you in advance about a special behavioral fee (which probably took extra staff, and time they weren’t prepared for given the regular appointment time allotted) if they don’t have any clue until you get there that there are any special circumstances??

Sounds to me like they were trying to go forward with the appointment as best as possible while also being compensated fairly …and yet when you pitched a fit about it, they removed the fee just to avoid the hassle of you.
And likely wanted to just have you leave in peace.
But you were so ungrateful and resentful that you decided to come on here and trash them online anyway. Wow.

Nothing she said or did seems out of line to me. I’m sorry that you are faced with some challenges in this department, but no one owes you services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP--Just to note, I asked why we were being charged a "behavioral fee," and where we had agreed to do so. After asking several questions about this extra charge, and after other parents in the office also began to take notice, I was told that we no longer had to pay the fee. But please be forewarned about this practice.

NP. The whole thing sounded very tense and stressful for everyone involved, for your DC, you, and the dentists and techs. Maybe you have become accustomed to the stress (tbh, I have not, after so many years, I'm a bit of a wreck now) but the dentists and techs aren't.

You didn't say how old your DC is or how previous other dentist appointments have gone. What is tolerated in young children is less tolerated in older, larger children. Good luck at your next dentist.

Healthcare providers need to be able to work with people with disabilities. Full stop.

+100. There could be times when it’s clear that the needs are higher (eg needs sedation the office cannot provide) but they cannot just say “too autistic sorry!” and then CHARGE you extra for it!!!

Sounds like the reverse was the problem. OP tried to pass this off as just a little dental fear when it was much more. But she won’t admit to child having autism or being on the spectrum so what’s left to assume except that child has “behavior issue”
Doctors can certainly charge a fee for difficult patient. And despite her excuses for it, mom doesn’t deny that child was difficult in the appointment

[Anonymous]

I am sorry OP! I would be so upset. Absolutely agree that medical professionals should be able to deal with SN kids. Sounds like this was really
Mishandled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP--Just to note, I asked why we were being charged a "behavioral fee," and where we had agreed to do so. After asking several questions about this extra charge, and after other parents in the office also began to take notice, I was told that we no longer had to pay the fee. But please be forewarned about this practice.

I mean, to be fair you admitted in your post that your child’s behaviors were a lot. And required extra time and accommodations, which Dr shin provided? (And did YOU give the office advanced notice that this type of extra time and accommodation would be necessary for your child?—and did they “agree” to it?) Just trying to apply your rationale for NOT paying to their rationale for charging to begin with.

The fact that it took extra time and accommodation to successfully complete this appointment was not in dispute by you. But how can they warn you in advance about a special behavioral fee (which probably took extra staff, and time they weren’t prepared for given the regular appointment time allotted) if they don’t have any clue until you get there that there are any special circumstances??

Sounds to me like they were trying to go forward with the appointment as best as possible while also being compensated fairly …and yet when you pitched a fit about it, they removed the fee just to avoid the hassle of you.
And likely wanted to just have you leave in peace.
But you were so ungrateful and resentful that you decided to come on here and trash them online anyway. Wow.

Nothing she said or did seems out of line to me. I’m sorry that you are faced with some challenges in this department, but no one owes you services.

No PP - you don’t get to add a surprise autism fee because you felt the child was too difficult. And OP wouldn’t be here if the dentist had acted in a compassionate and ethical manner. Instead the dentist fired OP’s kid then tried to charge extra to boot. If the dentist had said “Hey, we are not really equipped for this - here’s the name of another dentist” that would have been fine albeit annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP--Just to note, I asked why we were being charged a "behavioral fee," and where we had agreed to do so. After asking several questions about this extra charge, and after other parents in the office also began to take notice, I was told that we no longer had to pay the fee. But please be forewarned about this practice.

NP. The whole thing sounded very tense and stressful for everyone involved, for your DC, you, and the dentists and techs. Maybe you have become accustomed to the stress (tbh, I have not, after so many years, I'm a bit of a wreck now) but the dentists and techs aren't.

You didn't say how old your DC is or how previous other dentist appointments have gone. What is tolerated in young children is less tolerated in older, larger children. Good luck at your next dentist.

Healthcare providers need to be able to work with people with disabilities. Full stop.

+100. There could be times when it’s clear that the needs are higher (eg needs sedation the office cannot provide) but they cannot just say “too autistic sorry!” and then CHARGE you extra for it!!!

Sounds like the reverse was the problem. OP tried to pass this off as just a little dental fear when it was much more. But she won’t admit to child having autism or being on the spectrum so what’s left to assume except that child has “behavior issue”
Doctors can certainly charge a fee for difficult patient. And despite her excuses for it, mom doesn’t deny that child was difficult in the appointment

Sounds like someone is more interested in bashing moms than reading:

“Yes. I provided all the information about DC's diagnosis, as well as specific accommodations that might be helpful (i.e. turn off television, solo room, nothing tied around neck) in advance. They didn't seem to have read any of the notes when we came in.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP--Just to note, I asked why we were being charged a "behavioral fee," and where we had agreed to do so. After asking several questions about this extra charge, and after other parents in the office also began to take notice, I was told that we no longer had to pay the fee. But please be forewarned about this practice.

I mean, to be fair you admitted in your post that your child’s behaviors were a lot. And required extra time and accommodations, which Dr shin provided? (And did YOU give the office advanced notice that this type of extra time and accommodation would be necessary for your child?—and did they “agree” to it?) Just trying to apply your rationale for NOT paying to their rationale for charging to begin with.

The fact that it took extra time and accommodation to successfully complete this appointment was not in dispute by you. But how can they warn you in advance about a special behavioral fee (which probably took extra staff, and time they weren’t prepared for given the regular appointment time allotted) if they don’t have any clue until you get there that there are any special circumstances??

Sounds to me like they were trying to go forward with the appointment as best as possible while also being compensated fairly …and yet when you pitched a fit about it, they removed the fee just to avoid the hassle of you.
And likely wanted to just have you leave in peace.
But you were so ungrateful and resentful that you decided to come on here and trash them online anyway. Wow.

Nothing she said or did seems out of line to me. I’m sorry that you are faced with some challenges in this department, but no one owes you services.

Wow--if this is the dentist, this seems unhinged. OP already said that the appointment didn't take extra time, and that the practice was aware of the child's disability. And medical/dental professionals need to understand how to provide services to people with disabilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you inform the staff of your child's issues and needs ahead of time?

Yes. I provided all the information about DC's diagnosis, as well as specific accommodations that might be helpful (i.e. turn off television, solo room, nothing tied around neck) in advance. They didn't seem to have read any of the notes when we came in.

This office clearly didn’t handle it well.
But This is where you need to do better next time also, OP.

Bring a hard copy of these notes.
Hand one to he receptionist (for the file) and one to be given to the hygienist and doctor. Tell the receptionist that you would like confirmation that all who will be working directly with your child have read the summary before you go back to the exam room/dental chair.
You need to be an assertive proactive advocate for your child’s needs. No more passively hoping someone will read what you emailed and give it to “the right” people to read also (they won’t—they’re super busy).
Then you need to ask if they are fine with these accommodations and if there are any questions or anything you need to know about fees prior to going back to the room/chair.
They didn’t tell you.
But they maybe didn’t know to ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP--Just to note, I asked why we were being charged a "behavioral fee," and where we had agreed to do so. After asking several questions about this extra charge, and after other parents in the office also began to take notice, I was told that we no longer had to pay the fee. But please be forewarned about this practice.

I mean, to be fair you admitted in your post that your child’s behaviors were a lot. And required extra time and accommodations, which Dr shin provided? (And did YOU give the office advanced notice that this type of extra time and accommodation would be necessary for your child?—and did they “agree” to it?) Just trying to apply your rationale for NOT paying to their rationale for charging to begin with.

The fact that it took extra time and accommodation to successfully complete this appointment was not in dispute by you. But how can they warn you in advance about a special behavioral fee (which probably took extra staff, and time they weren’t prepared for given the regular appointment time allotted) if they don’t have any clue until you get there that there are any special circumstances??

Sounds to me like they were trying to go forward with the appointment as best as possible while also being compensated fairly …and yet when you pitched a fit about it, they removed the fee just to avoid the hassle of you.
And likely wanted to just have you leave in peace.
But you were so ungrateful and resentful that you decided to come on here and trash them online anyway. Wow.

Nothing she said or did seems out of line to me. I’m sorry that you are faced with some challenges in this department, but no one owes you services.

Wow--if this is the dentist, this seems unhinged. OP already said that the appointment didn't take extra time, and that the practice was aware of the child's disability. And medical/dental professionals need to understand how to provide services to people with disabilities.

OP didn’t say that until her 2nd and third entry, so was only going on her first entry here.

[Anonymous]

I think what makes me really mad on your behalf OP is that this dentist treated your kid like a burden. ALL kids deserve dental care not just the perfect ones. We SN parents get so used to our kids getting excluded due to their disability that it starts to seem like they aren’t entitled to anything. But all kids deserve health care - it should be the one place where “behaviors” don’t get your kid kicked out. That’s not to say that it may not reach a point where the medical professional has to call in more support or refer to a specialist. But you don’t just … fire your harder to treat patients!! And then try to charge them for it. SO unprofessional. She should have come up with a plan to either get more behavioral support for her office or figure out a referral.