Dentist charging a "behavioral fee" for ASD child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, that sounds reasonable as you are paying for their time and if you needed frequent breaks and other things, understand its a business and they have to pay staff and that means they cannot schedule another patient. If an regular appointment takes 30 minutes and yours took an hour, they need to account for the extra time.

OP--just to note, the appointment did not go over the allocated time. While DC got out of the chair several times, it was only for a very short period of time. And we were the only patients in the office until another patient showed up for the appointment after ours.

OP, did the dentist office allocate any extra time for your child (as opposed to a standard appointment)?

I think people here are assuming something which might not be true. There's a semantic (and practical) difference between "not going over the allotted time" and "not taking any more time than a typical patient would," and I'm wondering if the latter is actually true -- especially given the stops and starts.

Then that would be an “extended time” fee. The fact that they called it a “behavioral fee” leads me to believe this is not the case. Also they would have known about an extended time fee in advance.

Well, could go either way. OP can certainly post that this appointment was the same length as a typical appointment, and not extended in any way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

DP. I also don't think that is exactly what she said, either. The words seem carefully chosen.

Oh please stop it with the absurd sleuthing. OP wrote “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.”

Sure thing. I'll appreciate OP clarifying

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s an ADA violation discriminating against a disability. The American Dental Assoc also acknowledges it’s improper to discriminate on the basis of disability.

It’s not an ADA violation to decline to treat someone you don’t believe you’re qualified to treat.

It’s an ADA violation to refuse to accommodate. The child completed the appointment successfully and the dentist then said they would refuse further appointments specifically due to the disability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

DP. I also don't think that is exactly what she said, either. The words seem carefully chosen.

Oh please stop it with the absurd sleuthing. OP wrote “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.”

Sure thing. I'll appreciate OP clarifying

What do you find unclear?

[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.

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.

DP. I also don't think that is exactly what she said, either. The words seem carefully chosen.

OP here. Dr. Shin's office sent me a calendar invite for the appointment with a start and end time--the appointment started 10 minutes late because she was talking to another parent in her consultation room. I don't know if they added extra time to the appointment. Either way, we still finished by the time the appointment was scheduled to end, so I don't think the length of the appointment was the issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it pretty normal to be charged a fee for extra time at the dentist, whatever your issue is. I have white coat anxiety and only go every few years. I always tell them I need a double appointment because I haven’t been in X years and I won’t come back for several years. They do charge extra but will accommodate me.

My dentist appointments regularly take longer and are more difficult because I can’t tolerate the sonic instruments and they need to use the manual ones. I’ve never been charged for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

DP. I also don't think that is exactly what she said, either. The words seem carefully chosen.

OP here. Dr. Shin's office sent me a calendar invite for the appointment with a start and end time--the appointment started 10 minutes late because she was talking to another parent in her consultation room. I don't know if they added extra time to the appointment. Either way, we still finished by the time the appointment was scheduled to end, so I don't think the length of the appointment was the issue.

Then you are the person who had an extended appointment, and I believe this was made clear to you. This posting has been deliberately misleading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

DP. I also don't think that is exactly what she said, either. The words seem carefully chosen.

Oh please stop it with the absurd sleuthing. OP wrote “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.”

Sure thing. I'll appreciate OP clarifying

What do you find unclear?

It's pretty clear now, thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, that sounds reasonable as you are paying for their time and if you needed frequent breaks and other things, understand its a business and they have to pay staff and that means they cannot schedule another patient. If an regular appointment takes 30 minutes and yours took an hour, they need to account for the extra time.

OP--just to note, the appointment did not go over the allocated time. While DC got out of the chair several times, it was only for a very short period of time. And we were the only patients in the office until another patient showed up for the appointment after ours.

OP, did the dentist office allocate any extra time for your child (as opposed to a standard appointment)?

I think people here are assuming something which might not be true. There's a semantic (and practical) difference between "not going over the allotted time" and "not taking any more time than a typical patient would," and I'm wondering if the latter is actually true -- especially given the stops and starts.

Then that would be an “extended time” fee. The fact that they called it a “behavioral fee” leads me to believe this is not the case. Also they would have known about an extended time fee in advance.

Well, could go either way. OP can certainly post that this appointment was the same length as a typical appointment, and not extended in any way.

And either way, that doesn’t explain the “behavioral fee.” You seem to have an agenda here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, that sounds reasonable as you are paying for their time and if you needed frequent breaks and other things, understand its a business and they have to pay staff and that means they cannot schedule another patient. If an regular appointment takes 30 minutes and yours took an hour, they need to account for the extra time.

OP--just to note, the appointment did not go over the allocated time. While DC got out of the chair several times, it was only for a very short period of time. And we were the only patients in the office until another patient showed up for the appointment after ours.

OP, did the dentist office allocate any extra time for your child (as opposed to a standard appointment)?

I think people here are assuming something which might not be true. There's a semantic (and practical) difference between "not going over the allotted time" and "not taking any more time than a typical patient would," and I'm wondering if the latter is actually true -- especially given the stops and starts.

Then that would be an “extended time” fee. The fact that they called it a “behavioral fee” leads me to believe this is not the case. Also they would have known about an extended time fee in advance.

Well, could go either way. OP can certainly post that this appointment was the same length as a typical appointment, and not extended in any way.

And either way, that doesn’t explain the “behavioral fee.” You seem to have an agenda here.

Seriously, is this the dentist trolling the board?!? She should be ashamed of herself!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

DP. I also don't think that is exactly what she said, either. The words seem carefully chosen.

OP here. Dr. Shin's office sent me a calendar invite for the appointment with a start and end time--the appointment started 10 minutes late because she was talking to another parent in her consultation room. I don't know if they added extra time to the appointment. Either way, we still finished by the time the appointment was scheduled to end, so I don't think the length of the appointment was the issue.

Then you are the person who had an extended appointment, and I believe this was made clear to you. This posting has been deliberately misleading.

Wow you really can't read, can you? They used LESS THAN their allotted time.

Dentist was being a b'":ch and did the behavioral fee so they wouldn't return.

She is incompetent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

DP. I also don't think that is exactly what she said, either. The words seem carefully chosen.

Oh please stop it with the absurd sleuthing. OP wrote “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.”

Sure thing. I'll appreciate OP clarifying

What do you find unclear?

It's pretty clear now, thanks.

Wtf are you mattering on about? You’re dim and you’re not making the oooo gotcha point you think you’re making. You’re merely making yourself look a slow fool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to Dr Lewis at Ensor Johnson Lewis in Bethesda. Specializes in special needs dentistry.

+1
We see Dr. Ensor and DC has always received great care. They are out of network with insurance though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like your kid's issues created a longer appointment than the time normally allotted. Maybe that's why the fee.

OP here--Nope--the appointment was finished within the allotted time (even though we started late, while we waited for Dr. Shin!).

I don't believe that for a second, come on OP. Getting in and out of the chair costs time. Stopping treatment to be consoled costs time.

You aren't a fit, she said as much. And I bet her schedule got delayed accommodating your kid and may have cost her some clients.

Accept and move on.

[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.

Healthcare providers are not your indentured servants.