How joining a network can help you grow your dental practice

Over 290 million Americans have some form of dental insurance or dental benefits, and all are potential patients.¹ So it’s easy to understand why so many dental professionals have become PPO network providers.

The fact is, network affiliation can bring several well-established benefits to both providers and patients, including:

• Access to a wider pool of new patients who are actively seeking network providers with their dental plans.

• Enhanced practice visibility via the network directory or mobile app, which makes your practice easily accessible to more patients in the area who are searching for dental network providers.

• Pre-negotiated fees for services, which reduces the need to explain costs to patients and streamline the billing process. And, by submitting pre-determinations for non-routine dental care, your patients will know what to expect when it comes to payment.

• Savings for patients, who will typically pay less out of pocket for in-network services compared to using an out-of-network provider. Patients may be more likely to get important dental care when it is more affordable. This can also increase patient satisfaction with your practice.

• Marketing and advertising support for you and oral health education for your patients.

• Practice support via online self-service options. For example, the Guardian virtual claims assistant provides real-time updates and makes it easier to check on claims, verify eligibility, and access patient information. You can also easily get paid digitally through Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT).

• Benefit features that add value and encourage better care. Insurance company networks and plans may include benefits to encourage patients to seek more comprehensive care, such as Guardian’s Diminishing Deductible^TM which drops patient deductibles over time, Maximum Rollover which allows members to rollover unused annual maximum for care if needed in the future, and 100% network coverage for children 12 and under.

How to make the most of network affiliation

It’s important to note that proactive providers tend to get the most practice-building power from their network affiliation. Here, then, are some action-oriented tips to help you make the most of yours:

Attracting and retaining patients

Network affiliation can help increase patient engagement and communication, by making it easier to:

• Use personalized emails, newsletters, or SMS messages to notify patients and prospects about the network affiliation and the benefits it offers them.

• Update marketing materials including practice website, social media profiles, and in-office signage, to include details on your network affiliation(s).

• Use clear, patient-friendly language and waiting room signage to explain current insurance acceptance.

• Train front-desk staff to answer common patient questions about new coverage, co-pays, and the fee schedule.

Streamlining practice administration

Network affiliation can have a number of logistical advantages, especially when the network provides a comprehensive suite of digital self-service features to simplify processing of electronic claims. And when practices sign up for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or Virtual Credit Cards (VCC) collections are sped up further with digital payments.

Speak to Guardian

At Guardian, we’re committed to helping our dental plan enrollees achieve the best possible oral health outcomes while helping our network provider partners meet their professional goals. Just click on the link below and fill out the form, and a recruiter will contact you shortly to discuss the credentialing process and how Guardian can help your practice grow.