The Indian Health Service Model From the Treatment Perspective

The nonprofit dental delivery model is appropriate for the needs of specific patient populations. The Indian Health Service is an example of how care can be provided where traditional fee-for-service and indemnity mechanisms may be insufficient. Separating care from management in this context gives dentists greater power over individual treatment decisions, increased choice of patient-relevant care options, and control over development of the practice model and its evolution. The needs of various populations groups and the funding or profit model inevitably influence the composition of the dental team and assignment of dental duties.