Legal considerations for periodontists in dealing with managed care organizations

For well over a decade, increasing numbers of medical patients have transferred from traditional indemnity insurance to managed care organizations (MCOs). Increasingly, MCOs are enrolling dental patients as well. Consequently, it is important for periodontists to understand issues in negotiating with MCOs. This article attempts to advise periodontists regarding what they can and cannot do collectively about managed care and what considerations they should take into account in individually negotiating and dealing with managed care plans.