What are the Ethical Implications of having More than One Fee Schedule?

Abstract

Two colleagues of mine in a group practice were discussing ideas to increase their profitability. One dentist put forth the idea of having multiple fee schedules based on the source of reimbursement (for example, Medicaid, private dental insurance and private pay). Practitioners would increase the fees for patients covered by insurance so that dentists would, in effect, receive the difference between the increased fee and what the insurance company would have paid before the annual maximum benefit had been reached.