ComplaintsforMichael T. Fulbright, D.D.S.

• Initial Complaint

  01/19/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I had been going to **. ****** for 11 years. Best dentist I have used in my life, as well his staff was outstanding. The business was bought out by **. *********, and then from there many nightmares with billing. Constant rejections by my insurance. Also just found out 1/4/22 AFTER getting a cleaning, that they no longer take my insurance since last April. I posted on ******** and NUMEROUS other patients said they did expensive dental work or cleanings, then get bills in the mail that you have to pay full price for... when you call office they tell you they no longer take your insurance, then apologize saying "someone should have told you", then try to convince you to keep coming to their office "unless money is important to you and you want to find someone in-network".... They have an email and texting system they use with patients to confirm appointments. They very easily could have sent out an email, text, or letters to all existing patients that they no longer take insurance, or they expect you to pay full price and then submit to your insurance in hopes you get something back. I just posted my experience on ******** and within a day already a handful of others have posted the exact same thing happened to them, others have privately sent me messages saying the same. At best this seems unprofessional and intentional to not inform patients about changes in insurance and that you must pay full price. Or at worst this seems unethical and greedy, especially if this started in April 2021 where people were not informed and complained to them, yet now its January 2021 and they still cannot simply inform all their patients to confirm their insurance before getting cleanings or procedures done. Last year I do not know how much money I potentially lost by getting a crown done there which had to be removed shortly thereafter with billing issues I trusted and did not look into. Just paid $127 for cleaning that normally is free with my insurance.

  Business response

  02/08/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/01/26) */ Last year we moved away from big insurance contracts that limited the quality of care we could provide. This is an industry-wide issue affecting all dental practices. The insurance carrier referenced (*****) attempts to penalize practitioners who do not wish to compromise care. Unfortunately, the transition away from this carrier contract created a brief period of disruption and confusion for our team and patients. We are sorry this impacted you negatively, but we are pleased to report that we have worked through this issue.While we made attempts to contact those that would be affected by these changes it clearly wasn't enough and for that I am accountable. It was not my intent nor good business to surprise patients with anything especially financial in nature and would not want that to have happened to myself.

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