‘Quality, not quantity’ approach could renew need for dental accountants’ services

Published on June 1, 2012 by Crawfords Accounting

Our dental accountants are watching closely to see how a ‘quality, not quantity’ approach to charging for dentists’ services affects incomes in the years to come.

The Department of Health recently revealed that an estimated £73.1 million in fraudulent payments may have been made to dentists in 2009-10.

Now it is cracking down on any such activity by altering the way dentists are paid, so simply claiming for having carried out more procedures is no longer a guarantee of greater income.

Instead, the government is working with NHS Protect on a system that pays more for higher levels of patient care.

“We believe dentists should get paid for the quality of care they provide, rather than simply for the number of treatments,” says health minister Lord Howe.

“Fraud of any kind will not be tolerated, and any allegation of fraud is taken seriously.”

However, the changes may bring cause for concern for dentists who do not act fraudulently, but whose incomes may be affected by the new rules.

If you think you may be affected, our dental accountants can help you to keep on top of your finances in the months to come, and highlight any areas where payments may have decreased.

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