Q:

Dr. M

In reading about the financial worksheet in your Smart Start book 
and how your fee of $45/visit can be reduced by 10% or 20% 
depending on how the patient pays for the total care plan, I wanted 
to get your thought on providing "session packets" where the patient 
purchases 24 visits or 12 visits and gets a discount proportional to 
the number of visits they purchased.  I don't have credit card 
processing in my office at this time as it costs too much per month 
when no one is using the service, so I wouldn't be able to get an 
imprint of the patient's credit card in case they decide to 
discontinue care early.

Do you have any comments on this?

A:

The 12 or 24 visit packet program is okay .. as a rule if you did not 
get across to the patient that their care doesn't end at the time of 
their packet payment .. they will leave. Nonetheless .. any way to 
make it possible to come works out okay. 

If you wish .. you can provide them a payment program over six 
months with weekly payments being less but the overall fee remains 
the same having no discount .. just an extended pay period.

I would encourage you to get credit card availability. Join Costco and 
work with their credit cared program it isn't that bad .. many people 
will pay more using their credit cared

Have a Great Day

Dr. M