Hello,
Just started to except Davis at our office.......looks like a real hassle to deal with. I was wondering what peoples' experiences have been with this plan? Any hints or suggestions relative to maximizing any benefits the plan has? Any things to avoid or pitfalls that are unavoidable? Thanks in advance.
Originally Posted by Eyedoc2
Sounds like congenital disease :D
Avoid high places and sharp objects until you drop it.
You make it (Davis) sound better than it is!!
Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry
I heard that a cure is being worked on for that!
Rumor has it that it is being called;
Come to your Senses
it may be available by summer!
I heard the same thing. It being marketed as an "enhancer" for your business.
Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry
I thought that cure was already available and people just weren't using it. If they were this "disease" known as davis wouldn't be making an appearance anywhere.
Seriously, good luck with them. Make sure the patient is well aware that it is their insurance that is making them pick the crap frames, and taking forever at the lab you are forced to use.
...
Last edited by Johns; 01-18-2010 at 03:04 PM.
Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry
Eyedoc2, sorry for helping hijack your thread.
I make it a policy of mine not to accept any insurance that has more power over the business then the myself.
Hopefully you'll get some more constructive criticism from these wise guys.
Ok, I apologize for high jacking you thread! Really!
Davis came to this area quite awhile ago, and through no coordinated effort of any kind, practices around here stood up to them and told them to pack their bags. From what I hear, they weren't so successful to the east (Pa.) of us, and there are many employers that offer it to their employees. (At least those places that still have employees).
From what I saw of the plan, unless they get a second pair, upgrade into a much higher end item, or go off the plan completely, you won't make a whole lot of money...if any.
What we were able to do, for the few weeks we accepted it, was to show the frames in contrast to our regular selection. When the customers saw the difference, we offered them a substantial ($80 discount) off the good stuff, and went from there. Also, if we would sell Transitions in a SV, we'd not even send it to the Davis lab, make them ourselves out of stock lenses, and collect the difference. We still got a pittance from Davis, but when we figured in what the patient paid, it wasn't that bad.
Today, we are totally off the plan, but advertise "We Welcome Davis Vision Members". We give them a 25% discount, faster turnaround, a warranty, and the patient then get a little bit back from Davis.
Just a note: Before signing your practice away to any 3rd party, ask your peers what the pitfalls are, and read the contract thoroughly. will save a lot of headache/heartache/walletache dewn the road.
Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry
What'd you do, hack into my computer, or did the pangs of remorse both hit us at exactly the same time?
Allright...no more highjacking.
Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry
Eyedoc2,
Just to let you know that you are not alone in your misery, here's another thread. Check out the dates:
http://www.optiboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35066
Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry
Its whats called doing due diligence after the contract is signed.
Selling these plans to eye-care providers is like taking candy from a baby which is the reason that they have thrived and taken control of your accounts receivable.
When is it appropriate in a new relationship to tell a potential "partner" that you are LIVING WITH DAVIS VISION?
How do you approach it? What protection do you use? What if your "partner" doesn't understand and regrets even meeting you?
UGH!
We take Davis. I never deal with how much they pay us, I just do the selling part. Most of our patients don't use the Davis frames. We do tell Davis patients that it takes 2 to 3 weeks to get the glasses back.
Davis popped up in Chicago about a year or so ago. they grabbed a big contract with an HMO to make their stake. The interesting part is if your not a 'For Eyes' or something on par with that your not a providor. Almost every MD/OD practice in the area has shunned the plan. Davis simply caps what you can make per patient and has infamously bad service.
As an optician only practice I'm not allowed on the panel and wouldn't even if I were. That being said Davis does have a discount plan that I do offer patients along with better service, etc. much like Johns does. The patients are happier and all is well. I would recommend you take this route and let the next office feel the pain.
We carried Davis vision for about 6 years, and here are my observations...
1 They do not reimberse well....less than the state welfare program
2 Alot of the Davis patients feel "entitled"..they are VERY demanding and think they can choose anything in the store.
3 Often times they try to book appointments in bunches..."I would like to make appointments for my husband and my 3 kids". You could end up blocking upto 2 hours of exam time and get less than 150.00 from davis.
4 They ALWAYS want to fill up your Saturday morning and/or your late night appointments.
5 There was a very high redo rate...this means more work for your optician.
We dropped Davis last March and we ended the year up 6%....this during the deepest recession in 6 decades. This proves that davis will not improve your bottom line.
Doing Davis Vision is like doing volunteer work, you don't get paid, but usually with volunteer work your patients are greatful. With Davis, they will blame you for every problem and hate your guts in the end.
So think of it as volunteering in a prison to flog inmates, and not getting paid for it, and then realize neither the inmates or guards will thank you.
We take Davis too.
From what I have seen these are the pros and cons:
Pro: Drive traffic to your practice.
Con: Although you will drive traffic, people with this type of insurance tend to have less loyalty. So as soon as they lose the insurance you may lose the patient unless you can establish loyalty.
Pro: Their frame stock can work like a consignment program. you can privately purchase their frames if you need it for a non-member. They also come with a 1 year warranty.
Con: you don't get much of a deal on those frames. ie, you pay full list cost.
Pro: Their lab makes the glasses, it doesn't increase your lab costs.
Con: They don't do a very good job sometimes. Lenses come in dirty and frame unaligned.
I advise you keep stats on exactly how many patients Davis actually brings your practice and use that info to help you make a decision whether you keep them around or not when your agreement is up.
-Vlad
More like an STD. :D
Jana Lewis
ABOC , NCLE
A fine quotation is a diamond on the finger of a man of wit, and a pebble in the hand of a fool.
Joseph Roux
there is no way to maximize nothing. anything times zero is zeroAny hints or suggestions relative to maximizing any benefits the plan has?
Things to avoid: accepting davis, talking to davis customer service, talking to davis labs, usually also, talking to davis membersAny things to avoid or pitfalls that are unavoidable? Thanks in advance.
if you are really into not making money, and angering yourself in the process then you will love davis.
do yourself, your blood pressure, your bank account, and your retirement a favor and drop it and run!!
We take almost everything but we refuse to take Davis.
Coming from this Doc-
END OF THREAD...;)
:drop:
End of the thread? End of the THREAD?????
I'm thinking it might be theend of the world!!!:p
Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry
GREAT POST! You forgot to add that taking Davis will also cause you to lose your paying customers too, because all your time will now be spent fighting with their labs.
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