Sometimes We Have To Talk - About $$.

Money and charges are always a problem in this business, not only for you, who have to pay them, but also for veterinarians.

If we are careful to explain in advance how much things cost, some people will think to themselves, "Geez, I thought this guy cared about helping sick or injured pets get better but it sounds to me like all he cares about is money!"

On the other hand, if we don't talk about money, and take some X-rays or do some lab work or something, the client often looks at the bill and says "Holy cow, I didn't know it was going to cost THAT much - I would have just told you to ..."

It is even more of a problem on after-hours emergency calls. People are often understandably distraught about their pet, and the veterinarian on call may not be the one they usually patronize. But it is also important for the pet owner to know, at least roughly, what things will cost. Charges are higher because most veterinarians have an additional emergency fee, to compensate for being on call and coming to work on a Sunday morning, but also, the services rendered may cost more than they would if done during normal business hours. Waiting around for an hour or two to see if oxytocin injections will help a dog have her puppies, and then perhaps doing a C-section, will cost more in the middle of the night.

Payment arrangements are also important to clarify in advance. One of the other veterinarians in town told me about one of his recent emergency cases. When the problem was fixed, he told the young man what the bill was. "I don't have any money." He said. "Can you just bill me for that?" All veterinarians, as well as physicians, dentists, and others in service professions, have similar stories to tell. We know that in a very significant percentage of transactions like that, the bill will never be paid.

The people who don't pay their bills are an additional expense of doing business, and that results in higher charges for those of you who are financially responsible. And though there are warning signs and red flags, there is no reliable way to tell whether someone is financially responsible. Please try to understand these things when your veterinarian requires "payment when services are rendered."

On the other hand, don't be afraid to question or even complain about the bill and don't be afraid to shop around for a better price. I say that as part of my responsibility as a columnist for the paper. As a veterinarian running a business (like all my colleagues) I'd like to think my clients will not trust anyone but me with the care of their pet and that they trust me to always charge a fair price. When it comes to health care for humans, people with insurance rarely shop around or even ask, before care is provided, what things will cost. That is one of the reasons why the cost of health care is going up much faster than inflation.

Prices are going up in Veterinary Medicine too. Veterinary care is not a commodity - it's not all the same quality - and you are not likely to get good quality care if you are not willing to pay for it. But free market economy works best is if buyers pay close attention to prices.