For years, Lake Road Animal Hospital only offered payment plans as a last resort. When practice manager Carrie Bowgren began offering managed in-house payment plans through VetBilling, she was stunned at the results — compliance soared in every service area, and the clinic collected an additional $250K in revenue.
What began as a quick errand to Walmart turned into an unexpected, meaningful encounter with a woman whose story sheds light on the quiet shame many pet owners feel when they can’t afford veterinary care. As she shared her experiences of loss, grief, and the financial burden of emergency vet bills, I was reminded of how often pride and shame keep pet owners from seeking the help they need. This encounter speaks to the broader issue of making veterinary care more affordable for all, so that no one has to suffer in silence…especially our pets.
What does it truly mean to be a ‘financially friendly’ veterinary practice? It’s not about providing free or heavily discounted care, slashing prices, or transforming into a ‘low-cost’ clinic. Instead, it’s about creating an environment that respectfully and empathetically understands and addresses your clients’ financial concerns. Financial friendliness is kind of like a “fear free” experience, but for humans!
In recognition of the growing challenges many pet owners face in accessing necessary veterinary care, in 2023 VetBilling spearheaded the creation of Access to Veterinary Care Awareness Day, which takes place on May 10. This initiative underscores a critical and worsening issue—declining access to veterinary services for numerous pets and their families due to financial, geographical, and cultural barriers. VetBilling believes in actively addressing these challenges to better the lives of pets, pet parents, and the veterinary teams that care for them.
An elderly man faces a heart-wrenching decision when his cherished Chihuahua requires urgent surgery, for which he is financially unprepared. He has $500 to use as a down payment, but his clinic tells him they have a strict “no payment plans” policy – despite the man’s longstanding relationship with the clinic and a prior payment history that is flawless. But this time, his dog’s medical situation arose at a bad time. This pressing situation raises crucial questions: Should financial policies in veterinary care allow for more compassion and flexibility? Could such changes not only benefit pet owners but also enhance the veterinary profession itself?
