Most dental practice owners eventually hit a breaking point and ask the exact same question: "Should I drop my insurance?" But jumping straight out of network without a bulletproof strategy can absolutely tank your revenue. Michael Dinsio and Paula Quinn sit down with Stafani Sandoval, Billing and Credentialing Lead at Next Level Consultants, to explain the critical data and preparation needed before you ever send a termination letter. We reveal the exact framework top dental offices use to hold insurance companies accountable, update their UCRs, and successfully navigate the FFS (Fee-For-Service) transition.

If you are starting up, growing a dental practice, or simply exhausted by stagnant insurance reimbursements dictating your dental practice profitability, this episode is exactly why we created Dental Unscripted. We partner with Stefani to get granular on what most doctors get wrong about dental insurance negotiation, DIY credentialing, and patient retention.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE
→ Why you should absolutely never drop an insurance plan if your schedule isn't completely full
→ How to leverage the "60% Rule" to know exactly when a fee schedule becomes insulting
→ Why updating your UCR fees to the 90th percentile is the mandatory first step before any negotiation
→ The hidden financial dangers of DIY dental credentialing and submitting blind PPO applications
→ The real difference between leased umbrella networks and direct contracts (and how to use them to your advantage)
→ How to retain your patient base using in-house membership plans when transitioning out of network
→ The essential 90-day patient communication playbook to prevent a mass exodus

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Introduction: The biggest question in the dental industry—should I drop my insurance?
2:15 The "Fill Up First" rule before changing your insurance capacity
4:45 When and how often you should be negotiating your dental insurance fees
8:30 Why your UCR fees must be updated to create negotiation leverage
11:15 The 60% Rule: Knowing when to walk away from a bad contract
14:20 Leased networks vs. direct contracts explained
16:50 The massive mistakes doctors make with DIY dental credentialing
21:30 The out-of-network playbook: Preparing your front office and your AR
24:45 Retaining patients through communication and in-house membership plans
28:10 Understanding the true marketing cost of dropping a PPO network

ABOUT OUR GUEST Stefani Sandoval
Billing & Credentialing Lead, Next Level Consultants Stefani brings years of specialized experience to the table, helping dental practice owners navigate archaic insurance algorithms. She specializes in maximizing practice fee schedules, restructuring network participation, and guiding dental teams through safe, profitable out-of-network transitions without losing their patient base.

ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Michael Dinsio, MBA and Paula Quinn, BSDH are the founders of Next Level Consultants, the dental industry's leading advisory firm for practice startups, acquisitions, and ownership coaching. With 30+ years of combined experience and hundreds of successful practice launches, Mike and Paula bring unfiltered, real-world expertise to every episode of Dental Unscripted. Work with Mike and Paula: https://nxlevelconsultants.com/dental-consulting/dental-practice-management/

Visit the show website: https://dentalunscripted.com

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PRODUCTION INFORMATION: © 2026 Dental Unscripted. All rights reserved. The content provided in this video is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.