Ethics of Gaming the System.

Abstract

Dentists justifiably bridle at having to compromise what they believe, based on evidence, is in the patients' best interests based on reimbursement rules of benefits providers. Benefits providers justifiably bridle at having to pay for services not contracted by those who purchase insurance. A particular case involving performing multiple quadrants of root planing at a single appointment is used as an example of this tension. One alternative is for the profession and the industry to seek to negotiate a win-win joint position. Another is for a few to game the system, which only makes it more difficult to reach ethical common ground.