I was a long-term client of Barre Dental Group when it was under previous owners. But, shortly…read moreafter it passed to new ownership, I was told that BDG was no longer taking Medicaid clients. This was during the height of the pandemic and BDG cut off the customers who were most in need. I didn't think that was right, but I found a new dentist that did take Medicaid.
Then, recently I decided to go back to BDG because I'd used up most of my Medicaid funds for this year anyway, and my new dentist had just left his practice. I'm working with a case manager through Washington County Mental Health, who had been in touch with BDG about funds being allocated from the VT Dept. of Health. The receptionist was very rude to me and to my case manager, saying to me at one point that "if you were to buy a jug of milk from the grocery store, you would have to pay the same day". As though I had ever missed a payment and as though I was saying I would not be able to pay same day this time.
The situation was that BDG just had to call a number and give an amount to the Dept. of Health to get paid right away. And, if they didn't get the money same day, I would pay out of pocket.
Well, my case manager left several messages and finally touched base with someone at BDG, who did okay the transaction and I went in today to get treatment for a tooth that has been hurting me for a while. I even double checked with the receptionist that the payment piece was all set before the dentist (Dr. Z) saw me.
After a cursory look in my mouth, the dentist flatly stated that he would not work with the VT Dept. of Health or WCMH, even if he simply had to make a phone call, because he had to "pay his staff". Was he depending on my $391 today to pay his staff? Really? Well, he WAS getting paid anyway, if he'd only been willing to at least pick up the phone and call the Dept. of Health. Because even if they wouldn't have paid him promptly enough, I would've paid. But he wouldn't even try. And then he refused to even take calls from my case manager or her supervisor.
The short version is that this place hates the poor. They don't want Medicaid clients anymore. They won't even work with funding sources poor people might have available that require little to no work on their end. And if they get a "read" on you that you MIGHT be poor, expect to hear comments doubting your ability to pay (even if you've spent, like I have, over $5,000 out of pocket). I've filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and I'm going to be following up with an attorney for discrimination against a person with disabilities. Not even wanting to TAKE A CALL from my case manager?! Unacceptable.
