Dave:
I'll take a shot at that one.
My wife is a dentist, retired now, but this was true a few years ago:
1. In general, dentists DO NOT FILE INSURANCE. They make the patient file (although they may assist). That puts the monkey on the patient's back -- if the form is confusing or they get an unfair denial, *they* call their own insurance company and hassle them about it. Doesn't that sound nice?
2. Dentists have held the line against HMOs and PPOs. They do not let any third-party payors set their prices. I can't tell you how they managed to stick together when physicians didn't.
And so you see, the answer to all our problems is simple. All the doctors just need to get together and post signs saying:
"We no longer accept insurance. File your own, if you can."
Brian
