Sliding ScaleSliding scale fees are variable prices for products, services, or taxes based on a customer's ability to pay. Such fees are thereby reduced for those who have lower incomes, or alternatively, less money to spare after their personal expenses, regardless of income. Sliding scale fees are a form of price discrimination or differential pricing.
(from en.wikipedia.org) |
Sliding Scale is frequently used with practices such as community Acupuncture. The following is from Acupuncture Today's website:
"Done right, a sliding scale meets your needs and your patients' needs without requiring you to figure out something new with each person who walks through your doors. Setting up your sliding scale involves some simple arithmetic. How much money do you need to have coming in to break even? To pay yourself? To pay off your debts? As a business owner, those answers should be on the tip of your tongue. Our experience with a sliding scale suggests that one third of patients will pay at the bottom end, one third will be in the middle, and one third will pay at the top of the scale, with the average payment coming in around the low end of the middle...
If you feel that you have to police individual patients' use of the scale, your scale itself needs more work. Part of what a good sliding scale does is allow you to not have to worry about what individuals pay...
If you want to use a sliding scale that truly makes your practice accessible, you are going to have to see a lot of patients and spend less time with each of them than you would in a conventional practice...
Once you are quite clear on what your scale is, put it in writing and offer it to every patient, without exception and without asking for proof that they deserve it. "Sliding scale available upon request" makes patients feel they have to grovel for your charity.
Other community businesses will use a Sliding Scale that is available upon request and based on proof of need, such as the YMCA:
"Individuals or families who are unable to pay the full fee for a General membership or Family General membership due to financial circumstances may apply. All members are expected to pay a portion of the monthly fee, typically a minimum of 50%. We assess everyone individually and will discuss all of your options during your interview."
"Done right, a sliding scale meets your needs and your patients' needs without requiring you to figure out something new with each person who walks through your doors. Setting up your sliding scale involves some simple arithmetic. How much money do you need to have coming in to break even? To pay yourself? To pay off your debts? As a business owner, those answers should be on the tip of your tongue. Our experience with a sliding scale suggests that one third of patients will pay at the bottom end, one third will be in the middle, and one third will pay at the top of the scale, with the average payment coming in around the low end of the middle...
If you feel that you have to police individual patients' use of the scale, your scale itself needs more work. Part of what a good sliding scale does is allow you to not have to worry about what individuals pay...
If you want to use a sliding scale that truly makes your practice accessible, you are going to have to see a lot of patients and spend less time with each of them than you would in a conventional practice...
Once you are quite clear on what your scale is, put it in writing and offer it to every patient, without exception and without asking for proof that they deserve it. "Sliding scale available upon request" makes patients feel they have to grovel for your charity.
Other community businesses will use a Sliding Scale that is available upon request and based on proof of need, such as the YMCA:
"Individuals or families who are unable to pay the full fee for a General membership or Family General membership due to financial circumstances may apply. All members are expected to pay a portion of the monthly fee, typically a minimum of 50%. We assess everyone individually and will discuss all of your options during your interview."