Keeping a relief veterinarian to your fee schedule

I have a relief veterinarian who doesn't stick to my fee schedule, making deals with clients and overriding the receptionists. I hesitate to say anything because competent relief veterinarians are hard to come by. Should I address this issue?

Denise Tumblin, CPA

"Yes, you need to talk with the doctor," says Denise Tumblin, CPA. "Perhaps he or she is confused about the fee schedule or the hospital protocol for billing certain services." If this is the case, Tumblin, co-owner and vice-president of Wutchiett Tumblin and Associates, a financial consulting firm in Columbus, Ohio, recommends having a technician or receptionist enter the charges instead to ensure that the doctor bills for all services provided.

"But if it turns out that the doctor is knowingly overriding your fee schedule to give clients discounts, he or she is stealing from your practice. In this case, you should replace your relief veterinarian, competent or not," Tumblin says.