![]() That decision should be made first and then you should be given the opportunity to get a discount. My concern with Groupon, is that you are buying a procedure for which you have not yet been told by that physician you are a candidate. But as a marketing tool, it would help get you in the door, to learn of the practice and practioners and hopefully have you become a long-term patient returning for other procedures. The price quoted would not cover the administrative overhead costs of the practice sufficiently. If you pay for a certain number of units, then you are due those units and despite how they dilute the Botox, it is not volume you are paying for, it is the units, so they would have to be given. We understand the concept behind Groupon, but question whether it is legal and also whether or not there are enough long term patients to be found to make the business model worthwhile. At the same time, the consumer gets a low "cost of entry" to test out a new practice or service that they have been considering and otherwise might not have tried if not for the reduced price. But if the practice manages to find good long term patients that are willing to pay normal prices for their services, it may indeed work out in the long run for the practice. You are correct in thinking that it is virtually impossible for the practice to make a profit on the initial set of services purchased from Groupon. ![]() So, Groupon assumes the risk and cost of finding new patients and as compensation, the practice shares revenue on the first procedure or series of procedures. What Groupon does is relieve the burden of finding a new patient for the practice and instead shares revenue from this initial treatment. With that said, in the business of elective healthcare, there is a cost associated with acquiring new patients - mostly in the form of advertising dollars. With that said, there has been no official ruling on this from our state and many others regarding the legality of what Groupon is doing. ![]() The laws were set up to avoid conflict of interest and kickbacks among physicians and healthcare organizations. According to many state's healthcare laws, including California, an organization or individual cannot be paid for referring a patient to another medical practice. The issue of Groupon and medical services is a sticky one. ![]()
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