Tired of losing money to PPOs?

Clint Johnson reveals the strategies that actually work.

In this episode of Dental Office Rescue, Linda Kane sits down with Clint Johnson, PPO strategist and founder of Profitable PPOs, to unpack how dentists can stop leaving money on the table, and start recovering millions in lost revenue. Clint has helped dental practices nationwide improve their PPO profitability, often adding $1–2 million in long-term value using eight key strategies.

Whether you're a well-established practice or a brand-new startup, this episode walks through what most teams miss, and what to do instead.

PPO Strategy That Pays Off: Key Takeaways from Clint Johnson

• There are 8 proven strategies to improve PPO profitability—renegotiation is just one.
• Practices can level up to better-paying PPO plans without losing in-network status.
• Umbrella networks can trap you in low-fee contracts, but smart switching adds thousands per year.
• Many offices unknowingly let bad fee schedules spread, reducing reimbursements across the board.
• Real practices have gained between $1.1 and $2.6 million in added profit from PPO optimization alone.

8 PPO Profit Strategies Every Practice Should Know

“Many practices don’t lack opportunity—they lack awareness of what’s financially possible with PPOs.” – Clint Johnson

Clint shares that most dentists are only aware of one or two ways to improve PPO participation. In reality, his firm uses a combination of eight strategies—here are five of the most impactful:

1. Renegotiation – Revisit PPO contracts every 18–24 months.
2. Leveling Up – Move to higher reimbursement tiers (even within the same PPO).
3. DNR (Disconnect & Reconnect) – Cut ties with low-paying linked contracts and reconnect through better channels.
4. Umbrella Replacement – Compare umbrella networks and swap out poor-performing ones.
5. Isolation – Prevent low-fee schedules from "spreading" to other payers.
6. (Plus others—customized to the practice’s size and goals)

He emphasizes that each strategy must be tailored. What works for a $400K practice won’t work the same for a $1.8M office.

"We call it the PPO Profit Ladder. The difference between the bottom and top rungs? Often $500 per crown."

What Your Practice Might Be Missing in PPO Management

“Most practices are in the wrong contracts—and they don’t even know it.” – Linda Kane

Clint and Linda break down some of the most costly (and common) blind spots:

• Team members sign re-credentialing paperwork without understanding the impact
• New associates are incorrectly billed under owner doctors—an act of insurance fraud
• Offices rush to credential for speed instead of profitability
• Many doctors don’t realize the scale of their PPO write-offs—because they don’t show up clearly on the P&L
• Startups often rush to get credentialed fast—saving weeks but losing long-term revenue

The result? Hundreds of thousands lost each year to avoidable adjustments.

“PPO write-offs are often more expensive than your team payroll.”

Why Better PPO Management Leads to Less Stress and Higher Profit

“Doctors want to be doctors—not PPO analysts.”

When practices implement even one of these strategies, they often gain:

• Increased profitability without adding patients or procedures
• More control over insurance participation and contract terms
• Less stress and confusion at the front desk
• Freedom to outsource insurance strategy to real experts

And with Clint’s free assessment offer, offices can know ahead of time whether optimization is even worth pursuing—no guesswork required.

Want to See If You’re Overpaying in PPO Write-Offs?

Clint Johnson and the Profitable PPOs team offer a free assessment to evaluate your current participation and identify hidden opportunities.

Visit profitableppos.com or email clint@dentalppos.com to request your two-page intake form.

PPO expert Clint Johnson helps dental practices recover millions in lost revenue using smarter strategies that boost reimbursement—without losing patients.

Want Help Improving Your Systems and Team Performance?

If your front office is overwhelmed or your systems feel patchy, you don’t need more software—you need clarity. Linda Kane helps dentists take back control with training, billing clean-up, and operational strategy.

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