A friend told me he went to a dentist, was examined, diagnosed, and given a plan of treatments and payment for an implant. Then, when he was almost out the door, they had him do another X-ray, which the dentist said nothing about (and didn’t examine).
So my friend asked the dentist what that was about. You won’t believe the answer. For the HMO (“Kupat Cholim”) to get reimbursed by the state, they need to show evidence of what they’re doing with patients. So, while there was no medical need for the pre-treatment irradiation whatsoever (and potential harm, so it is said!), without it, he would have to pay full price. Yes, common practice (at least in that Kupa).
Ponder that.