Payment options: An analysis of 6 years of payment plan data and potential implications for for-profit clinics, non-profit veterinary providers, and funders to access to care initiatives.

Analyzing a dataset of payment plans disassociated with traditional credit scoring, this research, for the first time, offers insights into the mitigation of cash flow and credit ineligibility challenges in access to veterinary care. Specifically, this paper explores financial fragility among pet families and whether payment options offer substantial bridges in access to care challenges for veterinarians and clients. Researchers introduce a veterinary care multiplier to estimate the potential increase in veterinary care that may be provided by for-profit and non-profit clinics from additional payment options.