What AI receptionists and front-office automation actually do, what they cost, and where they should stop — written for practice owners, not engineers.
Trust & Compliance
"HIPAA compliant" on a vendor homepage is a marketing claim, not a government stamp. Here is what actually protects patient phone data: a signed BAA, a no-PHI-by-default design, and 8 blunt vendor questions.
Pricing & ROI
A $99 plan, a $0.12 per minute rate, and a $700 answering service are different shapes of bill. Here are the 4 AI receptionist pricing models, real 2026 numbers, hidden fees, and the break-even math for your practice.
