Locally Owned Care

Verification Standard

Designed to be simple and durable.

Locally Owned Care verifies a single fact: whether a healthcare practice is majority-owned by clinicians who actively practice within the organization. Verification requires a signed attestation and one supporting document. It must be renewed annually. If ownership changes, verification is revoked immediately.

Eligibility

A practice is eligible for verification if:

  • It provides healthcare services (dental, orthodontic, or veterinary)
  • It is ≥51% owned by one or more licensed clinicians
  • Those clinicians actively practice within the organization

What "Active Practice" Means

The owner-clinician must see patients or clients at one or more of the practice's locations on a regular basis — not occasionally, not in an advisory capacity.

Ownership

Ownership is defined as equity interest and operational control. To meet the standard:

  • Clinicians must hold ≥51% of the equity in the legal entity
  • Clinicians must retain ultimate decision-making authority over clinical and business operations

Applicable entity types include sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs (membership interest), and corporations (shareholder equity).

Exclusions

Practices that are clinician-owned on paper but effectively controlled by a third-party management entity do not meet the standard. This includes arrangements where a Management Service Agreement transfers operational control or the majority of profits to an outside party.

Management agreements, profit-sharing arrangements, or "clinical director" titles do not constitute ownership.

Attestation Requirements

To apply for verification, a practice must submit:

  1. A signed attestation confirming that ≥51% of the legal entity is owned by clinicians who actively practice within the organization, and that those clinicians retain operational control.
  2. One supporting document demonstrating ownership structure.

    Preferred: Schedule K-1 (Form 1065)
    This standard tax form is the simplest proof of ownership. It lists the partner's capital percentage explicitly. Please redact all income and distribution figures (Part III). We only review partner names and ownership percentages (Part II).

    Other acceptable documents:

    • Operating agreement (signature page + ownership schedule)
    • Articles of incorporation with shareholder schedule
    • Letter from a CPA attesting to current ownership percentage

The attestation must be signed by an owner with authority to represent the practice.

Complete the Attestation Form →

Review Process

Applications are reviewed within 10 business days.

Review consists of:

  1. Confirming the submitted document shows ≥51% ownership by named clinician(s)
  2. Verifying that the named clinician(s) appear to practice within the organization (via state license lookup, practice website, or other public sources)

If an application is incomplete or unclear, additional clarification may be requested before a determination is made.

After Approval

Approved practices receive a confirmation email with their registry listing, a digital badge file for use on their website and marketing materials, and instructions for displaying the Locally Owned Verified seal.

Renewal

Verification is valid for 12 months and must be renewed annually.

Renewal requires a signed re-attestation confirming that ownership and control have not changed. No new supporting document is required unless ownership structure has changed.

Practices receive a renewal reminder 30 days before expiration. If renewal is not completed by the expiration date, the practice's verification status expires and the badge must be removed.

Status Changes

Verification ends if:

  • Ownership or control transfers to an entity that does not meet the standard
  • The practice does not renew within 30 days of expiration
  • The attestation is found to be materially inaccurate
  • An owner-clinician's professional license is suspended or revoked, or the owner is convicted of fraud

When verification ends:

  • The practice's registry status updates accordingly
  • Digital badges must be removed within 48 hours
  • Physical signage must be removed within 14 days

There is no "formerly verified" status. The registry reflects current verification only.

Fees

Founding Cohort

The first 50 verified practices are part of the Founding Cohort. Founding Cohort verification is free and remains free for that practice indefinitely, provided verification is maintained.

Early Verification

Practices verified after the Founding Cohort but before the registry reaches 500 verified practices are verified at no cost. Once the registry crosses 500 practices, a $150 annual fee applies beginning at the practice’s next renewal.

Standard Verification

Practices verified after the registry reaches 500 pay a flat annual fee of $150 upon enrollment.

There are no tiers, premium placements, or upsells.