A California technology company, myBalto, has launched a nonprofit foundation to help veterinarians create charity accounts and spend the money on pet owners who can’t afford treatments.
“We understand the challenges faced by pet owners and veterinarians when it comes to the affordability of veterinary care,” said Dr. Robert Parkins, myBalto Foundation’s founder and CEO.
The myBalto charitable fund raises money by connecting to a clinic’s point-of-sale system. Clients may round up their invoices to the nearest $1, $3 or $5 at checkout, with the extra dollars going to the hospital fund.
On average, practices with one veterinarian can raise $5,000 to $7,000 a year, myBalto reported.
“Instead of ignoring the growing cost of pet care, we are trying to find innovative ways to take finances out of the equation for owners everywhere,” Dr. Parkins said.
The platform service is free, but the foundation keeps from 5% to 8% of accumulated funds to cover overhead costs and software fees.
The features include:
- Fundraising facilitation, allowing a veterinarian to care for patients instead of performing administrative work normally associated with a charity.
- Quick claims submission, allowing the veterinarian to move forward with the necessary treatments.
- Integration with a hospital’s practice information management system.
“The myBalto Foundation offers all the advantages of a charity organization without any of the administrative burdens,” Dr. Parkins said. “Veterinarians utilize our platform as a valuable tool to help reduce the cost of pet care, ultimately benefiting their team, clients and the overall well-being of their patients.”