State Updates

State Updates
Wednesday, July 17
1:15 PM - 2:00 PM (PT)

    • Update on Massachusetts regulations.
    • NCOIL DLR model
      • What occurred throughout the process?
      • What’s been the reaction from organized dentistry?
      • The industry view.
    • DLR legislation in the states
      • 2024 legislative outcomes to date and what influenced legislators.
      • What can we anticipate next from organized dentistry?
    • Other key 2024 legislative trends



Bianca Balale
National Association of Dental Plans

Bianca joined NADP in 2023 bringing 10 years of experience working in government and healthcare. Prior to joining NADP, she served as the Director of Quality and Compliance at a non-profit behavioral health facility focused on integrated care and as a congressional staff member in the state of Ohio. Bianca earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Youngstown State University and a Master of Public Health from Kent State University with a focus in Public Policy and Management.



Richard-Jones_headshot_2022_500x500-300x300-square.jpgRichard Jones
Vice President, State Affairs
Guardian Life Insurance

As vice president for state affairs, Richard manages a multi-state legislative and regulatory agenda primarily supporting Guardian’s Group Benefits business unit. Before joining Guardian, he held executive positions at GE Capital, Mastercard, and several global public relations consultancies. Richard is a board member of the National Association of Dental Plans, the Association of California Life & Health Insurance Companies, the Utah Life & Health Guaranty Association, and the California Association of Dental Plans, for which he also co-chairs the association’s Legislative and Regulatory Committee. He serves as chair of the American Council of Life Insurers Dental Working Group and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Wooster School in Danbury, CT. Richard holds a master's degree in journalism and a bachelor's degree in communications, both from Ohio University.



McElroy_500w.jpgCrystal McElroy
Vice President, Group Benefits Contracts and Compliance
MetLife

Crystal McElroy is the vice president of the Group Benefits Contracts and Compliance team at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and is based in Irvine, CA. She oversees all contracts, compliance, and regulatory issues for MetLife’s Group Benefits products. Crystal is currently a member of the NADP Board of Directors, the Chair of the NADP Commission on Advocacy Policy, and a member of the Government Relations Workgroup.  She also volunteers on topics focused on NADP workgroups, such as the Medicare and Dental Loss Ratio Workgroup.  She also serves on the CADP Board as the Secretary and co-chairs the CADP Legislative and Regulatory Committee. Before joining MetLife in October 2013, she served as a senior attorney with the California Department of Managed Health Care in the Office of Plan Licensing for seven years. She was responsible for reviewing dental and health plan licensing documents related to plan benefits, disclosure documents, networks, and mergers and acquisitions. Crystal graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, majoring in Biochemistry and a minor in Political Science in 2003. She obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, in 2006.
 





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