Value-Based Care for Oral Health, a Practical Discussion for Payors, Providers and Policy making
Tuesday, September 16
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM (PT)
As the health care system continues to evolve toward more integrated and coordinated models, oral health is gaining recognition as a vital component of overall health. With growing evidence linking oral health to broader health outcomes, the search for innovative, cost-responsible approaches to delivering and paying for oral health care is both timely and necessary.
This interactive session will explore progress at the federal, state and community levels to incorporate oral health into value-based care transformation. Panelists will discuss Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services–sponsored demonstration programs, state-led initiatives focused on medical-dental integration and early examples of value-based payment models for oral health being tested by states and payors.
The session will highlight how these emerging models can inform action for dental payors and providers, bridging the divide between general and oral health to support more comprehensive care delivery.
Alex Sheen, DDS, MPH
New York University College of Dentistry
Alex Sheen, D.D.S., M.P.H., is a board-certified pediatric dentist and clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at New York University College of Dentistry. He earned his dental degree from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine and completed his pediatric dentistry residency at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. He also holds a Master of Public Health from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and is currently completing dental public health training at Jacobi Medical Center. Dr. Sheen’s academic interests focus on improving population oral health through health systems innovation and collaboration across federal, state, and community levels. He has served as a policy fellow at both the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. He currently serves on the executive board of the Dental Quality Alliance.
Caroline McLeod, RDH, MS
Value-Based Solutions Manager
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
Caroline McLeod, R.D.H., M.S., is the value-based solutions manager at CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, where she supports education, research, and health transformation initiatives focused on value-based care in oral health. Her dental hygiene experience spans traditional clinical practice, school-based and mobile programs, and clinical instruction. She is a member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and serves as a delegate for the North Carolina Dental Hygienists’ Association. She also serves on the advisory team for the North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative. McLeod earned both her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene and her Master of Dental Hygiene Education, with a minor in public health, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Rebekah Mathews, MPA
Vice President, Health Transformation
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
Rebekah Mathews is the vice president of health transformation at CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, where she leads efforts to partner with public and private stakeholders across the health care continuum. Her work focuses on developing, testing, and measuring prevention-focused, person-centered strategies to build an oral health system that serves everyone. Mathews brings decades of experience in health policy and health care administration. Prior to joining CareQuest Institute, she held leadership roles at DentaQuest, advancing program innovations and managing client relationships in Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, and South Carolina. She also spent five years working in state policy and government relations in South Carolina. She holds a bachelor’s degree in art history and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of South Carolina.
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