Objects in Mirror Are Closer than They Appear: Preparing for Value-Based Dental Reimbursement
Tuesday, September 16
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM (PT)
In March 2025, Mike Adelberg and five executives from NADP member plans met with the Association of Dental Support Organizations (ADSO) and seven DSO executives to discuss the potential for collaboration on reimbursement and member steerage reforms, including value-based reimbursement models. While significant barriers to reform remain, there is growing interest in exploring approaches that could lead to improved oral health outcomes and more effective care delivery.
This session features a candid conversation between selected DSO and NADP executives. Together, they will explore the opportunities and challenges ahead and share ideas on how the two associations might build a more structured and productive dialogue on future reforms.
Caroline McLeod, RDH, MS
Value-Based Solutions Manager
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
Caroline McLeod, RDH, MS is the Value-Based Solutions Manager for CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. She supports education, research, and health transformation programs centered around oral health value-based care approaches.
Caroline's dental hygiene experience ranges from traditional practice to school-based and mobile programs, and clinical teaching. She is a member of the American Dental Hygienists Association (ADHA) and serves as a delegate for her local district of the North Carolina Dental Hygienists Association (NCDHA). She is also an advisory team member for the NC Oral Health Collaborative.
Caroline is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BS in Dental Hygiene and a Master of Dental Hygiene Education with a minor in public health.
Josh Nace
President of Health Resources, Inc. (HRI),
a division of ProMedica Health System
Josh Nace serves as President of Health Resources, Inc. (HRI), a division of ProMedica Health System, where he has led the Dental & Vision Plan since December 2021.
Prior to joining HRI, Josh spent over two decades at Dental Health Services, a regional dental benefits organization, where he served as Vice President of Sales and Service from 1998 through November 2021.
Josh is actively involved in industry leadership through the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP), where he served on the Board of Directors and chaired the Exchange Policy Workgroup. He is also a former Board Chair and longtime board member of the California Association of Dental Plans. In Washington State, he served as State President and Legislative Chair of the local Health Underwriters chapter and was a six-year member of the Washington State Insurance Commissioner's Advisory Council.
His contributions have been recognized with several industry honors, including the Barry Thoma Award—the highest member award from the Washington Association of Health Underwriters—and a Star Award from the NADP.
Anirudha (Ani) Pande
Vice President for Clinical Operations
Practice Lead for the Medicaid line of business
UnitedHealthcare Dental
Anirudha Pande serves as the Vice President for Clinical Operations and Practice Lead for the Medicaid line of business at UnitedHealthcare Dental. Ani collaborates with health plans, business development, and functional teams to deliver differentiated capabilities and solutions that enable better member engagement, network relationships, value-based partnerships, and health outcomes. He is committed to supporting people on their healthcare journey by leveraging data, analytics, and technology capabilities to help make care more equitable and effective.
Geoffrey Ligibel
President & CEO
42 North Dental
Geoff Ligibel is the President and CEO of 42 North Dental, a leading dental support organization (DSO) with affiliated locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. Since joining in 2014, he has led rapid growth at the company, building new practices and partnering with established practices in 9 states from Maine to Michigan. Mr. Ligibel started the Dental Group at Houlihan Lokey and spent over a decade in Houlihan Lokey’s Healthcare Group. During his career, he has executed dozens of transactions with healthcare providers, including hospitals, dental groups, and physician groups, as well as with companies providing services to healthcare providers, including healthcare IT, outsourcing, and distribution. Before joining Houlihan Lokey in 2004, Mr. Ligibel was a Vice President in the M&A Group of KeyBanc Capital Markets (formerly McDonald Investments). Before joining KeyBanc in 2001, Mr. Ligibel worked in corporate development at NationsRent and in the audit and M&A groups at Ernst & Young. Mr. Ligibel graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Accounting from Ohio State University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst.
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