General Session: Driving Change in a world of AI, What is theater vs. reality?
Tuesday, September 29
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM (ET)
West Monroe will explore how Dental Payers can maximize the effectiveness of AI and technology in a highly competitive moment of the industry. As margin pressure, staffing constraints, and cost controls reshape operations, executive teams are being pressured to showcase the value of technology and AI. We will highlight operation and technical levers that drive efficiencies, including embedding AI and data capabilities into core workflows, quantifying their impact on revenue growth and margin expansion, and establishing a credible technology story.
This session will explore how AI is transforming the dental insurance ecosystem, with a particular focus on dental payers and the operational functions that drive growth, efficiency, and member experience. Attendees will gain a practical understanding of where AI is delivering measurable value today, where the technology is headed, and what leaders should be doing now to prepare their organizations for the next wave of innovation.
Ben Baenen
Director, Healthcare and Life Sciences, West Monroe
Ben Baenen is a results-driven leader in West Monroe’s Healthcare and Life Sciences practice. With extensive experience across the payer value chain, Baenen leads transformational initiatives that include product innovation, new market entry, operational strategy and technology implementation.
He has helped launch a range of solutions including consumer and provider portals, robotics programs, billing platforms and digital member engagement tools. These projects have delivered measurable impact such as increased member acquisition, improved provider engagement and reduced call center volume. Baenen’s areas of expertise include claims system analysis, vendor selection, functional design, usability testing and operational readiness.
Since joining West Monroe in 2007, Baenen has been known for his contagious enthusiasm and collaborative approach, both with clients and internal teams. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from DePauw University.
Baenen is an active mentor at West Monroe and a frequent contributor to the DePauw University Management Fellows Program, where he shares career insights and supports students interested in shaping the future of health care. He also supports the Alzheimer’s Association of Chicago and the Indiana Society of Chicago.
< back to schedule