Behind the Bill: What the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Really Means for Medicaid Dental
Wednesday, September 30
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM (ET)
The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) introduces significant changes that could reshape the Medicaid landscape and have lasting implications for dental benefits. This session will break down the legislation’s key provisions and examine what they mean for dental plans, providers, patients, and the broader oral health ecosystem.
Attendees will gain insight into potential changes to federal funding streams, state Medicaid allocations, and reimbursement structures, as well as the expected timeline for these changes to reach providers and beneficiaries. The discussion will also explore the long-term impact on populations that may lose coverage, including potential effects on access to care and oral health outcomes.
Beyond direct program changes, panelists will examine downstream industry impacts, including implications for dental schools, workforce development, research initiatives, data analysis efforts, and future training opportunities. Join us for a practical discussion on what lies ahead and how stakeholders can prepare for a changing Medicaid dental environment.
Dr. Todd A. Gray (Moderator)
Chief Dental Officer at SunLife U.S.
Todd A. Gray, DDS is Chief Dental Officer (CDO) for Sun Life U.S., which includes DentaQuest. His experience as a dental leader spans more than 20 years, covering direct patient care delivery, managed care dental benefits administration, and a focus on special populations including those with Medicaid and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In his current role, Dr. Gray is focused on enhancing the organization’s clinical strategy, including implementing evidence-based improvements, overseeing quality assurance, strengthening collaboration with dental providers and dental professional associations, and driving innovation in oral healthcare. For three years prior, he served as a clinical advisor for the DentaQuest dental business – the largest Medicaid dental benefits administrator by membership – where he supported medical-dental integration, network recruitment and development, client and government outreach, and market conditioning and benefit design. Dr. Gray has also served as CDO for Teledentistry.com, CDO and senior vice president of quality management at Liberty Dental Plan, and dental director for the State of Nevada. He was a public policy advocate for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and adjunct faculty at the University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine, and he has held board positions for organizations including the Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada and the Nevada State Medicaid Advisory Committee. Dr. Gray received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, where he also completed his residency in Pediatric Dentistry.
Christopher Savold
Vice President, Medicaid Solutions at SKYGEN
Chris Savold is the Vice President of Medicaid Solutions at SKYGEN. He brings more than 25 years of experience in Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurance programs. Chris previously worked at Elevance Health, where he served as a P&L and market leader across five states for a Carelon subsidiary. Prior to that, he spent 12 years as Executive Director of the Medicaid dental program carve-out for the State of Connecticut.
In that role, Chris oversaw all program operations and led data-driven outreach initiatives that significantly increased access and patient engagement. Under his leadership, Connecticut improved from 38th in the nation to #2 in children’s dental utilization.
Chris began his work at SKYGEN as Vice President of Provider Experience and Dental Benefits Management and was recently selected to lead SKYGEN’s Medicaid product management. In this role, he is responsible for enhancing the Medicaid product offering and developing initiatives that drive member engagement and improve outcomes.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Stony Brook University in New York and is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt in Healthcare. He and his wife, Mary, reside in central Connecticut and firmly believe that New Haven pizza is the best.
Dr. Cherag Sarkari
Chief Dental Officer at LIBERTY Dental Plan
Dr. Sarkari serves as Chief Dental Officer at LIBERTY Dental Plan, where he provides clinical oversight for quality improvement, policy development, and clinical innovation initiatives designed to improve member outcomes and experiences. Since joining LIBERTY in 2020 as Dental Director of California, he has advanced through several leadership roles, including National Dental Director for Quality Improvement and Clinical Innovation, before assuming his current position. With more than 30 years of experience spanning clinical practice, academia, administration, and executive leadership, Dr. Sarkari is a nationally recognized leader in value-based dental care. He has presented on the topic at numerous national forums, including the American Dental Association, the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, the National Oral Health Conference, the Dental Quality Alliance, and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. He is also the author of a 2025 Journal of the American Dental Association article on value-based dentistry centered on caries risk assessment. Dr. Sarkari serves on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP) and the Sacramento District Dental Society, co-chairs the NADP Codes Maintenance Committee, and serves as the California Association of Dental Plans’ Quality representative to its Board. Throughout his career, he has held numerous leadership, teaching, and volunteer roles, including serving as Chief Clinical Officer of a multi-state dental support organization and as an associate professor of prosthodontics. He holds a Bachelor of Dental Surgery, a Master of Dental Surgery in Prosthodontics, a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the Dental Board of California, and a Master’s in Oral Laser Applications from the University of Vienna.
Theresa Neuhauser, MBA
Chief Growth Officer at Great Expressions
Theresa Neuhauser is a healthcare executive with more than 20 years of experience driving growth, leading new technology adoption, and strategic partnerships across the dental industry. She has led enterprise initiatives spanning operations, marketing, payer strategy, business development, and patient experience. Theresa is recognized for building high-performing teams, leading complex organizational change, and identifying innovative opportunities that improve access, affordability, and patient outcomes. Passionate about the intersection of healthcare, technology, and strategy, she has championed AI adoption, medical-dental integration, and patient-centered growth models. Theresa holds an MBA in Healthcare Management and currently serves as Chief Growth Officer for Great Expressions Dental Centers.
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