1 00:00:05,235 --> 00:00:07,285 - This is the Becker's Healthcare Podcast, created 2 00:00:07,285 --> 00:00:08,445 by the team of Becker's Healthcare, 3 00:00:08,605 --> 00:00:10,325 a multimedia company devoted to the people 4 00:00:10,345 --> 00:00:11,645 who power us healthcare. 5 00:00:11,915 --> 00:00:14,765 Four new 15 minute episodes are released daily containing 6 00:00:14,925 --> 00:00:16,685 industry news analysis and thought leadership. 7 00:00:16,685 --> 00:00:19,605 From powerful healthcare decision makers Support our show 8 00:00:19,705 --> 00:00:22,525 by leaving it a five star rating and review on Apple Podcast 9 00:00:22,745 --> 00:00:24,005 or other platforms you use. 10 00:00:24,155 --> 00:00:26,005 It's a chance to tell us what you like about the show 11 00:00:26,025 --> 00:00:27,245 and act on your feedback. 12 00:00:27,265 --> 00:00:29,205 Thanks for listening. Now, here's the episode. 13 00:00:30,635 --> 00:00:33,085 - This is Laura Dedo with the Becker's Healthcare Podcast. 14 00:00:33,745 --> 00:00:35,525 I'm thrilled today to be joined by Mike Adelberg, 15 00:00:35,575 --> 00:00:37,045 who's the Executive Director 16 00:00:37,045 --> 00:00:39,165 of National Association of Dental Plans. 17 00:00:39,435 --> 00:00:41,445 Mike, it's a pleasure to have you on the podcast today. 18 00:00:42,475 --> 00:00:43,885 - Well, thank you, Laura. It's a pleasure 19 00:00:43,885 --> 00:00:45,405 to have the opportunity to speak with you 20 00:00:45,405 --> 00:00:46,565 and your, uh, readers. 21 00:00:47,665 --> 00:00:49,645 - You know, I, I'm really excited for our conversation 22 00:00:49,645 --> 00:00:51,685 because, uh, there are big things happening in the dental 23 00:00:51,695 --> 00:00:54,165 space today, and certainly it's just so important to have, 24 00:00:54,505 --> 00:00:55,965 you know, the health plan 25 00:00:55,985 --> 00:00:57,965 and coverage in, in those kinds of things. 26 00:00:58,145 --> 00:00:59,965 Um, so I'm excited to learn more about 27 00:01:00,355 --> 00:01:02,085 what you're seeing from your vantage point. 28 00:01:02,105 --> 00:01:03,885 But before we dive into that discussion, 29 00:01:03,945 --> 00:01:05,085 can you tell me a little bit more 30 00:01:05,085 --> 00:01:06,285 about yourself and your background? 31 00:01:07,595 --> 00:01:11,845 - Sure. So, uh, I've been in and around, uh, healthcare 32 00:01:11,985 --> 00:01:14,725 and managed healthcare for, for about 30 years. 33 00:01:15,235 --> 00:01:18,845 That includes, uh, 15 years in, uh, 34 00:01:19,065 --> 00:01:21,165 the federal government in the Department of Health 35 00:01:21,165 --> 00:01:23,565 and Human Services, where I held, uh, 36 00:01:23,565 --> 00:01:25,445 senior positions in the Medicare program, 37 00:01:25,545 --> 00:01:27,685 and then a senior position, uh, 38 00:01:27,685 --> 00:01:29,605 rolling out the Affordable Care Act. 39 00:01:30,025 --> 00:01:32,885 Uh, it was in that position that had responsibility 40 00:01:32,985 --> 00:01:36,805 for the regulations for essential health benefits, 41 00:01:36,875 --> 00:01:41,525 including pediatric dental as the 10th, uh, EHB, 42 00:01:42,065 --> 00:01:46,045 and also for establishing standalone dental plans on the 43 00:01:46,295 --> 00:01:49,205 Affordable Care Act, uh, health insurance exchanges. 44 00:01:49,505 --> 00:01:52,885 So that's when I began, uh, working with dental plans 45 00:01:53,065 --> 00:01:54,605 and working with the dental industry 46 00:01:54,665 --> 00:01:56,765 and considering oral health issues. 47 00:01:57,345 --> 00:02:00,805 Uh, before joining N-A-D-P-A year ago, 48 00:02:01,245 --> 00:02:03,645 I spent eight years in a, uh, 49 00:02:04,045 --> 00:02:07,845 boutique consultancy on K Street in Washington, DC uh, 50 00:02:08,285 --> 00:02:09,405 focusing on health policy, 51 00:02:09,865 --> 00:02:12,365 and had the, uh, opportunity to work on a number 52 00:02:12,365 --> 00:02:15,725 of oral health issues in, uh, that position as well. 53 00:02:16,735 --> 00:02:19,035 And I've been at NADP for one year now. 54 00:02:20,485 --> 00:02:22,145 - Oh, wow. That's amazing to hear. 55 00:02:22,205 --> 00:02:24,385 And definitely, you know, seems like you've gotten such 56 00:02:24,385 --> 00:02:27,105 great experience throughout your career in leading you into 57 00:02:27,375 --> 00:02:29,265 your role today with the NADP. 58 00:02:29,925 --> 00:02:32,065 Um, from your perspective, what are some 59 00:02:32,065 --> 00:02:33,105 of the biggest issues that 60 00:02:33,105 --> 00:02:34,345 you're following right now in dental? 61 00:02:36,055 --> 00:02:38,865 - Yeah. Uh, so for NADP, 62 00:02:38,925 --> 00:02:43,745 at least our number one issue right now is medical loss 63 00:02:43,955 --> 00:02:47,065 ratio and whether it should be applied to dental plans, 64 00:02:47,125 --> 00:02:48,225 and if so, how? 65 00:02:49,085 --> 00:02:53,865 And, uh, there is a law that probably, 66 00:02:54,045 --> 00:02:55,865 uh, many of your readers are familiar with 67 00:02:55,865 --> 00:02:59,655 that goes into effect on January 1st in Massachusetts 68 00:03:00,245 --> 00:03:02,855 that would apply a medical 69 00:03:03,665 --> 00:03:07,895 level medical loss ratio to dental plans in that state. 70 00:03:07,955 --> 00:03:11,375 And already a number of carriers, uh, in 71 00:03:11,375 --> 00:03:14,295 that state have indicated that they have to leave at least, 72 00:03:14,635 --> 00:03:15,655 uh, one 73 00:03:15,795 --> 00:03:19,175 or more of the, uh, markets, 74 00:03:19,245 --> 00:03:21,455 insurance markets in the state of Massachusetts 75 00:03:21,455 --> 00:03:25,095 because the law is, uh, unworkable. 76 00:03:25,235 --> 00:03:30,015 And, and the fundamental problem with that is that a, 77 00:03:30,735 --> 00:03:33,455 a medical and the dental plan, uh, have 78 00:03:34,075 --> 00:03:37,055 the same administrative costs are very similar 79 00:03:37,055 --> 00:03:38,175 administrative costs, 80 00:03:38,635 --> 00:03:41,775 but the medical plan ballpark gets about 20 times 81 00:03:41,875 --> 00:03:43,455 as much incoming income. 82 00:03:43,875 --> 00:03:48,335 So it can just naturally achieve a higher loss ratio than a 83 00:03:48,335 --> 00:03:49,455 dental plan can achieve, 84 00:03:49,475 --> 00:03:51,415 or for that matter, any other low premium 85 00:03:51,445 --> 00:03:53,455 product, uh, can achieve. 86 00:03:54,155 --> 00:03:55,895 Uh, there are a number of other states 87 00:03:55,895 --> 00:03:59,095 that have gone a different route on loss ratio, uh, such 88 00:03:59,095 --> 00:04:02,215 as Maine, Colorado, Arizona, others, um, 89 00:04:02,345 --> 00:04:04,295 where it's essentially a reporting 90 00:04:04,295 --> 00:04:06,335 and an outlier remediation process. 91 00:04:07,115 --> 00:04:11,775 And NADP is okay with that, uh, if, if that's, 92 00:04:11,995 --> 00:04:14,095 uh, how states need to go. 93 00:04:14,755 --> 00:04:16,935 Um, but there are a bunch of other issues 94 00:04:16,935 --> 00:04:18,535 that interest us a great deal. 95 00:04:19,035 --> 00:04:21,655 Uh, we are all about expanding, uh, 96 00:04:22,245 --> 00:04:24,295 oral health access in this country. 97 00:04:24,835 --> 00:04:26,775 Uh, so whether that be, uh, 98 00:04:26,965 --> 00:04:30,535 more Medicaid programs adding adult dental benefits, uh, 99 00:04:30,535 --> 00:04:34,095 whether that be, uh, states choosing 100 00:04:34,275 --> 00:04:38,635 to add an adult dental essential health benefit, uh, 101 00:04:38,975 --> 00:04:43,595 to their, uh, benchmark plan in the, uh, a CA markets, 102 00:04:43,935 --> 00:04:46,715 uh, as a proposed regulation would allow, 103 00:04:47,135 --> 00:04:49,715 or whether it be the establishment of a Medicare, 104 00:04:50,015 --> 00:04:51,035 uh, dental benefit. 105 00:04:51,655 --> 00:04:54,155 All of those issues are really important 106 00:04:54,155 --> 00:04:55,475 to the nation's oral health, 107 00:04:55,855 --> 00:04:57,755 and they're really important to NADP. 108 00:04:59,885 --> 00:05:01,245 - Absolutely. That's fascinating 109 00:05:01,385 --> 00:05:03,685 and really great work that, you know, you're doing in order 110 00:05:03,705 --> 00:05:06,125 to bring more of these essential benefits to play 111 00:05:06,305 --> 00:05:09,325 and really getting them integrated into more health plans. 112 00:05:09,755 --> 00:05:12,125 From your perspective, is there much energy around that, 113 00:05:12,125 --> 00:05:14,725 especially for, as you were talking through, you know, some 114 00:05:14,725 --> 00:05:18,205 of the a CA plans in other, um, government funded plans. 115 00:05:18,345 --> 00:05:20,205 Is there energy around being able to do that, 116 00:05:20,265 --> 00:05:23,045 or what are the sticking points in, um, you know, trying 117 00:05:23,045 --> 00:05:25,085 to get more, um, of the plans 118 00:05:25,105 --> 00:05:27,485 to offer the dental essential health benefits? 119 00:05:28,575 --> 00:05:31,585 - Yeah, so, uh, at, at least with regard 120 00:05:31,585 --> 00:05:35,785 to essential health benefits, um, it, it's important to note 121 00:05:36,135 --> 00:05:40,745 that the original CMS regulation at the start of the, uh, 122 00:05:40,745 --> 00:05:44,145 implementation of the A CA actually forbid 123 00:05:45,195 --> 00:05:49,345 adult dental as an essential health benefit, 124 00:05:50,085 --> 00:05:51,305 um, in the states. 125 00:05:51,725 --> 00:05:54,145 And, uh, the most recent, uh, 126 00:05:54,235 --> 00:05:58,005 Biden administration regulation, if it's finalized 127 00:05:58,105 --> 00:06:01,205 as proposed, would eliminate that prohibition. 128 00:06:01,305 --> 00:06:05,635 And then states would have the opportunity to, uh, 129 00:06:05,825 --> 00:06:09,595 establish, uh, an adult dental, uh, EHB, 130 00:06:09,655 --> 00:06:13,035 and then the a CA, uh, plans in the individual 131 00:06:13,095 --> 00:06:16,035 and small group markets would have to, uh, 132 00:06:16,285 --> 00:06:18,795 offer an adult dental or in one way 133 00:06:18,795 --> 00:06:21,475 or another, uh, there would have to be a partnership 134 00:06:21,905 --> 00:06:23,475 with the state, uh, so 135 00:06:23,475 --> 00:06:26,075 that the state is providing adult dental, uh, 136 00:06:26,105 --> 00:06:29,835 through standalone plans, uh, or, or some other mechanism. 137 00:06:30,215 --> 00:06:33,475 Um, this is only a proposed regulation, can't guarantee 138 00:06:33,495 --> 00:06:34,635 how it's gonna turn out. 139 00:06:35,135 --> 00:06:38,795 But, um, I do consider it a, an exciting development. 140 00:06:38,795 --> 00:06:43,715 Certainly something that, uh, if it's done wisely will, uh, 141 00:06:43,785 --> 00:06:46,635 help Americans, uh, get coverage. 142 00:06:46,635 --> 00:06:49,115 And Amer we all know of, of that, Americans 143 00:06:49,415 --> 00:06:52,315 who have dental coverage go to the dentist more, 144 00:06:52,315 --> 00:06:53,355 and Americans who go 145 00:06:53,355 --> 00:06:55,675 to the dentist more have better oral health. 146 00:06:55,775 --> 00:06:57,635 And let's just complete the circle 147 00:06:57,655 --> 00:06:59,955 and say, Americans who have better oral health have better 148 00:07:00,065 --> 00:07:03,195 overall health, and that's what we should all be about. 149 00:07:04,895 --> 00:07:06,795 - Agreed that we put it very well. 150 00:07:07,135 --> 00:07:09,315 Now, Mike, when you look into the future, 151 00:07:09,825 --> 00:07:12,315 what are you most excited about and what makes you nervous? 152 00:07:13,775 --> 00:07:16,545 - Yeah, so in, in terms of being excited, um, 153 00:07:17,045 --> 00:07:20,185 and I, I guess I, I set this up a little bit in my prior, 154 00:07:20,405 --> 00:07:25,245 uh, response, but there is a stronger 155 00:07:25,465 --> 00:07:29,685 and stronger realization in this country, uh, among, uh, 156 00:07:29,775 --> 00:07:33,565 among policymakers, among business leaders, et cetera, that, 157 00:07:33,945 --> 00:07:36,805 uh, oral health impacts overall health. 158 00:07:37,385 --> 00:07:41,605 And, uh, I just use as, as one example, there was a, 159 00:07:42,125 --> 00:07:45,565 a study published in the ADA's Journal, uh, 160 00:07:45,565 --> 00:07:49,965 earlier this year that, uh, demonstrated that for people 161 00:07:49,995 --> 00:07:54,645 with diabetes, when they receive appropriate PERO care, 162 00:07:55,435 --> 00:07:59,725 they ca their overall healthcare costs go down 11 163 00:08:00,025 --> 00:08:01,205 to 14%. 164 00:08:02,135 --> 00:08:06,835 So that realization, I think is extremely exciting. 165 00:08:07,455 --> 00:08:10,275 And, you know, all of us in dental at one point 166 00:08:10,375 --> 00:08:11,595 or another have said, we have 167 00:08:11,595 --> 00:08:13,115 to put the mouth back into the body, 168 00:08:13,415 --> 00:08:14,875 but what does that really mean? 169 00:08:15,425 --> 00:08:19,215 Well, the, the, the growing body 170 00:08:19,515 --> 00:08:21,735 of scholarship that demonstrates 171 00:08:22,125 --> 00:08:24,935 that when a person has good oral health, uh, 172 00:08:24,935 --> 00:08:27,695 their overall health is likely to improve, 173 00:08:28,115 --> 00:08:31,255 and then for, for certain chronic diseases that much more. 174 00:08:31,255 --> 00:08:33,215 So that's extremely exciting 175 00:08:33,215 --> 00:08:36,775 because that opens up the opportunity for all kinds 176 00:08:36,955 --> 00:08:41,335 of payment reforms and, and funding, uh, opportunities. 177 00:08:41,515 --> 00:08:43,215 And that's very exciting to me. 178 00:08:43,315 --> 00:08:45,655 Uh, the other thing that's very exciting to me, and, 179 00:08:45,935 --> 00:08:49,735 and I I think it's also a focus of, uh, your publication 180 00:08:50,315 --> 00:08:51,855 is the growth of DSOs. 181 00:08:52,735 --> 00:08:54,895 Historically, uh, the dental profession has, 182 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,845 has largely been small and solo practitioners. 183 00:08:58,385 --> 00:09:02,085 And with the advent of DSOs, there is now scale 184 00:09:02,345 --> 00:09:03,445 and sophistication 185 00:09:03,705 --> 00:09:08,445 and administrative efficiencies that really allow for, uh, 186 00:09:08,525 --> 00:09:12,565 increasingly cost effective, uh, oral health to be provided. 187 00:09:13,105 --> 00:09:16,525 And I know my members are very excited, uh, 188 00:09:16,545 --> 00:09:17,765 to work with DSOs. 189 00:09:18,025 --> 00:09:19,965 I'm very excited to work with DSOs, 190 00:09:20,265 --> 00:09:22,605 and I think their growth is a positive development. 191 00:09:23,265 --> 00:09:25,805 - That's amazing to hear. And definitely, um, you know, 192 00:09:25,805 --> 00:09:28,125 having that kind of economies of scale with some 193 00:09:28,125 --> 00:09:30,445 of the DSOs, you know, hopefully can push this forward. 194 00:09:30,685 --> 00:09:33,085 I think the message that you were talking about 195 00:09:33,625 --> 00:09:37,125 on the stronger oral healthcare means better overall 196 00:09:37,125 --> 00:09:39,365 healthcare, it, it seems like, like you mentioned, 197 00:09:39,545 --> 00:09:42,645 is gaining momentum even within the broader organizations 198 00:09:42,645 --> 00:09:44,805 and large organizations with some of their partnerships 199 00:09:44,825 --> 00:09:48,565 and just really, um, you know, having that as the core of 200 00:09:48,595 --> 00:09:49,845 what they're driving forward. 201 00:09:50,105 --> 00:09:52,045 Um, so that is certainly exciting to see. 202 00:09:54,445 --> 00:09:57,095 - Yeah, uh, very much agree. 203 00:09:57,435 --> 00:10:02,335 And, uh, I know my members, uh, the carriers, 204 00:10:02,795 --> 00:10:05,375 uh, are are excited about the partnerships 205 00:10:05,375 --> 00:10:06,535 they have with DSOs. 206 00:10:06,915 --> 00:10:09,815 Uh, I know, uh, I have individual companies 207 00:10:09,815 --> 00:10:12,975 that have various pilots going with, with particular DSOs. 208 00:10:13,315 --> 00:10:15,895 Uh, they, they really can become the, 209 00:10:16,155 --> 00:10:17,975 the engine of innovation. 210 00:10:19,615 --> 00:10:21,695 - Absolutely. So kind of on the flip side of that, 211 00:10:21,955 --> 00:10:24,735 is there anything that you see as potential roadblocks or, 212 00:10:24,735 --> 00:10:27,735 or that you're preparing for, um, that could be a roadblock 213 00:10:27,755 --> 00:10:29,895 to success in the next couple years or so? 214 00:10:31,125 --> 00:10:34,575 - Well, I, I guess I'd make a general observation, which is 215 00:10:34,575 --> 00:10:38,015 that positive revolutions really do occur in healthcare. 216 00:10:38,595 --> 00:10:41,695 And of course in oral healthcare is healthcare. 217 00:10:42,045 --> 00:10:44,975 They really do occur, but they're always very bumpy 218 00:10:44,975 --> 00:10:46,655 and they take a long time. 219 00:10:47,435 --> 00:10:51,655 And I, I remember, uh, being part of, uh, the discussion 220 00:10:51,655 --> 00:10:55,495 that led up to the Affordable Care Act sort of circa 2010, 221 00:10:56,075 --> 00:10:58,815 uh, just as an example, over on the medical side of things, 222 00:10:59,225 --> 00:11:01,185 there was all 223 00:11:01,185 --> 00:11:04,185 of this exuberance about accountable care organizations 224 00:11:04,185 --> 00:11:08,425 and how they were going to completely reform, uh, hospitals 225 00:11:08,645 --> 00:11:10,665 and the way hospitals, uh, get paid 226 00:11:11,005 --> 00:11:13,705 and the way hospitals, uh, manage bed days, 227 00:11:14,045 --> 00:11:15,305 bed census, et cetera. 228 00:11:15,845 --> 00:11:19,795 And we are now, you know, 13 years later 229 00:11:19,975 --> 00:11:21,475 and ACOs have made a dent 230 00:11:21,475 --> 00:11:23,435 and ACOs have had some positive impact. 231 00:11:24,055 --> 00:11:28,715 Uh, but it's hard that revolution, if it is, 232 00:11:28,855 --> 00:11:30,075 is in fact a revolution. 233 00:11:30,425 --> 00:11:32,795 It's still a very unfinished revolution. 234 00:11:32,935 --> 00:11:36,435 And, and things just take a long time, uh, for a variety 235 00:11:36,535 --> 00:11:39,195 of good reasons in, in the healthcare field. 236 00:11:39,495 --> 00:11:44,175 And so, uh, that what makes me nervous is that I think 237 00:11:44,995 --> 00:11:46,535 the, the reformers 238 00:11:46,635 --> 00:11:48,775 and the people who get really excited 239 00:11:49,315 --> 00:11:53,425 are sometimes not sufficiently tempered by how much 240 00:11:54,255 --> 00:11:56,945 inertia there is in our large 241 00:11:57,085 --> 00:12:00,185 and clunky multi-stakeholder system. 242 00:12:00,685 --> 00:12:03,665 And reforms just take time, improvements take time, 243 00:12:04,085 --> 00:12:06,905 and then more narrowly, the the other thing 244 00:12:06,905 --> 00:12:10,185 that makes me nervous, and I imagine it makes your readers 245 00:12:10,185 --> 00:12:13,865 nervous too, is we have a, a provider shortage in, 246 00:12:14,085 --> 00:12:15,585 in large parts of this country. 247 00:12:16,325 --> 00:12:20,225 And if we don't have, uh, enough dentists, 248 00:12:20,225 --> 00:12:22,785 if we don't have enough hygienists, et cetera, 249 00:12:23,195 --> 00:12:26,905 we're in big trouble, especially as we seek to expand, uh, 250 00:12:26,965 --> 00:12:30,585 access and get people, uh, attending all of the, 251 00:12:30,765 --> 00:12:33,705 the dental office visits that we think they need to attend. 252 00:12:34,805 --> 00:12:36,825 - Got it. Yeah, I, I think that's such a great point 253 00:12:36,885 --> 00:12:38,265 and certainly helpful to know 254 00:12:38,265 --> 00:12:41,385 and understand, um, from your perspective now, you know, 255 00:12:41,385 --> 00:12:42,745 given everything we've talked about, 256 00:12:42,745 --> 00:12:44,185 obviously some great opportunities, 257 00:12:44,585 --> 00:12:47,345 exciting things happening, as well as challenges ahead, 258 00:12:47,695 --> 00:12:51,305 what do you think it will take for healthcare effective 259 00:12:51,445 --> 00:12:52,785 to have healthcare, um, 260 00:12:52,785 --> 00:12:55,265 leaders be effective over the next few years or so? 261 00:12:56,495 --> 00:12:58,785 - Yeah, that's, uh, that's a big question. 262 00:12:58,785 --> 00:13:00,745 There are a lot of ways, uh, to take that. 263 00:13:00,925 --> 00:13:05,145 Um, but I, I, I'll offer that all of us, uh, first 264 00:13:05,145 --> 00:13:08,495 of all need, need to keep an open mind. 265 00:13:09,235 --> 00:13:11,855 And when someone presents us with something 266 00:13:12,035 --> 00:13:13,095 that's interesting, 267 00:13:13,115 --> 00:13:16,055 but doesn't ring a hundred percent true to us, 268 00:13:16,435 --> 00:13:19,495 the first time we hear it, uh, we should smile, 269 00:13:21,195 --> 00:13:24,875 refrain, uh, restrain ourselves from a negative response 270 00:13:25,535 --> 00:13:27,655 and think about it a little bit 271 00:13:27,915 --> 00:13:31,415 and maybe follow up quietly two days later, uh, 272 00:13:31,595 --> 00:13:34,135 rather than shooting something down in the public way 273 00:13:34,135 --> 00:13:38,535 that's been going to close off open-minded dialogue. 274 00:13:38,955 --> 00:13:41,535 Uh, so let's all keep an open-minded about 275 00:13:41,535 --> 00:13:44,015 things more narrowly. 276 00:13:44,395 --> 00:13:48,815 Uh, everyone is talking about ai. It's, it's scary. 277 00:13:49,405 --> 00:13:53,255 It's, uh, has, has a lot of potential to be, uh, 278 00:13:53,325 --> 00:13:54,615 mischievous, uh, 279 00:13:54,675 --> 00:13:58,495 but it also has tremendous potential upsides in terms 280 00:13:58,515 --> 00:14:01,575 of making, improving, uh, the consistency 281 00:14:01,635 --> 00:14:02,655 and quality of care 282 00:14:03,115 --> 00:14:05,775 and improving our administrative processes. 283 00:14:06,275 --> 00:14:10,215 So, uh, that's, we should be open-minded to, uh, 284 00:14:10,475 --> 00:14:12,695 how this technology develops. 285 00:14:12,995 --> 00:14:15,215 We should be open-minded to payment reforms. 286 00:14:15,215 --> 00:14:18,495 We should be open-minded to the development of transparency 287 00:14:18,555 --> 00:14:19,615 and quality measures. 288 00:14:19,965 --> 00:14:22,015 Frankly, if the, the plans 289 00:14:22,015 --> 00:14:24,175 and the providers don't figure out how 290 00:14:24,175 --> 00:14:27,535 to make some progress in some of these areas by ourselves, 291 00:14:27,835 --> 00:14:31,015 at some point, the government's going to assist us 292 00:14:31,555 --> 00:14:33,415 in moving in some of these directions. 293 00:14:33,915 --> 00:14:36,695 So, uh, those are areas where we should be thoughtful, 294 00:14:36,915 --> 00:14:40,295 we should do things in a incremental manner, uh, 295 00:14:40,355 --> 00:14:42,775 but we should keep our minds open 296 00:14:42,915 --> 00:14:46,695 and recognize that there may at some point be some 297 00:14:46,895 --> 00:14:48,055 external pressures on us. 298 00:14:48,495 --> 00:14:52,045 I, I haven't talked yet about, uh, some of the, the, 299 00:14:52,065 --> 00:14:55,885 the clinical, uh, and scientific opportunities also, 300 00:14:56,225 --> 00:14:58,605 but things like, uh, saliva samples 301 00:14:58,865 --> 00:15:03,325 and all of the things that a dentist office can deliver 302 00:15:03,345 --> 00:15:06,245 to overall health by, uh, saliva sampling 303 00:15:06,825 --> 00:15:09,285 and then, uh, tissue regeneration 304 00:15:09,865 --> 00:15:12,645 and its possibility to improve 305 00:15:13,355 --> 00:15:15,805 what now might be a root canal 306 00:15:15,985 --> 00:15:19,325 or a crown opportunity in the oppor, uh, the potential, 307 00:15:19,665 --> 00:15:22,125 you know, in, in the relatively near future 308 00:15:22,185 --> 00:15:23,845 to regenerate tissue instead. 309 00:15:24,225 --> 00:15:28,845 Um, all of that is just extremely exciting, uh, 310 00:15:29,075 --> 00:15:32,125 because it has the opportunity, uh, first of all 311 00:15:32,125 --> 00:15:33,485 to make people healthier 312 00:15:33,825 --> 00:15:36,205 and second, uh, potentially, uh, 313 00:15:36,355 --> 00:15:41,125 make our overall healthcare system that much more efficient. 314 00:15:41,125 --> 00:15:44,365 Because when we fix up people's mouths, uh, 315 00:15:44,385 --> 00:15:46,005 we will improve their overall health. 316 00:15:47,485 --> 00:15:49,545 - That's great to hear. Mike, thank you so much 317 00:15:49,545 --> 00:15:51,025 for joining us on the podcast today. 318 00:15:51,025 --> 00:15:53,305 This has been such a fun and interesting conversation, 319 00:15:53,325 --> 00:15:55,185 and I look forward to connecting with you again soon. 320 00:15:56,365 --> 00:15:57,935 - Yeah, I, I've really enjoyed it. 321 00:15:57,955 --> 00:15:59,215 And, uh, I, I thank you 322 00:15:59,215 --> 00:16:01,455 and your colleagues at, uh, Becker's for great work. 323 00:16:01,515 --> 00:16:03,015 Uh, I'm a, I'm a regular reader. 324 00:16:05,685 --> 00:16:08,415 - It's so important for leaders at the top of organizations 325 00:16:08,435 --> 00:16:10,935 to keep learning, stay sharp, grow their networks, 326 00:16:11,325 --> 00:16:13,775 help our audience better do this in a more simplified, 327 00:16:13,775 --> 00:16:15,455 personalized, and meaningful way. 328 00:16:16,015 --> 00:16:18,495 Becker's Healthcare has launched my BHC, 329 00:16:18,925 --> 00:16:20,775 it's your trusted Becker's healthcare experience 330 00:16:20,775 --> 00:16:22,655 and more with content, connections, 331 00:16:22,655 --> 00:16:24,055 events, and learning opportunities. 332 00:16:24,845 --> 00:16:28,655 Join the community free of charge@www.my 333 00:16:29,215 --> 00:16:31,775 becker's hospital review.com and we'll see you there.