1
00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,399
Hello. This is Arianna Portallatin with the Becker's

2
00:00:02,399 --> 00:00:04,799
Dental and DS Overview podcast. I'm thrilled to

3
00:00:04,799 --> 00:00:07,040
be joined today by Brian Carey, the CEO

4
00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:08,880
at Benevis. Brian, thank you so much for

5
00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:10,320
being here today. It's great to speak with

6
00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:10,980
you again.

7
00:00:11,359 --> 00:00:13,359
Thanks, Arianna. Really good to be with you

8
00:00:13,359 --> 00:00:14,960
and, really enjoy these,

9
00:00:15,855 --> 00:00:18,195
Becker's podcast. So pleased to be with you.

10
00:00:18,494 --> 00:00:20,175
Thank you so much. To start us off,

11
00:00:20,175 --> 00:00:21,934
can you introduce yourself for our listeners and

12
00:00:21,934 --> 00:00:23,295
tell us a little bit about your background

13
00:00:23,295 --> 00:00:23,954
as well?

14
00:00:24,414 --> 00:00:24,914
Certainly.

15
00:00:25,375 --> 00:00:25,855
So,

16
00:00:26,414 --> 00:00:28,494
as you've indicated, I am the CEO of

17
00:00:28,494 --> 00:00:28,994
BeneViz.

18
00:00:29,859 --> 00:00:31,539
I have been CEO of Benevis for a

19
00:00:31,539 --> 00:00:33,460
little over three years. I was on the

20
00:00:33,460 --> 00:00:35,939
board for a year before that, and my

21
00:00:35,939 --> 00:00:39,219
career has essentially been, in multi site health

22
00:00:39,219 --> 00:00:39,960
care services.

23
00:00:40,579 --> 00:00:43,475
So experience in multi site health care and,

24
00:00:44,115 --> 00:00:45,575
recently now with

25
00:00:45,954 --> 00:00:46,995
oral health care.

26
00:00:47,475 --> 00:00:49,015
And just a little bit about,

27
00:00:49,715 --> 00:00:51,575
Benabus. We operate

28
00:00:52,034 --> 00:00:56,115
primarily pediatric Medicaid practices in a 15

29
00:00:56,115 --> 00:00:56,615
communities

30
00:00:57,155 --> 00:00:58,615
across 14 states.

31
00:00:59,820 --> 00:01:01,260
Great. Thank you so much for sharing that

32
00:01:01,260 --> 00:01:03,659
background with us. To kick us off, I

33
00:01:03,659 --> 00:01:06,140
know that benefits just celebrated its tenth annual

34
00:01:06,140 --> 00:01:07,739
Sharing Smiles Day. Can you tell us a

35
00:01:07,739 --> 00:01:09,020
little bit a little bit about that, what

36
00:01:09,020 --> 00:01:10,480
was accomplished during that event?

37
00:01:11,215 --> 00:01:13,855
Certainly. Thrilled to. And, I often say it's

38
00:01:13,855 --> 00:01:16,575
my favorite day of the year. So, Sharing

39
00:01:16,575 --> 00:01:18,894
Smiles Day, and it was just our tenth

40
00:01:18,894 --> 00:01:19,394
annual,

41
00:01:19,694 --> 00:01:21,075
this past May 18,

42
00:01:21,855 --> 00:01:23,954
is a day where we all come together

43
00:01:24,174 --> 00:01:24,834
and provide

44
00:01:25,650 --> 00:01:26,950
free care to

45
00:01:27,329 --> 00:01:30,310
uninsured and under insured members of our community.

46
00:01:31,010 --> 00:01:32,210
And so on this,

47
00:01:32,530 --> 00:01:34,790
year, we had 22 of our practices

48
00:01:35,650 --> 00:01:36,130
and,

49
00:01:36,530 --> 00:01:37,890
over 330

50
00:01:37,890 --> 00:01:40,549
of our associates. So, dentists, hygienists,

51
00:01:41,555 --> 00:01:44,534
dental assistants, and some of the support staff,

52
00:01:45,155 --> 00:01:45,975
all volunteered.

53
00:01:47,155 --> 00:01:49,635
And we provide the care to over 400

54
00:01:49,635 --> 00:01:52,694
individuals, again, who are either underinsured or uninsured.

55
00:01:53,650 --> 00:01:56,870
And it's really for three reasons. One is,

56
00:01:57,250 --> 00:01:59,510
because it's core to our mission to provide

57
00:01:59,569 --> 00:02:01,990
oral health care to uninsured and underinsured.

58
00:02:02,530 --> 00:02:04,370
It's a way of our really kind of

59
00:02:04,370 --> 00:02:06,609
improving that access and making it totally free

60
00:02:06,609 --> 00:02:07,270
and available.

61
00:02:08,025 --> 00:02:08,985
The second is,

62
00:02:09,384 --> 00:02:11,305
it kind of is a way of us

63
00:02:11,305 --> 00:02:13,324
really kinda sharing with the community,

64
00:02:13,864 --> 00:02:15,245
what our mission is,

65
00:02:15,705 --> 00:02:16,764
really all about.

66
00:02:17,064 --> 00:02:19,705
But finally, it's actually a really important day

67
00:02:19,705 --> 00:02:21,599
for all of us, because it's a way

68
00:02:21,599 --> 00:02:23,620
for us to come together, for us to

69
00:02:23,759 --> 00:02:24,739
provide service,

70
00:02:25,199 --> 00:02:28,239
and really to kinda remind ourselves of kinda

71
00:02:28,239 --> 00:02:30,340
what's core to the Benevis mission.

72
00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:31,699
So we were thrilled,

73
00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:34,239
to have another successful one and are looking

74
00:02:34,239 --> 00:02:34,739
forward

75
00:02:35,039 --> 00:02:36,375
to doing it again next year.

76
00:02:37,655 --> 00:02:38,155
Great.

77
00:02:38,615 --> 00:02:40,455
Amazing to hear about everything that you've accomplished

78
00:02:40,455 --> 00:02:41,814
that day and all the patients that you

79
00:02:41,814 --> 00:02:43,655
were able to help. And tenth annual, that's

80
00:02:43,655 --> 00:02:45,574
a that's a big milestone, so congratulations on

81
00:02:45,574 --> 00:02:47,594
reaching that. Definitely a big one there.

82
00:02:48,134 --> 00:02:49,115
I'm also curious.

83
00:02:49,655 --> 00:02:51,669
Yeah. Definitely. I'm also curious to know what

84
00:02:51,669 --> 00:02:53,270
are you most excited about when it comes

85
00:02:53,270 --> 00:02:54,949
to dentistry right now, and is there anything

86
00:02:54,949 --> 00:02:56,810
that makes you nervous about the industry also?

87
00:02:57,669 --> 00:02:59,210
Yep. So I would say,

88
00:03:00,069 --> 00:03:02,169
just excited about the continued,

89
00:03:03,669 --> 00:03:04,969
application of technology.

90
00:03:05,430 --> 00:03:05,930
So,

91
00:03:06,915 --> 00:03:09,875
like, really every, you know, entity across the

92
00:03:09,875 --> 00:03:10,375
globe,

93
00:03:11,074 --> 00:03:13,314
artificial intelligence is, you know,

94
00:03:13,794 --> 00:03:15,655
something that's really enabling,

95
00:03:16,354 --> 00:03:17,574
improvements in care,

96
00:03:17,955 --> 00:03:21,479
whether it be in sort of, diagnostic aids

97
00:03:21,719 --> 00:03:23,180
or in terms of just,

98
00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:25,879
we're actually using it in some of our

99
00:03:25,879 --> 00:03:28,060
contact center for helping to schedule,

100
00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:30,699
as well as in, navigating,

101
00:03:31,719 --> 00:03:33,659
sort of insurance claims and billing.

102
00:03:34,275 --> 00:03:37,094
So just excited that the use of artificial

103
00:03:37,314 --> 00:03:38,294
intelligence is

104
00:03:38,675 --> 00:03:39,175
essentially

105
00:03:39,555 --> 00:03:42,854
resulting in better care and more accessible care,

106
00:03:43,395 --> 00:03:45,395
and we're looking forward to we think we're

107
00:03:45,395 --> 00:03:47,474
obviously in just in the early innings of

108
00:03:47,474 --> 00:03:47,909
that.

109
00:03:48,949 --> 00:03:50,310
You know, on the other hand, I'd say,

110
00:03:50,310 --> 00:03:50,969
you know,

111
00:03:51,909 --> 00:03:54,010
a significant part of our population

112
00:03:54,949 --> 00:03:55,930
receives their,

113
00:03:56,790 --> 00:03:59,689
insurance, both medical and dental care

114
00:04:00,344 --> 00:04:00,844
coverage,

115
00:04:01,224 --> 00:04:03,965
through Medicaid and Medicaid related programs.

116
00:04:04,664 --> 00:04:05,144
And,

117
00:04:05,544 --> 00:04:08,284
you know, certainly concerned about some of the,

118
00:04:09,625 --> 00:04:11,805
efforts to reform Medicaid,

119
00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:13,900
potentially to reduce costs.

120
00:04:14,759 --> 00:04:15,500
And while,

121
00:04:15,959 --> 00:04:18,379
of course, like everyone, you know, we're,

122
00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,339
supportive of there being any,

123
00:04:21,879 --> 00:04:24,459
ways to reduce, waste, fraud, and abuse,

124
00:04:24,865 --> 00:04:26,704
We are just concerned that,

125
00:04:27,105 --> 00:04:28,805
those who are truly eligible

126
00:04:29,425 --> 00:04:31,204
may end up becoming disenrolled.

127
00:04:32,384 --> 00:04:34,625
And that can happen just because of the

128
00:04:34,625 --> 00:04:35,764
administrative burden.

129
00:04:36,464 --> 00:04:37,104
And so,

130
00:04:37,930 --> 00:04:40,410
we're we're concerned, and we're prepared to support

131
00:04:40,410 --> 00:04:41,149
our communities

132
00:04:41,689 --> 00:04:43,610
to make sure that those who are truly

133
00:04:43,610 --> 00:04:45,470
eligible can maintain their eligibility

134
00:04:46,169 --> 00:04:47,149
and, more importantly,

135
00:04:47,689 --> 00:04:50,509
maintain their dental home and oral health care.

136
00:04:51,464 --> 00:04:53,305
Alright. Thank you for for sharing your thoughts

137
00:04:53,305 --> 00:04:55,544
on Medicaid. They're definitely, an important issue in

138
00:04:55,544 --> 00:04:56,845
the industry right now.

139
00:04:57,225 --> 00:04:58,985
My next question here, what will the most

140
00:04:58,985 --> 00:05:01,404
effective health care leaders need to be successful

141
00:05:01,464 --> 00:05:03,004
in the next two to three years?

142
00:05:04,110 --> 00:05:04,589
So,

143
00:05:05,069 --> 00:05:07,069
to be successful, you know, in that time

144
00:05:07,069 --> 00:05:09,089
frame, the next two or three years,

145
00:05:09,949 --> 00:05:12,769
it's really gonna be most critical to,

146
00:05:13,629 --> 00:05:14,129
retain,

147
00:05:15,550 --> 00:05:16,610
talented individuals.

148
00:05:17,154 --> 00:05:19,475
And the my own opinion, the only way

149
00:05:19,475 --> 00:05:21,475
to do that is to continue to invest

150
00:05:21,475 --> 00:05:23,475
in them. We are in a position in

151
00:05:23,475 --> 00:05:25,555
health care where there just continues to be

152
00:05:25,555 --> 00:05:28,514
more jobs than people are able to perform

153
00:05:28,514 --> 00:05:29,129
those jobs.

154
00:05:29,930 --> 00:05:32,189
And that's, certainly the case with dentists,

155
00:05:32,649 --> 00:05:35,069
case with hygienists, and with dental assistants.

156
00:05:35,770 --> 00:05:38,410
And so, in order to be successful, we

157
00:05:38,410 --> 00:05:41,470
just, have to find a way to retain,

158
00:05:42,170 --> 00:05:42,670
and

159
00:05:43,225 --> 00:05:45,145
motivate those individuals. And as I said, in

160
00:05:45,145 --> 00:05:45,805
our case,

161
00:05:46,345 --> 00:05:48,904
we do it primarily through investing in training

162
00:05:48,904 --> 00:05:51,165
and development so that people feel supported.

163
00:05:52,425 --> 00:05:53,545
Great. Could you,

164
00:05:54,105 --> 00:05:55,545
go in a little bit deeper about some

165
00:05:55,545 --> 00:05:57,730
of the trainings that you provide the dental

166
00:05:57,730 --> 00:06:00,129
professionals in your network just to learn more

167
00:06:00,129 --> 00:06:02,129
about, what exactly you offer and how you're

168
00:06:02,129 --> 00:06:03,910
supporting, the workplace there?

169
00:06:04,769 --> 00:06:05,569
Yeah. So,

170
00:06:05,970 --> 00:06:07,990
I'd say two things. One is,

171
00:06:09,089 --> 00:06:12,085
because of things like artificial intelligence and new

172
00:06:12,085 --> 00:06:13,064
scanning technologies,

173
00:06:14,165 --> 00:06:16,745
so supporting them in the use of those,

174
00:06:17,205 --> 00:06:18,185
in our offices.

175
00:06:18,725 --> 00:06:20,585
And then the second thing is just,

176
00:06:21,295 --> 00:06:21,795
the

177
00:06:22,449 --> 00:06:24,470
sort of growth in their skill set.

178
00:06:24,850 --> 00:06:25,990
So for example,

179
00:06:26,769 --> 00:06:27,990
with dental assistants,

180
00:06:28,610 --> 00:06:29,829
in many of our states,

181
00:06:30,290 --> 00:06:33,509
dental assistants can actually be trained and certified

182
00:06:33,730 --> 00:06:34,310
to be,

183
00:06:35,004 --> 00:06:38,384
coronal polishers, which essentially are performing some hygiene,

184
00:06:39,724 --> 00:06:41,104
tasks. And so,

185
00:06:41,964 --> 00:06:44,785
by investing and supporting their growth and development,

186
00:06:45,564 --> 00:06:48,000
it's a way of, really their sort of,

187
00:06:48,079 --> 00:06:50,500
you know, jobs and careers being more fulfilling.

188
00:06:50,879 --> 00:06:53,439
And so that's one of the, probably most

189
00:06:53,439 --> 00:06:56,259
important ways that we, look to really support,

190
00:06:56,879 --> 00:06:58,720
the growth of the individuals in our dental

191
00:06:58,720 --> 00:06:59,779
assistant function.

192
00:07:00,854 --> 00:07:02,294
Great. Well, thank you so much for for

193
00:07:02,294 --> 00:07:04,294
sharing some more of that info there. Those

194
00:07:04,294 --> 00:07:05,495
are all the questions I have for you,

195
00:07:05,495 --> 00:07:07,175
Brian. Thank you again, so much for joining

196
00:07:07,175 --> 00:07:08,375
us today. It's always a pleasure to speak

197
00:07:08,375 --> 00:07:09,495
with you and learn more about what you're

198
00:07:09,495 --> 00:07:11,175
doing at BeneViz. So I hope you'll you'll

199
00:07:11,175 --> 00:07:12,854
stay in touch with us. It's been a

200
00:07:12,854 --> 00:07:14,615
pleasure speaking with you again today, and I

201
00:07:14,615 --> 00:07:16,055
look forward to connecting with you again in

202
00:07:16,055 --> 00:07:18,093
the future. Great. Thank you so much for

203
00:07:18,093 --> 00:07:19,313
the time and the opportunity.