The New Medicaid Provider Experience
Presented by Jessica Emmerich (facilitator), Amanda Fahrendorf, Jackie Barger, Dr. Aaron Bumann, Dr. Philip Son
Session Overview: As part of this panel, MO HealthNet will share data on the new Medicaid Dental providers in Missouri and panelists will discuss how the new Medicaid program has affected their practices. A number of recent changes have been made to increase dental provider participation, including higher rates, additional services, and fewer limitations.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will gain an understanding of MO HealthNet's data on increased Medicaid participation among dental providers.
Attendees will learn about how Missouri Medicaid has changed and how the changes can impact dental providers.
Participants will be able to identify recent Missouri Medicaid changes and where to find new dental resources.
View Presentation Slides:
Barger - Children's Smile Center
Fahrendorf - MoHealthNet
Emmerich - New Medicaid Provider Experience
Jessica Emmerich Facilitator
Dental Medicaid Facilitator, Missouri Coalition for Oral Health
Jessica Emmerich was selected as the Dental Medicaid Facilitator in December 2022. As the Dental Medicaid Facilitator, Jessica is partnering with MO HealthNet and the Missouri Dental Association to support providers and encourage increased dental provider participation in MO HealthNet. Jessica has worked for the State of Missouri in both the Department of Social Services, Children's Division, and the Department of Health and Senior Services. Ms Emmerich has extensive experience working with MO HealthNet providers with both fee-for-service and managed care. She assisted providers and MO HealthNet participants with the Statewide Managed Care Roll Out. She recently worked as MCOH Operations Manager. Jessica is originally from Northwest Missouri and now lives in Central Missouri with her husband and three children.
Amanda Fahrendorf
Education and Collaboration Manager, MO HealthNet (Medicaid)
Amanda Fahrendorf is the Education and Collaboration Manager located in the Department of Social Services (DSS), MO HealthNet Division (MHD). Amanda has worked for MO HealthNet for 13 of her 21 years of tenure with DSS. Amanda oversees the MHD Education and Training resources for all programs and speaks at many events and conferences on MO HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid) policy and initiatives. For the past 18 months, she has been working on provider recruitment with a special emphasis on dental providers. Amanda also serves as an expert for complicated Medicaid inquiries and is a member of several committees and workgroups related to Maternal and Infant Health initiatives, provider recruitment, and access to care. She has used these opportunities to build strong relationships with our providers and partners to provide education and streamline processes to serve our providers and participants. Amanda received the Professional and Leadership Development Award from the Department of Social Services three years in a row. In March of 2024, Amanda received the Oral Health Champion Award from the Missouri Coalition for Oral Health for her efforts around increasing access to dental care in Missouri. Amanda also holds a State Director position on the Medicaid | Medicare | CHIP Services Dental Association National Board (MSDA). Amanda graduated in 2009, from William Woods University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. Amanda recently earned her Public Health Workforce Preparedness Certificate through A.T. Still University's College of Graduate Health Studies and is currently working on completing a Master’s of Public Health.
Jackie Barger
Executive Director, Children's Smile Center
Jackie Barger has worked in nonprofit administration and fundraising for nearly 40 years, serving since 2010 as executive director of Children's Smile Center in southwest Missouri. As executive director, Jackie Barger’s primary responsibility is promoting the mission, vision, and core values of Children’s Smile Center (CSC). His experience in the non-profit sector dates back to 1985, two years after he earned his bachelor’s in communication and business Administration from Drury University. In 1987, he earned his Master of Business Administration and joined CSC in 2010. Mr. Barger is active in many community organizations and in leadership with his local church. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, walking, and the occasional side gig as a professional musician. He and his wife, Yvonne, a retired banker, live in Billings, a small town southwest of Springfield.
Dr. Aaron Bumann, DDS, FACD, FAAPD
Diplomate - American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
Public Policy Advocate - Missouri Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
Aaron Bumann is in private practice in Liberty, Missouri and is the Public Policy Advocate for the Missouri Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. He received his DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 2013. Upon graduation he completed an AEGD at the Center for Family Health in Jackson, Michigan before moving to Danville, Pennsylvania to complete his pediatric dental training at Geisinger Medical Center. He has served as adjunct faculty at the University of Michigan as well as the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and frequently lectures to dental students about ethics, advocacy, and organized dentistry. Dr. Bumann has been borad certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD) since 2017. He currently serves as chair for the council for government affairs for the AAPD.
Dr. Philip Son, DMD
General Dentist, Provide Dental
Philip Son graduated from University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dentistry with DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) along with MBA (Master of Business Administration) in 2021. Dr. Son served his military duties as a dental officer in Army Reserve along with his associate position in Osage Beach, MO, where he dedicated his passion to help and educate patients in rural communities. In 2022, Dr. Son moved to St. Louis part-time, where he took on a position as emergency dentist covering dental emergencies during weekends. Soon afterwards, Dr. Son opened his practice in downtown St. Louis in hopes to continue his passion in providing and educating necessary dental care to underserved communities. Today, Dr. Son is still continuing to provide high quality care for every patient along with his associate dentist, and also covering emergency dental care on the weekends. In his spare time, he enjoys playing music and traveling with his wife.