Striving for Policy Change for Special Populations
Presented by Katie Schroeder, RDH, Community Relations Manager, Enable Dental,
and Dr. Nathan Suter, DDS, Chief Innovation Officer, Enable Dental
Session Overview: Most oral health policy focuses on the largest groups, like children and healthy adults. This session shifts the focus to the "margins"—Veterans, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), and frail seniors in nursing homes—who often face the highest barriers to care. We will look at how "invisible" administrative rules, rather than medical need, often decide who gets treated. By comparing Missouri’s rules for SDF and dentures against other states, we will show how small changes in paperwork and policy can open doors to essential care.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the "Margin" Populations: Learn why Veterans, adults with disabilities, and nursing home residents face unique funding and access barriers that standard safety nets do not solve.
- See "Red Tape" as a Policy Choice: Recognize how administrative details - like prior authorization forms and billing restrictions - act as gatekeepers that prevent covered care from actually being delivered.
- Compare Critical Services: Contrast how Missouri handles Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) and dentures with other states to see how specific rules block cost-effective prevention and basic function.
- Find Fixable Problems: Identify specific, actionable changes Missouri advocates can demand, such as standardizing facility access rules and unlocking codes for simple preventive care.
Katie Schroeder, RDH
Community Relations Manager, Enable Dental
Katie Schroeder, RDH, BSDH, joined Enable Dental in 2024, serving in a dual role as Community Relations Manager and Project Manager, overseeing contracts with the Missouri Coalition for Oral Health and the Department of Health & Senior Services Office of Dental Health. Katie earned her BSDH from UMKC in 2006. She practiced clinical dental hygiene in private practice and public health from 2006-2010, and served as part-time adjunct clinical faculty and as a Kansas Head Start Oral Health Educator during the same period. Katie spent the next 14 years in the nonprofit sector holding a variety of roles with Cass County Dental Clinic, most recently as Director of Dental Programs from 2019-2024. She is a former board member for the Missouri Coalition for Oral Health and the Missouri Dental Hygienists' Association. Katie is passionate about oral health education and improving access to care for underserved populations. When not working, Katie enjoys spending time with her husband, Nick, daughter, Eliza, and their 2 rescue dogs. She enjoys doing puzzles, taking walks, and practicing yoga.
Dr. Nathan Suter, DDS
Chief Innovation Officer, Enable Dental
Dr. Nathan Suter DDS is a visionary leader who is set to revolutionize the dental industry through his expertise in teledentistry, clinical and tech innovation. He started his career in public health and served as a director for a prominent group practice. With his extensive knowledge and experience, he has provided consultations to various providers, states, professional organizations, and payors on the subject of teledentistry.
As the co-founder of Healier, a dental-focused workflow platform, Dr. Suter is at the forefront of developing cutting-edge solutions to enhance dental care delivery. In recognition of his outstanding achievements, he was named the 2019 Missouri Dentist of the Year by the Missouri Dental Association and was awarded the ADA’s Top 10 Dentist Under 10 Years in Practice in 2020.
With his passion for advancing dental care, Dr. Suter is dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of his patients and the dental industry as a whole.