Karl Bayer's Disputing Blog

Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Regulations Proposed

By Beth Graham - April 4, 2011

by Holly Hayes Last week, The New York Times reported the Obama administration has proposed long-awaited Affordable Care Act (the Act) regulations “encouraging doctors and hospitals to band together, coordinate care and cut costs,” through the formation of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). In return for this collaboration, the government is offering financial rewards to health care providers that meet detailed federal standards w

Public Hearing Held on Texas Collaborative Healthcare Bill

By Holly Hayes - March 30, 2011

A public hearing was held yesterday on a collaborative healthcare bill currently before the 82nd Texas Legislature which would establish a Texas Institute of Health Care Quality and Efficiency. SB 8, which seeks “to improve health care quality, accountability, and cost containment in this state by encouraging health care provider collaboration, effective health care delivery models, and coordination of health care services,” was referred to the H

N.D. of Texas Lifts TRO Enjoining FINRA Arbitrations

By Beth Graham - March 28, 2011

On February 18, 2011, The Northern District of Texas issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) enjoining multiple arbitration proceedings before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in Billitteri v. Securities America Inc., et al., No. 3:09-CV-01568-F and related cases, (N.D. Tex., February 18, 2011). In the case, a group of representative plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit jointly filed a Motion for Preliminary Approval of a pa

ACHE 2011 Congress on Healthcare Leadership

By Holly Hayes - March 24, 2011

Today is the final day of the American College of Healthcare Executives’ (ACHE) 2011 Congress on Healthcare Leadership. This year, the Chicago, Illinois event offered attendees “more than 100 educational seminars, special programs, networking events and professional development possibilities.” This morning, Disputing’s own Karl Bayer and Holly Hayes will present “Introducing Conflict Resolution Strategies in Health Care” at 9 am in the State Ball

Texas Supreme Court Denies Cert. Where Agreement Required Arbitrator to be Saudi National or Muslim Foreigner

By Beth Graham - March 16, 2011

The Supreme Court of Texas has denied a party’s petition for a writ of mandamus after the Houston [1st] Court of Appeals held U.S. courts lacked authority to appoint an arbitration panel. In In re Aramco Services Co., No. 01-09-00624-CV, (Tex. App. – Houston [1st], March 19, 2010), DynCorp International, LLC and Aramco entered into a contract for a computer system which was to be manufactured in the U.S. and installed at Aramco’s offices in Saudi

ACHE 2011 Congress on Healthcare Leadership | Chicago, March 21-24

By Holly Hayes - March 10, 2011

Mark your calendars! The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) will host the 2011 Congress on Healthcare Leadership March 21-24, 2011 in Chicago, IL at the Hilton Chicago and Palmer House Hilton. The 2011 Congress will offer “more than 100 educational seminars, special programs, networking events and professional development possibilities.” According to the event brochure, the Congress, will be filled with opportunities to explore the

N.D. of Texas Issues Temporary Restraining Order Enjoining FINRA Arbitrations

By Beth Graham - March 7, 2011

The Northern District of Texas has issued a Temporary Restraining Order enjoining multiple arbitration proceedings before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). In Billitteri v. Securities America Inc., et al., No. 3:09-CV-01568-F and related cases, (N.D. Tex., February 18, 2011), a group of representative plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit jointly filed a Motion for Preliminary Approval of a partial class action settlement with s

CalOHII Publishes Electronic HIE Demonstration Projects Regulations

By Holly Hayes - March 4, 2011

The California Office of Health Information Integrity (CalOHII) has published proposed regulations for its electronic health information exchange (HIE) demonstration projects. According to CalOHII’s Initial Statement of Reasons, such projects “will test policies and rules to better inform the State and health care stakeholders while the HIE infrastructure is being defined over the next several years. By allowing for various HIE demonstratio

AHLA — Top Ten Health Law Issues 2011

By Holly Hayes - March 3, 2011

by Holly Hayes The February 2011 American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) Connections magazine lists the “Top Ten Health Law Issues in a Reformed Healthcare System 2011.” Healthcare reform law passed in 2010 prompted the AHLA to change the focus of their annual “Top 10” article for 2011. Former “Top 10” issues amended by healthcare reform and some new topics that emerged by the passage of the legislation are

Collaborative Healthcare Bill Before the Texas Legislature

By Holly Hayes - March 2, 2011

A bill seeking to establish a Texas Institute of Health Care Quality and Efficiency is currently before the Texas Legislature. Senate Bill 8 was authored by Senator Nelson and filed on February 16, 2011. It seeks “to improve health care quality, accountability, and cost containment in this state by encouraging health care provider collaboration, effective health care delivery models, and coordination of health care services.” The bill was referre