Karl Bayer's Disputing Blog » Healthcare Disputes

Mediation in Healthcare: Interview with Healthcare Neutral Richard Webb

By Victoria VanBuren - January 22, 2010

by Holly Hayes I recently conducted a Q & A via email with Richard J. Webb (pictured left) who writes the Healthcare Neutral Blog. Mr. Webb is a graduate of Yale University (B.A., cum laude, 1975) and the Duke University School of Law (J.D. 1978). His additional alternative dispute resolution training currently amounts to 177 hours of classroom time, including 60 hours of advanced mediation courses at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resoluti

More on ‘Bad Faith’ Mediation in Texas

By Victoria VanBuren - January 21, 2010

by Holly Hayes In the Winter edition of the Texas Mediator, Susan Schultz calls for the “mediation community to engage in communal reflection” regarding the passage of the bad faith section of Texas HB 2256 which requires the mediator to report “bad faith mediation”. Overall, the bill provides a procedure for mediation of out-of-network health benefit claim disputes. (read more here) In her article, ‘Bad Faith Mediat

2009 Developments in Mediation: Joint Commission Standard on Code of Conduct

By Victoria VanBuren - January 8, 2010

by Holly Hayes Health care leaders have known for years that disruptive behaviors are a serious problem. Verbal outbursts, refusing to take part in assigned duties and condescending attitudes all create breakdowns in the teamwork, collaboration and communication needed to deliver patient care. A study by The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) found that 40 percent of clinicians have remained passive or kept quiet during patient care e

2009 Developments in Mediation: President Barack Obama’s Plan for Tort Reform

By Victoria VanBuren - December 25, 2009

by Holly Hayes In September 2009, President Obama instructed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to move forward with awarding medical malpractice demonstration grants to states funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to help doctors focus on putting their patients first, not on practicing defensive medicine. (read more here and here) In October, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a letter updating its a

2009 Developments in Mediation: Mediation Option for ‘Balance Billing’ in Health Care

By Victoria VanBuren - December 11, 2009

by Holly Hayes In June, we discussed the passage of Texas House Bill 2256, which provides a procedure for mediation of out-of-network health benefit claim disputes. Patients in Texas now have the option to mediate when they are ‘balance-billed’ by their insurance company for services provided by out-of-network facility-based physicians like radiologists, pathologists, neonatologists, and emergency room physicians. (post available here

H.R. 3962: U.S. House Health Care Bill Addresses ‘Balance Billing’

By Victoria VanBuren - November 20, 2009

By Holly Hayes As noted in a previous post (available here) Texas House Bill 2256, signed into law on June 19, 2009, provides a procedure for mediation of out-of-network health benefit claim disputes. The law gives patients the option to mediate when they are ‘balance-billed’ by their insurance company for services provided by out-of-network facility-based physicians like radiologists, pathologists, and neonatologists. ‘Balance

Deadline Set for Application for Medical Liability Reform Grants

By Victoria VanBuren - November 12, 2009

by Holly Hayes In September, President Obama authorized the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to allocate $25 million for medical liability reform pilot projects. Grant proposals may be submitted beginning December 20 and are due by January 20, 2010. Additional details on the grant application process are available at American Medical News. The purpose of these grants is as follows: This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) solicits

Medical Liability Reform Debate

By Victoria VanBuren - November 3, 2009

by Holly Hayes Medical liability reform has not been an area of focus in the health reform debate since September when President Obama directed the Department of Health and Human Services to provide $25 million for medical liability reform and patient safety planning grants. A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report, also mentioned on Disputing (post available here) may reinvigorate the medical liability reform debate. Details on this debate and

Disputing Mediation Post Quoted by the Dallas Morning News

By Victoria VanBuren - November 2, 2009

We just found out that our Disputing post

Next Steps in Medical Liability Reform Demonstration Projects Announced by the AHRQ

By Holly Hayes - October 23, 2009

by Holly Hayes The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will hold a subcommittee meeting open to the public on October 26, 2009, to provide advice regarding grant funding for two demonstration projects: Medical Liability Reform and Patient Safety Demonstration Projects (R18) and Medical Liability Reform and Patient Safety Planning Grants (R21). These demonstration projects were announced on September 9, 2009, as part of The Obama Pla