Healthcare Dispute Resolution Conference

by Holly Hayes

The American Arbitration Association will hold the 2012 Healthcare Dispute Resolution, Innovation and Strategy Conference on November 9, 2012, in San Francisco.

The agenda includes the following sessions on incorporating ADR into the changing healthcare arena:

Representatives from the major health plans will discuss the significant issues and business-to-business disputes facing their respective organizations. In-house counsel for health plans will weigh in on how ADR can offer solutions and, from their perspectives, discuss what the future holds for the changing healthcare landscape.
FACULTY
Steven M. Cohen, Associate General Counsel, Anthem Blue CrossWoodland Hills, CA
Ed Neugebauer, Deputy Chief Legal Officer & Head of Litigation, Aetna, Blue Bell, PA
Peter H. Walsh, Senior Deputy General Counsel, Chief of Litigation, Investigations & Privacy, UnitedHealth Group, Minnetonka, MN

As the previous session probed issues and disputes from the point of view of health plans, this panel will explore the same for providers, which include health systems and hospitals. In-house counsel for providers will review their perspectives on how ADR might offer solutions and what the future holds for the changing healthcare landscape.
FACULTY
Jeffrey S. Bromme, Senior Vice President & Chief Legal Officer, Adventist Health System, Altamonte Springs, FL
Pamela Marino, Vice President Legal Operations, Sutter Health Systems, San Francisco, CA
Mitch H. Melfi, Senior Vice President, Legal Services & General Counsel, Catholic Health Initiatives, Denver, CO

Integration of Physicians into Health Networks: Medical Staff, Credentialing & Physician Contracts Round Table:What is the impact on physicians and medical staffs arising from the change in status of physicians from independent practitioners to hospital/health network contract employees or doctors closely integrated with hospitals and systems? Issues to be discussed include credentialing, peer review, and access to fair hearing procedures. Particular attention will be focused on employment contracts and the role of ADR as a mechanism for resolving disputes in physician employment agreements.
FACULTY
Catherine M. Ballard, Partner, Bricker & Eckler, LLP, Columbus, OH
Katherine Benesch, Partner, Benesch & Associates, Princeton, NJ
Ann O’Connell, Of Counsel, Nossaman, LLP, Sacramento, CA
Dale Cowan, MD, J.D., Vice President, Medical Affairs, Parma Community
General Hospital, Parma, OH