Eliminating Racial Disparities in Maternal Mortality and Morbidity
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm
Place: Cisco WebEx
Maternal mortality in the United States has steadily increased over the last quarter century, meaning that the United States is currently a deadlier place to be pregnant and give birth than it was in the recent past. Researchers estimate that more than half of these deaths are preventable. The path to motherhood is significantly deadlier for women of color than it is for their white counterparts. Nationally, black women are three to four times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, a disparity that has only widened in recent years. There is also significant variation in racial disparities in maternal mortality across cities and states, with some states experiencing far poorer maternal outcomes than others.[1] In Arizona, maternal mortality rates are far higher for Native American women than any other group.
This presentation will explore the injustice of racial disparities in maternal mortality, both nationally and in Arizona. This distinguished panel of speakers will discuss the data demonstrating that birthing individuals of color in Arizona experience maternal mortality and morbidity at strikingly higher rates than white birthing persons, explain some of the contributing factors, describe evidence-based solutions that have been identified and successfully implemented, and discuss what healthcare attorneys can do to effect change on this critical issue.
Speaker Biographies:
Andrew F. Rubenstein, MD, is the Academic Chair of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Dignity Health Medical Group at Dignity Health/St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, Vice-Chair in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Creighton University School of Medicine – Phoenix Campus and an Associate Professor at the Creighton University School of Medicine – Phoenix Campus. He presently serves as the Co-Chair of the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) and on the Executive Committee for the Arizona Alliance for Innovation for Maternal Health (AZ AIM).
As a women’s health care leader, Dr. Rubenstein’s vision is that the maternal and child health care teams must come together to ensure that every care setting has a systematic and comprehensive framework for obstetrical and perinatal care delivery and delivers this within the health equity lens. By focusing on improving and monitoring quality metrics, related to obstetrical and postpartum care, and collaborating with colleagues on advancement of maternal child health, health equity and standardization of health care processes, Dr. Rubenstein has emerged as an early champion in helping to improve obstetrical safety and maternal health care outcomes.
Leila Barraza, J.D., M.P.H., is an Associate Professor in Community, Environment & Policy at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, and a Senior Consultant for the Western Region of the Network for Public Health Law. She is also the Director of the Arizona Area Health Education Centers Program. Her research interests include studying the impact of laws and policies on population health, both nationally and globally. Professor Barraza instructs a public health law course for public health and law students, and she has also provided numerous presentations at national and local conferences on a variety of critical public health law issues.
Patricia Tarango currently serves as the Chief for the Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health, Division of Public Health Prevention Services, Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). In her role as Bureau Chief, Patricia functions as the Maternal & Child Health Director. A proud native of rural Arizona from Pinal County, she has dedicated her career to improving access to care for Arizona residents. Most recently Patricia provided leadership for the development of a comprehensive Maternal Health Action Plan, the Maternal Health Task Force and secured two federal grants dedicating resources to the Maternal Mortality Review Program and the Maternal Health Improvement Program. Patricia is a member of the Arizona Public Health Association, Arizona Rural Health Association and served previously as a community Representative on Chicano’s Por La Causa, Early Childhood Head Start Policy Council and the Arizona Medical Student Loan Program Board. Currently, Patricia serves as the ADHS Designee on the First Things First Board. Patricia holds an Associate degree from Central Arizona College, a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Arizona State University – Go DEVILS! — a Master’s degree in Health Administration from the University of St. Francis and holds Leadership certificates from Arizona State University, W.P. Carey College of Business and the Hispanic Leadership Institute, Arizona State University, Valle del Sol.
Breann Westmore is the Advocacy and Government Affairs Director at Centering Healthcare Institute (CHI). CHI is a non-profit organization with the mission is to improve health, transform care and disrupt inequitable systems through the Centering group model. As a Director of Advocacy & Government Affairs, Breann works to create and support evidence-based health policy, develop a pathway for access to care/payment reform, and mobilize advocates to expand the utilization of the Centering model. Prior to joining CHI, Breann served as the Maternal Infant Health & Government Affairs Director for March of Dimes for 8 years. Past policy wins including expanding access to care, newborn screening innovations, and enhanced data surveillance and monitoring of maternal morbidity and mortality. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and two kids.
Due to the current social distancing recommendations, this program will be held via video conference through Cisco WebEx. This program will be $10 for members and $15 for non-members.
To register, please visit our website https://azsha.org/, click upcoming programs, on the right you will see a button that says “Register for Next Program Pay Now”. This button will take you to a screen with multiple payment options. Please select your membership level. If you are a member, please login and proceed with the payment process. If you are not a member, you will have to create a username and password to continue with the payment process.
Once you have registered online, you will receive a calendar invite containing the WebEx link. Please note, you don’t need to sign up for a WebEx Account to join a meeting.
The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. This activity may qualify for up to 1.5 hours of CLE credit, 0 hours of ethics, toward your annual requirement for the State Bar of Arizona.
https://azsha.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ApprovedLogo_AZSHA2018-300x150-300x150-1.jpg00Mackenzie Mayfieldhttps://azsha.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ApprovedLogo_AZSHA2018-300x150-300x150-1.jpgMackenzie Mayfield2021-09-27 13:24:112021-09-27 13:24:14OCTOBER 22, 2021 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT
The past year has been one of the most consequential for health privacy and data rules in decades – and not just because of COVID-19. Massive changes to rules governing health data uses and sharing have either already occurred or will go into effect shortly. Join us for a webinar on September 23, 2021 covering the recent and upcoming developments impacting health data. The presenters will address:
HIPAA: Guidance related to COVID-19, OCR enforcement priorities and trends (including audit results), and the recent Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend the HIPAA regulations.
Information Blocking/Interoperability: The CMS and ONC final rules on information blocking, interoperability and patient access.
42 CFR Part 2: Recent and upcoming modifications to the 42 CFR Part 2 rules governing substance use disorder information, including major changes that will, in specific cases, align Part 2 data sharing rules more closely to HIPAA.
State Laws: The interplay between health data regulations and state privacy laws, such as the California Consumer Protection Privacy Act (CCPA), the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020 (CPRA), the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA) and the Colorado Privacy Act of 2021 (CPA).
Joanne Charles, Principal Corporate Counsel, Privacy and Regulatory Counsel, Microsoft. Joanne Charles’s practice focus is on privacy and global data protection, assessing multi-jurisdictional legal and regulatory obligations and integrating compliance into emerging technologies.
Elliot Golding, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs. Elliot Golding (CIPP/US) is a member of Squire Patton Boggs’ Data Privacy, Cybersecurity & Digital Assets Practice and Healthcare Industry Group leadership team, where he provides business-oriented privacy and cybersecurity advice to a wide range of clients, with a particular focus on companies handling healthcare and other personal data. He has been selected as an honoree in Global Data Review’s inaugural 40 Under 40 list, representing the best of the data law bar around the world.
Due to the current social distancing recommendations, this program will be held via video conference through Cisco WebEx. This program will be $10 for members and $15 for non-members.
To register, please visit our website https://azsha.org/, click upcoming programs, on the right you will see a button that says “Register for Next Program Pay Now”. This button will take you to a screen with multiple payment options. Please select your membership level. If you are a member, please login and proceed with the payment process. If you are not a member, you will have to create a username and password to continue with the payment process.
Once you have registered online, you will receive a calendar invite containing the WebEx link. Please note, you don’t need to sign up for a WebEx Account to join a meeting.
The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. This activity may qualify for up to 1 hour of CLE credit, 0 hours of ethics, toward your annual requirement for the State Bar of Arizona.
https://azsha.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ApprovedLogo_AZSHA2018-300x150-300x150-1.jpg00Mackenzie Mayfieldhttps://azsha.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ApprovedLogo_AZSHA2018-300x150-300x150-1.jpgMackenzie Mayfield2021-09-08 16:21:532021-09-08 16:21:56SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT
by: Miranda A. Preston and James R. Taylor, Milligan Lawless
The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) was created to reimburse healthcare providers for lost revenue attributable to COVID-19 or health-related expenses incurred to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19. Under the CARES Act, Congress appropriated $178B for the PRF, and to date, $118B has been paid to and attested by healthcare providers throughout the country. In Arizona, 7,813 healthcare providers have received PRF payments, totaling $1.64B.[1] Currently, 260 Arizona providers, including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, surgery centers, medical practices, dentists, and hospices, have each received over $750,000 in PRF payments. In light of a substantial likelihood of future audits, this article summarizes five items providers should know regarding their mandatory reporting obligations to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
1. Providers who Received PRF Payments during the First Half of 2020 Must Report by September 30, 2021.
Providers who received one or more payments exceeding $10,000 in the aggregate during a PRF Payment Received Period[2] are required to submit reports to HHS as to how they used the PRF funds. The PRF reporting portal is now open, and HHS recently issued new guidance on the use and reporting of PRF payments. In this guidance, HHS adopted a multiphase reporting system, pursuant to which the deadlines for the provider’s use and reporting of PRF funds are based on the specific dates on which the provider received the PRF payments. Providers who received payments under the first automatic distribution on April 10, 2020 must report on the payments they received between April 10, 2020 and June 30, 2020 (“Period 1”) by September 30, 2021. HHS has made it clear that it will not grant extensions for reporting.[3] Failing to report within the applicable time period(s) is a breach of the Terms and Conditions applicable to the recipient of the PRF distribution, and may result in recoupment of PRF funds received.[4]
2. Providers who received PRF payments after the initial automatic April 10, 2020 funding, have differing reporting requirements, as set forth in the chart below.
Period
Payment Received Period
Deadline to Use Funds
Reporting Time Period
Period 1
April 10 – June 30, 2020
June 30, 2021
July 1 – September 30, 2021
Period 2
July 1 – December 31, 2020
December 31, 2021
January 1 – March 31, 2022
Period 3
January 1 – June 30, 2021
June 30, 2022
July 1 – September 30, 2022
Period 4
July 1 – December 31, 2021
December 31, 2022
January 1 – March 31, 2023
The reporting deadlines apply to all recipients who received one or more payments exceeding $10,000 in the aggregate during a Payment Received Period. Recipients who received PRF payments during multiple Payment Received Periods are required to submit multiple reports. Providers need to register a PRF reporting account before they can begin reporting. HHS has published a Registration User Guide, and Reporting Portal FAQs to assist providers with the registration process.
3. There are New Flexibilities For Providers in Calculating Lost Revenues
Providers can allocate the entirety of their PRF payments to Lost Revenue. In the use of funds calculation, PRF payments that are not first allocated to unreimbursed expenses are then allocated towards a provider’s lost revenue. It was previously unclear whether providers who had no unreimbursed expenses attributable to the coronavirus could allocate the entirety of the PRF payments they received towards lost revenue. In a July 1, 2021 FAQ, HHS clarified that PRF payments could be applied solely to a provider’s lost revenues.[5] However, lost revenues or expenses must only have been incurred during the period of availability correlating to the Payment Received Date. The FAQs clarify that a provider’s lost revenue is calculated on a quarterly basis. PRF recipients still have three options for calculating lost revenue:
Option i: The difference between actual patient care revenues;
Option ii: The difference between budgeted (prior to March 27, 2020) and actual patient care revenues.
Option iii: A calculation by any reasonable method of estimating revenues.
The FAQ clarify that “…for Option i and Option ii, lost revenues are calculated for each quarter during the period of availability as a standalone calculation, with 2019 quarters serving as a baseline. For each calendar year of reporting, the applicable quarters where lost revenue is demonstrated are totaled to determine an annual lost revenue amount. There’s no offset [of quarters during the period of availability where the provider didn’t experience lost revenue.]”[6]
Further, HHS clarified that for providers who have more lost revenue in a Payment Received Period than PRF payments for the same period, that portion of lost revenue can be carried forward and applied against payments received during later Payment Received Periods and included in the lost revenues reported for later reporting periods, provided expenses and lost revenues are not duplicated.[7]
4. Maintaining Detailed Documentation is Critical.
Pursuant to the Terms and Conditions that providers are bound by in connection with their receipt of PRF payments, providers are required to maintain supporting documentation demonstrating that costs were obligated/incurred during the Period of Availability. Providers aren’t required to submit that documentation when reporting, but HHS has clearly stated that it will audit the use of PRF payments and recoup payments if the provider’s expenses are not supported by adequate documentation.[8]
5. HHS is Developing an Appeals Process.
In recognition that providers may have questions regarding the accuracy of their PRF payments, HHS recently added a new FAQ stating that it will soon introduce a structured reconsiderations process to review and reconsider PRF payment uses based on the provider’s submitted supporting documentation.[9]
[2] The Payment Received Period describes a specific time period when the recipient received one or more payments. The payment is considered received on the deposit date for automated clearing house (ACH) payments or the check cashed date. There are four Payment Received Periods during the time frame between April 10, 2020 to December 31, 2021. https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/cares-act-provider-relief-fund/reporting-auditing/index.html
[3] PRF FAQ regarding extensions (available at https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/provider-relief-fund-general-distribution-faqs.pdf), states: “Are providers able to request extensions on submissions of their required reports for any of the required reporting periods? (Added 7/1/2021)” To which HHS’s reply is, “No. Providers that received one or more payments exceeding $10,000, in the aggregate, during a Payment Received Period are required to report in each applicable Reporting Time Period. Providers that are required to report and do not submit a completed report by the applicable deadlines will be deemed out of compliance with the program Terms and Conditions and may be subject to recoupment.”
[4] The Terms and Conditions applicable to the recipients of each type of PRF distribution require the recipient to submit reports as specified by HHS in future program instructions. The Terms and Conditions also provide that non-compliance with the Terms and Conditions is grounds for HHS to recoup PRF funds. To view the Terms and Conditions applicable to the various PRF distributions, click here.
[8] Pursuant to HHS PRF FAQ available at https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/provider-relief-fund-general-distribution-faqs.pdf, HHS states that “HHS reserves the right to audit Provider Relief Fund recipients now or in the future, and is authorized to collect any Provider Relief Fund payment amounts that have not been supported by documented expenses or revenue losses attributable to coronavirus or not used in a manner consistent with program requirements or applicable law. All payment recipients must attest to the Terms and Conditions, which require the submission of documentation to substantiate that these funds were used for health care-related expenses or lost revenues attributable to coronavirus.”
https://azsha.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ApprovedLogo_AZSHA2018-300x150-300x150-1.jpg00Administratorhttps://azsha.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ApprovedLogo_AZSHA2018-300x150-300x150-1.jpgAdministrator2021-08-12 18:22:212021-08-12 18:22:24Five Things Healthcare Providers Should know about Reporting Use of Provider Relief Funds
Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act: What Health Care Lawyers Need to Know
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm
Place: Cisco WebEx
Our August 17 program takes up Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act and its regulations. Section 1557 was the first health care-specific anti-discrimination provision in federal law. Regulations promulgated in 2016 established the provision’s broad coverage, including requirements that health care entities provide signage and documents in various languages and a declaration that the term “sex discrimination” in the law extended to protect transgender individuals. The Trump Administration made changing the Section 1557 regulations a priority, narrowing the entities subject to the law, limiting the language requirements, removing transgender protections, and focusing on religious discrimination. Since then, the courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, have weighed in on aspects of the law, and now the Biden Administration is actively addressing the scope of the regulation through enforcement positions and proposed revision to the regulations. Meanwhile, healthcare entities have pursued their own course, continuing to incorporate anti-discrimination provisions into their policies and culture.
This program will address the history, current status and course forward for Section 1557 and its regulations, including discussion of major court decisions and practical realities for providers.
Our speakers are:
Trent Stechschulte, General Counsel and Compliance Officer for Equitas Health, a Columbus, Ohio-based regional nonprofit community healthcare system. Equitas Health is one of the largest LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS-serving systems in the U.S., with 21 offices in 3 states. Trent regularly works with Equitas leadership, providers, pharmacists, and other personnel on a wide variety of health care and corporate issues. He is the Chair of the Equitas Compliance Committee.
Karen Owens, a partner in Coppersmith Brockelman PLC, a Phoenix-based law firm with a comprehensive health care regulatory practice. Karen’s work focuses on clinical issues affecting providers, including health and safety regulation, licensure and certification matters, and medical staff-related issues.
Due to the current social distancing recommendations, this program will be held via video conference through Cisco WebEx. This program will be $10 for members and $15 for non-members.
To register, please click here, or click on the button to the right that says “Register for Next Program Pay Now”. This button will take you to a screen with multiple payment options. If you are a member, please login and proceed with the payment process. If you are not a member, you will have to create a username and password to continue with the payment process.
Once you have registered online, you will receive a calendar invite containing the WebEx link. Please note, you don’t need to sign up for a WebEx Account to join a meeting.
The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. This activity may qualify for up to 1 hour of CLE credit, 0 hours of ethics, toward your annual requirement for the State Bar of Arizona.
https://azsha.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ApprovedLogo_AZSHA2018-300x150-300x150-1.jpg00Mackenzie Mayfieldhttps://azsha.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ApprovedLogo_AZSHA2018-300x150-300x150-1.jpgMackenzie Mayfield2021-08-06 14:31:572021-08-06 14:32:00August 17, 2021 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT
The Untenable Dilemma – The Department of Justice and Walmart Spar Over Both a Pharmacist and a Corporation’s Role Under the Controlled Substances Act
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm
Place: Cisco WebEx
In an increasingly demanding environment in which pharmacies may fill hundreds of prescriptions in a single day for patients, the U.S. Department of Justice has recently filed a number of lawsuits against corporations and individual pharmacists, taking an increasingly expansive view of their roles and responsibilities under the Controlled Substances Act. Two such cases have pitted Walmart Inc. against the DOJ. And the outcome of these cases is likely to have far-reaching implications for (1) a corporation’s responsibility to train and supervise pharmacists, as well as to institute safeguards to prevent drug diversion, and (2) an individual pharmacist’s duty to investigate suspicious prescriptions.
Vinnie Lichvar is an experienced litigator focused in healthcare law and criminal defense. He routinely represents corporations and individuals in government investigations, regulatory enforcement matters, and white-collar litigation. His healthcare law practice focuses on the representation of hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories and other healthcare facilities, physicians, nurses and other professionals in malpractice, credentialing and licensure board matters. He has represented private companies and individuals in regulations matters, including investigations by the Department of Justice and the Attorney General’s Office. His experience includes conducting internal investigations and responding to inquiries from state and federal government agencies. He also focuses on healthcare compliance, transactions and regulatory matters for healthcare organizations and physicians, including medical staff matters, HIPAA, Stark, ambulatory surgery centers, fraud and abuse, peer review, risk management, physician employment contracting, joint ventures, practice formation and separation.
Due to the current social distancing recommendations, this program will be held via video conference through Cisco WebEx. This program will be $10 for members and $15 for non-members.
To register, please click here, or click on the button to the right that says “Register for Next Program Pay Now”. This button will take you to a screen with multiple payment options. If you are a member, please login and proceed with the payment process. If you are not a member, you will have to create a username and password to continue with the payment process.
Once you have registered online, you will receive a calendar invite containing the WebEx link. Please note, you don’t need to sign up for a WebEx Account to join a meeting.
The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. This activity may qualify for up to 1 hour of CLE credit, 0 hours of ethics, toward your annual requirement for the State Bar of Arizona.
https://azsha.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ApprovedLogo_AZSHA2018-300x150-300x150-1.jpg00AZSHAhttps://azsha.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ApprovedLogo_AZSHA2018-300x150-300x150-1.jpgAZSHA2021-07-06 12:54:542021-07-06 12:54:57July 28, 2021 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT
https://azsha.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ApprovedLogo_AZSHA2018-300x150-300x150-1.jpg00Mackenzie Mayfieldhttps://azsha.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ApprovedLogo_AZSHA2018-300x150-300x150-1.jpgMackenzie Mayfield2021-07-01 21:35:002021-07-02 15:17:10New Legislation Makes Telehealth More Accessible in Arizona
This year’s program will focus on state measures from the 2021 legislative session and current federal health care initiatives. And it’s never too early to talk about elections, so the program will also provide some early insight on statewide elections for next year.
Jason Bezozo worked at the Arizona State Senate as the Senior Legislative Research Analyst for the Senate Health Committee and as Assistant Director for the Senate Research Staff. He joined the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association in 2002 as the Director of Government Affairs and Policy and then joined Banner Health in 2006 to manage government relations across the health care system. He has a history degree from ASU and a Master’s in business administration from University of Phoenix.
Greg Ensell is Vice President, Government Relations with the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA). In that capacity, he leads the organization’s lobbying and political engagement efforts. For more than twenty years, Mr. Ensell has held public affairs and government relations positions for organizations including, Cox Communications, the Arizona State Senate, and the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.
Due to the current social distancing recommendations, this program will be held via video conference through Cisco WebEx. This program will be $10 for members and $15 for non-members.
To register, please visit our website https://azsha.org/, click upcoming programs, on the right you will see a button that says “Register for Next Program Pay Now”. This button will take you to a screen with multiple payment options. Please select your membership level. If you are a member, please login and proceed with the payment process. If you are not a member, you will have to create a username and password to continue with the payment process.
Once you have registered online, you will receive a calendar invite containing the WebEx link. Please note, you don’t need to sign up for a WebEx Account to join a meeting.
The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. This activity may qualify for up to 1 hour of CLE credit, 0 hours of ethics, toward your annual requirement for the State Bar of Arizona.
https://azsha.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ApprovedLogo_AZSHA2018-300x150-300x150-1.jpg00Administratorhttps://azsha.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ApprovedLogo_AZSHA2018-300x150-300x150-1.jpgAdministrator2021-06-04 09:32:592021-06-04 09:33:01June 15, 2021 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT
Coppersmith Brockelman PLC and its nationally ranked health care group seeks highly qualified attorneys to join its network of affiliate attorneys. Coppersmith’s network of affiliate attorneys are independent contractors who…
What You Should Know about the New Stark Regulations: Overview of Significant Changes, Group Compensation and Value Based Arrangements
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm
Place: Cisco WebEx
This presentation will explore the much needed and overdue changes to the Stark Law that became effective in January 2021. Long criticized as being too complex, overly burdensome, and inconsistent with the Law’s original intent, even the Law’s namesake, Representative Pete Stark, called for its repeal. In updating the regulations, CMS has endeavored to reduce the regulatory burden on providers and modernize a healthcare system which has traditionally focused on a fee-for-service model. In addition to providing an overview of some of the more significant changes, additions and clarifications that affect all health care providers impacted by the Stark Law, the presentation will address specific changes affecting Group Practices and how profits can be shared among physicians, as well as how the rules can be used to support value-based arrangements.
Paul Giancola. Paul Giancola’s practice is focused on regulatory matters, compliance, and transactions (joint ventures,, management agreements, contacts, ASCs) for healthcare organizations and physicians, including medical staff matters, HIPAA, Stark, licensing board and government investigations, and fraud and abuse. He teaches Healthcare Fraud at the ASU Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.
Ben Runkle. Benjamin’s practice includes the representation of healthcare providers and organizations in a variety of matters. Prior to joining the legal profession, Ben worked as a firefighter/paramedic and police officer. His experience includes the following: Representation of behavioral health providers, physicians, dentists, and other healthcare professionals in government investigations and enforcement actions; Representation of physicians and dentists in administrative and licensing proceedings; Management of administrative appeals including provider-payor disputes, imposition of civil penalties and assessments, overpayment and recoupment matters, and service authorization denials; Representation of clients throughout all phases of criminal prosecution and appeal; As an Assistant Attorney General, prosecuted fraud and represented the Department of Economic Security in litigation and policy development; Advised the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Arizona’s Medicaid agency, on litigation strategy, rule-making, provider registration, policy development, and compliance matters investigated by the Office of the Inspector General; and Representation of clients with respect to investigations by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights.
Lauren Weinzweig is a partner at The Nelson Law Group, PLLC where she assists health care facilities, medical groups and other health care practitioners address many of the operational, regulatory and transactional issues facing the health care industry. Her practice has an emphasis on health care transactions, compliance with fraud and abuse laws, professional board investigation defense and health information privacy. She has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America for Health Care Law since 2015 and has been honored to serve as a member of the Board of the Arizona Society of Healthcare Attorneys since 2013. When not working, Lauren enjoys spending time with her family and dogs in Munds Park, Arizona.
Due to the current social distancing recommendations, this program will be held via video conference through Cisco WebEx. This program will be $10 for members and $15 for non-members.
To register, please visit our website https://azsha.org/, click upcoming programs, on the right you will see a button that says “Register for Next Program Pay Now”. This button will take you to a screen with multiple payment options. Please select your membership level. If you are a member, please login and proceed with the payment process. If you are not a member, you will have to create a username and password to continue with the payment process.
Once you have registered online, you will receive a calendar invite containing the WebEx link. Please note, you don’t need to sign up for a WebEx Account to join a meeting.
The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. This activity may qualify for up to 1 hour of CLE credit, 0 hours of ethics, toward your annual requirement for the State Bar of Arizona.
https://azsha.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ApprovedLogo_AZSHA2018-300x150-300x150-1.jpg00Administratorhttps://azsha.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ApprovedLogo_AZSHA2018-300x150-300x150-1.jpgAdministrator2021-05-18 15:10:092021-05-18 15:10:12June 3, 2021 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT
Associate General Counsel Position Summary The Associate General Counsel will report to the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Executive Vice President and General Counsel and provide a broad range of in-house legal…
OCTOBER 22, 2021 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT
Eliminating Racial Disparities in Maternal Mortality and Morbidity
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm
Place: Cisco WebEx
Maternal mortality in the United States has steadily increased over the last quarter century, meaning that the United States is currently a deadlier place to be pregnant and give birth than it was in the recent past. Researchers estimate that more than half of these deaths are preventable. The path to motherhood is significantly deadlier for women of color than it is for their white counterparts. Nationally, black women are three to four times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, a disparity that has only widened in recent years. There is also significant variation in racial disparities in maternal mortality across cities and states, with some states experiencing far poorer maternal outcomes than others.[1] In Arizona, maternal mortality rates are far higher for Native American women than any other group.
This presentation will explore the injustice of racial disparities in maternal mortality, both nationally and in Arizona. This distinguished panel of speakers will discuss the data demonstrating that birthing individuals of color in Arizona experience maternal mortality and morbidity at strikingly higher rates than white birthing persons, explain some of the contributing factors, describe evidence-based solutions that have been identified and successfully implemented, and discuss what healthcare attorneys can do to effect change on this critical issue.
Speaker Biographies:
Andrew F. Rubenstein, MD, is the Academic Chair of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Dignity Health Medical Group at Dignity Health/St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, Vice-Chair in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Creighton University School of Medicine – Phoenix Campus and an Associate Professor at the Creighton University School of Medicine – Phoenix Campus. He presently serves as the Co-Chair of the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) and on the Executive Committee for the Arizona Alliance for Innovation for Maternal Health (AZ AIM).
As a women’s health care leader, Dr. Rubenstein’s vision is that the maternal and child health care teams must come together to ensure that every care setting has a systematic and comprehensive framework for obstetrical and perinatal care delivery and delivers this within the health equity lens. By focusing on improving and monitoring quality metrics, related to obstetrical and postpartum care, and collaborating with colleagues on advancement of maternal child health, health equity and standardization of health care processes, Dr. Rubenstein has emerged as an early champion in helping to improve obstetrical safety and maternal health care outcomes.
Leila Barraza, J.D., M.P.H., is an Associate Professor in Community, Environment & Policy at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, and a Senior Consultant for the Western Region of the Network for Public Health Law. She is also the Director of the Arizona Area Health Education Centers Program. Her research interests include studying the impact of laws and policies on population health, both nationally and globally. Professor Barraza instructs a public health law course for public health and law students, and she has also provided numerous presentations at national and local conferences on a variety of critical public health law issues.
Patricia Tarango currently serves as the Chief for the Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health, Division of Public Health Prevention Services, Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). In her role as Bureau Chief, Patricia functions as the Maternal & Child Health Director. A proud native of rural Arizona from Pinal County, she has dedicated her career to improving access to care for Arizona residents. Most recently Patricia provided leadership for the development of a comprehensive Maternal Health Action Plan, the Maternal Health Task Force and secured two federal grants dedicating resources to the Maternal Mortality Review Program and the Maternal Health Improvement Program. Patricia is a member of the Arizona Public Health Association, Arizona Rural Health Association and served previously as a community Representative on Chicano’s Por La Causa, Early Childhood Head Start Policy Council and the Arizona Medical Student Loan Program Board. Currently, Patricia serves as the ADHS Designee on the First Things First Board. Patricia holds an Associate degree from Central Arizona College, a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Arizona State University – Go DEVILS! — a Master’s degree in Health Administration from the University of St. Francis and holds Leadership certificates from Arizona State University, W.P. Carey College of Business and the Hispanic Leadership Institute, Arizona State University, Valle del Sol.
Breann Westmore is the Advocacy and Government Affairs Director at Centering Healthcare Institute (CHI). CHI is a non-profit organization with the mission is to improve health, transform care and disrupt inequitable systems through the Centering group model. As a Director of Advocacy & Government Affairs, Breann works to create and support evidence-based health policy, develop a pathway for access to care/payment reform, and mobilize advocates to expand the utilization of the Centering model. Prior to joining CHI, Breann served as the Maternal Infant Health & Government Affairs Director for March of Dimes for 8 years. Past policy wins including expanding access to care, newborn screening innovations, and enhanced data surveillance and monitoring of maternal morbidity and mortality. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and two kids.
Due to the current social distancing recommendations, this program will be held via video conference through Cisco WebEx. This program will be $10 for members and $15 for non-members.
To register, please visit our website https://azsha.org/, click upcoming programs, on the right you will see a button that says “Register for Next Program Pay Now”. This button will take you to a screen with multiple payment options. Please select your membership level. If you are a member, please login and proceed with the payment process. If you are not a member, you will have to create a username and password to continue with the payment process.
Once you have registered online, you will receive a calendar invite containing the WebEx link. Please note, you don’t need to sign up for a WebEx Account to join a meeting.
The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. This activity may qualify for up to 1.5 hours of CLE credit, 0 hours of ethics, toward your annual requirement for the State Bar of Arizona.
SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT
Got Data? : How the Health Data Rules are Changing
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm
Place: Cisco WebEx
The past year has been one of the most consequential for health privacy and data rules in decades – and not just because of COVID-19. Massive changes to rules governing health data uses and sharing have either already occurred or will go into effect shortly. Join us for a webinar on September 23, 2021 covering the recent and upcoming developments impacting health data. The presenters will address:
Joanne Charles, Principal Corporate Counsel, Privacy and Regulatory Counsel, Microsoft. Joanne Charles’s practice focus is on privacy and global data protection, assessing multi-jurisdictional legal and regulatory obligations and integrating compliance into emerging technologies.
Elliot Golding, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs. Elliot Golding (CIPP/US) is a member of Squire Patton Boggs’ Data Privacy, Cybersecurity & Digital Assets Practice and Healthcare Industry Group leadership team, where he provides business-oriented privacy and cybersecurity advice to a wide range of clients, with a particular focus on companies handling healthcare and other personal data. He has been selected as an honoree in Global Data Review’s inaugural 40 Under 40 list, representing the best of the data law bar around the world.
Melissa Soliz, Partner, Coppersmith Brockelman PLC. Mel Soliz’s regulatory health law practices focuses on compliance with data privacy and patient access laws, such as HIPAA, 42 C.F.R. Part 2, the ONC Information Blocking Rule, the CMS Interoperability and Patient Access Rule, and state laws. She is recognized by Best Lawyers© for her work in health law.
Due to the current social distancing recommendations, this program will be held via video conference through Cisco WebEx. This program will be $10 for members and $15 for non-members.
To register, please visit our website https://azsha.org/, click upcoming programs, on the right you will see a button that says “Register for Next Program Pay Now”. This button will take you to a screen with multiple payment options. Please select your membership level. If you are a member, please login and proceed with the payment process. If you are not a member, you will have to create a username and password to continue with the payment process.
Once you have registered online, you will receive a calendar invite containing the WebEx link. Please note, you don’t need to sign up for a WebEx Account to join a meeting.
The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. This activity may qualify for up to 1 hour of CLE credit, 0 hours of ethics, toward your annual requirement for the State Bar of Arizona.
Five Things Healthcare Providers Should know about Reporting Use of Provider Relief Funds
by: Miranda A. Preston and James R. Taylor, Milligan Lawless
The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) was created to reimburse healthcare providers for lost revenue attributable to COVID-19 or health-related expenses incurred to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19. Under the CARES Act, Congress appropriated $178B for the PRF, and to date, $118B has been paid to and attested by healthcare providers throughout the country. In Arizona, 7,813 healthcare providers have received PRF payments, totaling $1.64B.[1] Currently, 260 Arizona providers, including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, surgery centers, medical practices, dentists, and hospices, have each received over $750,000 in PRF payments. In light of a substantial likelihood of future audits, this article summarizes five items providers should know regarding their mandatory reporting obligations to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
1. Providers who Received PRF Payments during the First Half of 2020 Must Report by September 30, 2021.
Providers who received one or more payments exceeding $10,000 in the aggregate during a PRF Payment Received Period[2] are required to submit reports to HHS as to how they used the PRF funds. The PRF reporting portal is now open, and HHS recently issued new guidance on the use and reporting of PRF payments. In this guidance, HHS adopted a multiphase reporting system, pursuant to which the deadlines for the provider’s use and reporting of PRF funds are based on the specific dates on which the provider received the PRF payments. Providers who received payments under the first automatic distribution on April 10, 2020 must report on the payments they received between April 10, 2020 and June 30, 2020 (“Period 1”) by September 30, 2021. HHS has made it clear that it will not grant extensions for reporting.[3] Failing to report within the applicable time period(s) is a breach of the Terms and Conditions applicable to the recipient of the PRF distribution, and may result in recoupment of PRF funds received.[4]
2. Providers who received PRF payments after the initial automatic April 10, 2020 funding, have differing reporting requirements, as set forth in the chart below.
The reporting deadlines apply to all recipients who received one or more payments exceeding $10,000 in the aggregate during a Payment Received Period. Recipients who received PRF payments during multiple Payment Received Periods are required to submit multiple reports. Providers need to register a PRF reporting account before they can begin reporting. HHS has published a Registration User Guide, and Reporting Portal FAQs to assist providers with the registration process.
3. There are New Flexibilities For Providers in Calculating Lost Revenues
Providers can allocate the entirety of their PRF payments to Lost Revenue. In the use of funds calculation, PRF payments that are not first allocated to unreimbursed expenses are then allocated towards a provider’s lost revenue. It was previously unclear whether providers who had no unreimbursed expenses attributable to the coronavirus could allocate the entirety of the PRF payments they received towards lost revenue. In a July 1, 2021 FAQ, HHS clarified that PRF payments could be applied solely to a provider’s lost revenues.[5] However, lost revenues or expenses must only have been incurred during the period of availability correlating to the Payment Received Date. The FAQs clarify that a provider’s lost revenue is calculated on a quarterly basis. PRF recipients still have three options for calculating lost revenue:
Option i: The difference between actual patient care revenues;
Option ii: The difference between budgeted (prior to March 27, 2020) and actual patient care revenues.
Option iii: A calculation by any reasonable method of estimating revenues.
The FAQ clarify that “…for Option i and Option ii, lost revenues are calculated for each quarter during the period of availability as a standalone calculation, with 2019 quarters serving as a baseline. For each calendar year of reporting, the applicable quarters where lost revenue is demonstrated are totaled to determine an annual lost revenue amount. There’s no offset [of quarters during the period of availability where the provider didn’t experience lost revenue.]”[6]
Further, HHS clarified that for providers who have more lost revenue in a Payment Received Period than PRF payments for the same period, that portion of lost revenue can be carried forward and applied against payments received during later Payment Received Periods and included in the lost revenues reported for later reporting periods, provided expenses and lost revenues are not duplicated.[7]
4. Maintaining Detailed Documentation is Critical.
Pursuant to the Terms and Conditions that providers are bound by in connection with their receipt of PRF payments, providers are required to maintain supporting documentation demonstrating that costs were obligated/incurred during the Period of Availability. Providers aren’t required to submit that documentation when reporting, but HHS has clearly stated that it will audit the use of PRF payments and recoup payments if the provider’s expenses are not supported by adequate documentation.[8]
5. HHS is Developing an Appeals Process.
In recognition that providers may have questions regarding the accuracy of their PRF payments, HHS recently added a new FAQ stating that it will soon introduce a structured reconsiderations process to review and reconsider PRF payment uses based on the provider’s submitted supporting documentation.[9]
[1] https://taggs.hhs.gov/Coronavirus/Providers
[2] The Payment Received Period describes a specific time period when the recipient received one or more payments. The payment is considered received on the deposit date for automated clearing house (ACH) payments or the check cashed date. There are four Payment Received Periods during the time frame between April 10, 2020 to December 31, 2021. https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/cares-act-provider-relief-fund/reporting-auditing/index.html
[3] PRF FAQ regarding extensions (available at https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/provider-relief-fund-general-distribution-faqs.pdf), states: “Are providers able to request extensions on submissions of their required reports for any of the required reporting periods? (Added 7/1/2021)” To which HHS’s reply is, “No. Providers that received one or more payments exceeding $10,000, in the aggregate, during a Payment Received Period are required to report in each applicable Reporting Time Period. Providers that are required to report and do not submit a completed report by the applicable deadlines will be deemed out of compliance with the program Terms and Conditions and may be subject to recoupment.”
[4] The Terms and Conditions applicable to the recipients of each type of PRF distribution require the recipient to submit reports as specified by HHS in future program instructions. The Terms and Conditions also provide that non-compliance with the Terms and Conditions is grounds for HHS to recoup PRF funds. To view the Terms and Conditions applicable to the various PRF distributions, click here.
[5] Id.
[6] Id.
[7] Id.
[8] Pursuant to HHS PRF FAQ available at https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/provider-relief-fund-general-distribution-faqs.pdf, HHS states that “HHS reserves the right to audit Provider Relief Fund recipients now or in the future, and is authorized to collect any Provider Relief Fund payment amounts that have not been supported by documented expenses or revenue losses attributable to coronavirus or not used in a manner consistent with program requirements or applicable law. All payment recipients must attest to the Terms and Conditions, which require the submission of documentation to substantiate that these funds were used for health care-related expenses or lost revenues attributable to coronavirus.”
[9] Id.
August 17, 2021 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT
Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act: What Health Care Lawyers Need to Know
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm
Place: Cisco WebEx
Our August 17 program takes up Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act and its regulations. Section 1557 was the first health care-specific anti-discrimination provision in federal law. Regulations promulgated in 2016 established the provision’s broad coverage, including requirements that health care entities provide signage and documents in various languages and a declaration that the term “sex discrimination” in the law extended to protect transgender individuals. The Trump Administration made changing the Section 1557 regulations a priority, narrowing the entities subject to the law, limiting the language requirements, removing transgender protections, and focusing on religious discrimination. Since then, the courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, have weighed in on aspects of the law, and now the Biden Administration is actively addressing the scope of the regulation through enforcement positions and proposed revision to the regulations. Meanwhile, healthcare entities have pursued their own course, continuing to incorporate anti-discrimination provisions into their policies and culture.
This program will address the history, current status and course forward for Section 1557 and its regulations, including discussion of major court decisions and practical realities for providers.
Our speakers are:
Due to the current social distancing recommendations, this program will be held via video conference through Cisco WebEx. This program will be $10 for members and $15 for non-members.
To register, please click here, or click on the button to the right that says “Register for Next Program Pay Now”. This button will take you to a screen with multiple payment options. If you are a member, please login and proceed with the payment process. If you are not a member, you will have to create a username and password to continue with the payment process.
Once you have registered online, you will receive a calendar invite containing the WebEx link. Please note, you don’t need to sign up for a WebEx Account to join a meeting.
The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. This activity may qualify for up to 1 hour of CLE credit, 0 hours of ethics, toward your annual requirement for the State Bar of Arizona.
July 28, 2021 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT
The Untenable Dilemma – The Department of Justice and Walmart Spar Over Both a Pharmacist and a Corporation’s Role Under the Controlled Substances Act
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm
Place: Cisco WebEx
In an increasingly demanding environment in which pharmacies may fill hundreds of prescriptions in a single day for patients, the U.S. Department of Justice has recently filed a number of lawsuits against corporations and individual pharmacists, taking an increasingly expansive view of their roles and responsibilities under the Controlled Substances Act. Two such cases have pitted Walmart Inc. against the DOJ. And the outcome of these cases is likely to have far-reaching implications for (1) a corporation’s responsibility to train and supervise pharmacists, as well as to institute safeguards to prevent drug diversion, and (2) an individual pharmacist’s duty to investigate suspicious prescriptions.
Vinnie Lichvar is an experienced litigator focused in healthcare law and criminal defense. He routinely represents corporations and individuals in government investigations, regulatory enforcement matters, and white-collar litigation. His healthcare law practice focuses on the representation of hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories and other healthcare facilities, physicians, nurses and other professionals in malpractice, credentialing and licensure board matters. He has represented private companies and individuals in regulations matters, including investigations by the Department of Justice and the Attorney General’s Office. His experience includes conducting internal investigations and responding to inquiries from state and federal government agencies. He also focuses on healthcare compliance, transactions and regulatory matters for healthcare organizations and physicians, including medical staff matters, HIPAA, Stark, ambulatory surgery centers, fraud and abuse, peer review, risk management, physician employment contracting, joint ventures, practice formation and separation.
Due to the current social distancing recommendations, this program will be held via video conference through Cisco WebEx. This program will be $10 for members and $15 for non-members.
To register, please click here, or click on the button to the right that says “Register for Next Program Pay Now”. This button will take you to a screen with multiple payment options. If you are a member, please login and proceed with the payment process. If you are not a member, you will have to create a username and password to continue with the payment process.
Once you have registered online, you will receive a calendar invite containing the WebEx link. Please note, you don’t need to sign up for a WebEx Account to join a meeting.
The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. This activity may qualify for up to 1 hour of CLE credit, 0 hours of ethics, toward your annual requirement for the State Bar of Arizona.
New Legislation Makes Telehealth More Accessible in Arizona
June 15, 2021 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT
2021 Legislative and Regulatory Update
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm
Place: Cisco WebEx
This year’s program will focus on state measures from the 2021 legislative session and current federal health care initiatives. And it’s never too early to talk about elections, so the program will also provide some early insight on statewide elections for next year.
Jason Bezozo worked at the Arizona State Senate as the Senior Legislative Research Analyst for the Senate Health Committee and as Assistant Director for the Senate Research Staff. He joined the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association in 2002 as the Director of Government Affairs and Policy and then joined Banner Health in 2006 to manage government relations across the health care system. He has a history degree from ASU and a Master’s in business administration from University of Phoenix.
Greg Ensell is Vice President, Government Relations with the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA). In that capacity, he leads the organization’s lobbying and political engagement efforts. For more than twenty years, Mr. Ensell has held public affairs and government relations positions for organizations including, Cox Communications, the Arizona State Senate, and the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.
Due to the current social distancing recommendations, this program will be held via video conference through Cisco WebEx. This program will be $10 for members and $15 for non-members.
To register, please visit our website https://azsha.org/, click upcoming programs, on the right you will see a button that says “Register for Next Program Pay Now”. This button will take you to a screen with multiple payment options. Please select your membership level. If you are a member, please login and proceed with the payment process. If you are not a member, you will have to create a username and password to continue with the payment process.
Once you have registered online, you will receive a calendar invite containing the WebEx link. Please note, you don’t need to sign up for a WebEx Account to join a meeting.
The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. This activity may qualify for up to 1 hour of CLE credit, 0 hours of ethics, toward your annual requirement for the State Bar of Arizona.
Seeking highly qualified attorneys to join network of affiliate attorneys
Coppersmith Brockelman PLC and its nationally ranked health care group seeks highly qualified attorneys to join its network of affiliate attorneys. Coppersmith’s network of affiliate attorneys are independent contractors who…
June 3, 2021 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT
What You Should Know about the New Stark Regulations: Overview of Significant Changes, Group Compensation and Value Based Arrangements
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm
Place: Cisco WebEx
This presentation will explore the much needed and overdue changes to the Stark Law that became effective in January 2021. Long criticized as being too complex, overly burdensome, and inconsistent with the Law’s original intent, even the Law’s namesake, Representative Pete Stark, called for its repeal. In updating the regulations, CMS has endeavored to reduce the regulatory burden on providers and modernize a healthcare system which has traditionally focused on a fee-for-service model. In addition to providing an overview of some of the more significant changes, additions and clarifications that affect all health care providers impacted by the Stark Law, the presentation will address specific changes affecting Group Practices and how profits can be shared among physicians, as well as how the rules can be used to support value-based arrangements.
Paul Giancola. Paul Giancola’s practice is focused on regulatory matters, compliance, and transactions (joint ventures,, management agreements, contacts, ASCs) for healthcare organizations and physicians, including medical staff matters, HIPAA, Stark, licensing board and government investigations, and fraud and abuse. He teaches Healthcare Fraud at the ASU Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.
Ben Runkle. Benjamin’s practice includes the representation of healthcare providers and organizations in a variety of matters. Prior to joining the legal profession, Ben worked as a firefighter/paramedic and police officer. His experience includes the following: Representation of behavioral health providers, physicians, dentists, and other healthcare professionals in government investigations and enforcement actions; Representation of physicians and dentists in administrative and licensing proceedings; Management of administrative appeals including provider-payor disputes, imposition of civil penalties and assessments, overpayment and recoupment matters, and service authorization denials; Representation of clients throughout all phases of criminal prosecution and appeal; As an Assistant Attorney General, prosecuted fraud and represented the Department of Economic Security in litigation and policy development; Advised the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Arizona’s Medicaid agency, on litigation strategy, rule-making, provider registration, policy development, and compliance matters investigated by the Office of the Inspector General; and Representation of clients with respect to investigations by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights.
Lauren Weinzweig is a partner at The Nelson Law Group, PLLC where she assists health care facilities, medical groups and other health care practitioners address many of the operational, regulatory and transactional issues facing the health care industry. Her practice has an emphasis on health care transactions, compliance with fraud and abuse laws, professional board investigation defense and health information privacy. She has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America for Health Care Law since 2015 and has been honored to serve as a member of the Board of the Arizona Society of Healthcare Attorneys since 2013. When not working, Lauren enjoys spending time with her family and dogs in Munds Park, Arizona.
Due to the current social distancing recommendations, this program will be held via video conference through Cisco WebEx. This program will be $10 for members and $15 for non-members.
To register, please visit our website https://azsha.org/, click upcoming programs, on the right you will see a button that says “Register for Next Program Pay Now”. This button will take you to a screen with multiple payment options. Please select your membership level. If you are a member, please login and proceed with the payment process. If you are not a member, you will have to create a username and password to continue with the payment process.
Once you have registered online, you will receive a calendar invite containing the WebEx link. Please note, you don’t need to sign up for a WebEx Account to join a meeting.
The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. This activity may qualify for up to 1 hour of CLE credit, 0 hours of ethics, toward your annual requirement for the State Bar of Arizona.
Associate General Counsel – Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Associate General Counsel Position Summary The Associate General Counsel will report to the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Executive Vice President and General Counsel and provide a broad range of in-house legal…