Session Dates: September 12, October 10, November 14
Time (All Sessions): 2:00-3:30 PM Eastern (90 minutes) 
Sessions Format: Live Webinars

In the wake of the 2016 presidential elections, media attention was drawn to the increasingly divergent economic fortunes of rural and urban America. Rural areas have suffered from high rates of outmigration and loss of human resources, and some predominantly rural regions, especially in Appalachia, have seen marked declines in life expectancy and other health indicators. One key factor in this decline has been diminished access to healthcare: rural hospitals, in contrast to their well-funded urban counterparts, have struggled to keep the lights on. Hospital groups have increasingly consolidated operations, leaving rural hospitals understaffed and underfunded. Hospital closures are far from the only negative health trend impacting rural areas: the opioid epidemic too, is concentrated primarily in rural areas. Participants in all three programs will come away with an understanding of drivers of this disparity, and innovations in public health and healthcare to address these issues. Legal and policy solutions will be discussed including the use of telemedicine, medical-legal partnerships, rural accountable care organizations, and county-based care integration models.

This webinar series will serve to bring awareness to the unique health needs of rural communities, and o inform and educate public health and health lawyers, their clients, and partners across the health care system, about the growing disparity between rural and urban health outcomes, and ways that laws and legal frameworks can be used to address this issue. This monthly series will begin in September and end in November, on November 14th, one week before the nation celebrates National Rural Health Day.

Level of Difficulty: Intermediate

• AHLA Member: $0
• Non-AHLA Member: $150

Partner(s):

• Public Health System
• CDC's Public Health Law Program

Time: 2:00-3:30 PM Eastern (90 minutes)
Format: Live Webinar
Topic: Narrowing the Rural Health Disparity Gap: Success in Using ACO’s and Integrated Care Models

In the third and final webinar in the series, speakers will offer comments on health care reform initiatives designed to improve quality and lower costs, for better population health, including accountable care models and integrated care models, and will highlight evidence of success in using these models to narrow rural health disparities.

Level of Difficulty: Intermediate

• AHLA Member: $0
• Non-AHLA Member: $50

Partner(s):

• Public Health System
• CDC's Public Health Law Program

Time: 12:00-12:45 PM Eastern (45 minutes)
Format: Educational Call
Topic: This will be a 30 minute session to discuss the latest developments in drug pricing, reimbursement and transparency, followed by a 15 minute session with the Payers, Plans and Managed Care Practice Group leaders.

Payers, Plans and Managed Care PG Fall Educational Call Sponsored by the Health Plan Affinity Group of the PPMC PG We invite you to join our first Educational Call of the new program year scheduled for November 7, 2019. Our calls are intended to provide more informal networking opportunities within AHLA and a forum to discuss timely legal, regulatory, and compliance issues relevant to our practice. Our sessions are a great way to learn about the latest policy developments and to build practical knowledge and expertise free of charge and without having to get on a plane! This call will feature an in-depth analysis of the most recent legal and regulatory developments impacting drug pricing, reimbursement and transparency, led by Stephen Paul Mahinka of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. Please also join our PPMC PG leaders for a round-robin discussion of all things managed care, moderated by Jeremy Earl of McDermott Will & Emery, before closing out our call with a practice group and member update.

Note: No CLE offered for this course.

For access to the recording, please visit the sponsoring Practice Group page.

Content Lead:

• Payers, Plans, and Managed Care

Partnering Groups:

• Health Plan Affinity Group

Time: 2:00-3:30 PM Eastern (90 minutes)
Session Format: Live Webinar
CLE Credit Available:  Yes

The False Claims (FCA) is known for its qui tam (whistleblower) provisions, which includes a strong anti-retaliation provision. With the proliferation of FCA qui tam actions, health care businesses of all types and sizes must not only attempt to avoid whistleblower claims by taking proactive measures to ensure compliance within the organization, but must also be careful to take concerns from potential whistleblowers seriously and not act in any way that could be viewed as retaliatory. This webinar will discuss the "ins and outs" of FCA retaliation claims and how to both avoid and defend them.

Level of Difficulty:  Intermediate

Listen With a Colleague Registration

• AHLA Member: $149
• Government, Academician, Public Interest, or Solo Practitioner AHLA Member: $99
• Student, Paralegal, or Retired AHLA Member: $99
  AHLA Member Listen with a Colleague Option (see "Listen with a Colleague" link on Overview tab): $99
• Non-AHLA Member: $199

Content Lead:

• Health Care Liability and Litigation Practice Group

The “Listen with a Colleague" option allows multiple registrants from the same organization and location to participate in the webinar at a discounted rate. It may ONLY be used if at least one person from your organization and location has registered at the regular/full webinar registration rate. Please note that those who register under the reduced “Listen with a Colleague" rate must access the webinar from the same location and computer as the full-priced registrant they are registered under.

The “Listen with a Colleague" option is continuing legal education (CLE) credit-eligible. In order to obtain a certificate of completion for submission to a state CLE accrediting body, those registered under this option must obtain the attendance verification code—which will be displayed at a random time during the webinar—and enter that code under “Verification Code for Live Webinar" section of the webinar description webpage. Please note that each registrant must submit a complete evaluation from their individual accounts to obtain a certificate of completion.

If you have any questions about this registration option, please contact customer support.

Time: 2:00-3:30 PM Eastern (90 minutes)
Session Format: Live Webinar
CLE Credit Available:  Yes

The uncertainty surrounding the use of arbitration agreements in nursing homes has finally ended—at least for now.  On July 16, 2019, CMS released its long-awaited final rule, which updates the requirements nursing homes must meet to use binding arbitration agreements.  As with the proposed rule and consistent with a federal court injunction, the final rule reverses the prior administration’s wholesale ban on pre-dispute arbitration agreements in nursing facilities.  But the final rule does impose new conditions on the use of arbitration agreements in nursing facilities.  It remains an open question whether CMS actually has authority to regulate arbitration as part of its conditions of participation, so this final rule may face a lawsuit similar to the one that struck down the prior attempted arbitration ban.  

In the meantime, nursing facilities must update their admission practices and agreements to comply with the conditions of participation, including challenging new requirements such as explaining the agreement in a language and terms the resident and resident’s representative understands.  While these regulations are part of the requirements of participation and are not directly regulate arbitration agreements, facilities should nevertheless prepare for litigation challenges based on these final rules.  This webinar will discuss the challenges and opportunities with the final rule, as well as ways to make the arbitration process more defensible.

Level of Difficulty: Intermediate

Listen With a Colleague Registration

• AHLA Member: $149
• Government, Academician, Public Interest, or Solo Practitioner AHLA Member: $99
• Student, Paralegal, or Retired AHLA Member: $99
  AHLA Member Listen with a Colleague Option (see "Listen with a Colleague" link on Overview tab): $99
• Non-AHLA Member: $199

Content Lead:

• Post-Acute and Long Term Services

Partner(s):

• Health Care Liability and Litigation 
  ADR Affinity Practice Group

The “Listen with a Colleague" option allows multiple registrants from the same organization and location to participate in the webinar at a discounted rate. It may ONLY be used if at least one person from your organization and location has registered at the regular/full webinar registration rate. Please note that those who register under the reduced “Listen with a Colleague" rate must access the webinar from the same location and computer as the full-priced registrant they are registered under.

The “Listen with a Colleague" option is continuing legal education (CLE) credit-eligible. In order to obtain a certificate of completion for submission to a state CLE accrediting body, those registered under this option must obtain the attendance verification code—which will be displayed at a random time during the webinar—and enter that code under “Verification Code for Live Webinar" section of the webinar description webpage. Please note that each registrant must submit a complete evaluation from their individual accounts to obtain a certificate of completion.

If you have any questions about this registration option, please contact customer support.

Time: 2:00-3:30 PM Eastern (90 minutes)
Session Format: Live Webinar
CLE Credit Available:  Yes

This webinar will provide an overview of the interaction between HIPAA and 42 C.F.R. Part 2 privacy protections, with a focus on where the laws diverge. The webinar will provide a detailed discussion on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued August 26, 2019, regarding changes to Part 2, which protects the confidentiality of substance use disorder patient records. The proposed rule is the first of four regulations that have been identified in HHS' Regulatory Sprint to Coordinated Care. Comments will be due less than two weeks after this webinar occurs, making the presentation particularly relevant.

Level of Difficulty:  Intermediate

Listen With a Colleague Registration

• AHLA Member: $149
• Government, Academician, Public Interest, or Solo Practitioner AHLA Member: $99
• Student, Paralegal, or Retired AHLA Member: $99
  AHLA Member Listen with a Colleague Option (see "Listen with a Colleague" link on Overview tab): $99
• Non-AHLA Member: $199

Content Lead:

• Behavioral Health Task Force

The “Listen with a Colleague" option allows multiple registrants from the same organization and location to participate in the webinar at a discounted rate. It may ONLY be used if at least one person from your organization and location has registered at the regular/full webinar registration rate. Please note that those who register under the reduced “Listen with a Colleague" rate must access the webinar from the same location and computer as the full-priced registrant they are registered under.

The “Listen with a Colleague" option is continuing legal education (CLE) credit-eligible. In order to obtain a certificate of completion for submission to a state CLE accrediting body, those registered under this option must obtain the attendance verification code—which will be displayed at a random time during the webinar—and enter that code under “Verification Code for Live Webinar" section of the webinar description webpage. Please note that each registrant must submit a complete evaluation from their individual accounts to obtain a certificate of completion.

If you have any questions about this registration option, please contact customer support.

Time: 2:00-3:30 PM Eastern (90 minutes)
Format: Live Webinar
Topic:  Integrating Legal Services into Recovery Efforts: Can Medical-Legal Partnerships Help?

The second webinar in the 3-part series will be co-sponsored by AHLA’s In-House Counsel Practice Group, and will be focused on public health and legal approaches to addressing the opioid epidemic in rural communities. Speakers will explore the data related to disparities in opioid related health outcomes in rural and urban communities. And, at the heart of this program will be a discussion about how medical-legal services partnerships (MLPs) can serve as a critical recovery service, when coupled with medical and behavioral health services.

Level of Difficulty: Intermediate

• AHLA Member: $0
• Non-AHLA Member: $50

Partner(s):

• Public Health System
• CDC's Public Health Law Program

Time: 3:00-4:45 PM Eastern (60 minutes)
Format: Educational Call

This is a joint educational call between Behavioral Health and RAP. The topic is new EMTALA guidance addressing psychiatric hospitals and patients with behavioral health emergencies.

Note: No CLE offered for this course.

For access to the recording, please visit the sponsoring Practice Group page.

Content Lead:

• Behavioral Health Task Force

Partner(s):

• Regulation, Accreditation, and Payment Practice Group

Time: 2:00-3:30 PM Eastern (90 minutes)
Session Format: Live Webinar
CLE Credit Available:  Yes

This webinar will provide health care practitioners and other participants in the health sector with unique and practical perspectives from antitrust enforcers regarding a host of issues. Topics will include:

1. how to handle a call from an FTC or DOJ attorney regarding a third party investigation;
2. how to handle a government Civil Investigative Demand or a voluntary request for information;
3. things to consider when weighing whether or not to approach an agency prior to engaging in activity that might raise antitrust concerns; and
4. how to navigate an antitrust investigation that includes federal and state antitrust enforcers and what to do when the federal or state enforcer seeks different remedies.

These and other issues will be explored from a hand-on practical perspective that health care participants will find useful in their day-to-day business activities.

Level of Difficulty: Intermediate

Listen With a Colleague Registration

• AHLA Member: $149
• Government, Academician, Public Interest, or Solo Practitioner AHLA Member: $99
• Student, Paralegal, or Retired AHLA Member: $99
  AHLA Member Listen with a Colleague Option (see "Listen with a Colleague" link on Overview tab): $99
• Non-AHLA Member: $199

Content Lead:

• Antitrust Practice Group

The “Listen with a Colleague" option allows multiple registrants from the same organization and location to participate in the webinar at a discounted rate. It may ONLY be used if at least one person from your organization and location has registered at the regular/full webinar registration rate. Please note that those who register under the reduced “Listen with a Colleague" rate must access the webinar from the same location and computer as the full-priced registrant they are registered under.

The “Listen with a Colleague" option is continuing legal education (CLE) credit-eligible. In order to obtain a certificate of completion for submission to a state CLE accrediting body, those registered under this option must obtain the attendance verification code—which will be displayed at a random time during the webinar—and enter that code under “Verification Code for Live Webinar" section of the webinar description webpage. Please note that each registrant must submit a complete evaluation from their individual accounts to obtain a certificate of completion.

If you have any questions about this registration option, please contact customer support.

Antitrust and Health Care: A Comprehensive Guide

Antitrust and Health Care: A Comprehensive Guide explains the application of antitrust principles to the different segments of the healthcare industry, helping minimize antitrust risk and plan business and litigation strategies.

Order today!

Time: 12:00-12:45 PM Eastern (45 minutes)
Format: Educational Call
Topic: The impact of employee/vendor non-compliance with healthcare law and regulations on enterprise risk management

We plan to have a lively discussion on the following: (i) "what happened” summaries of two recent cases; (ii) how could the possibility of the violation have been minimized (policies, procedures, education/training, supervision, sanctions, practical industry-specific measures); (iii) how does this fit into enterprise risk management; and (iv) knowing that it is impossible to completely prevent such violations, how does an enterprise determine the amount of risk it is willing to undertake.

Note: No CLE offered for this course.

For access to the recording, please visit the sponsoring Practice Group page.

Content Lead:
Enterprise Risk Management

Partnering Groups:
Hospitals and Health Systems