ASU College of Health Solutions Lauds Mel Soliz’s Contributions to MDC Advisory Board

Melissa Soliz Educates ASU HCCR Students About Information Blocking Compliance

As part of its Guest Speaker Series, Arizona State University’s Health Care Compliance and Regulations (HCCR) program invited Melissa Soliz to present on the Information Blocking Rule. During the virtual presentation, she helped students and faculty understand this complex piece of legislation, including how health care providers can remain compliant. Mel’s presentation included: Background on the Information Blocking Rule, as well as enforcement structure and compliance deadlines Practices that implicate the prohibition on information blocking Exceptions to the rule (safe harbors) How to implement compliance ASU’s HCCR program is the nation’s first accredited compliance and regulations undergraduate program. With extensive experience in regulatory health law, data privacy and patient access laws, Mel has presented on the Information Blocking Rule numerous times. Most recently, she shared her expertise at...

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Coppersmith Brockelman Super Lawyers 2021

Super Lawyers Honors 12 Coppersmith Brockelman Attorneys

Coppersmith Brockelman, a prominent Phoenix-based business law firm, announced today that 12 of its 20 attorneys have been recognized in Super Lawyers’ 2021 edition. Super Lawyers honors accomplished attorneys in more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. Attorneys from Coppersmith Brockelman who received the 2021 honor are: Keith Beauchamp – Business Litigation (recognized since 2007) Scott Bennett – Health Care (recognized since 2018); Southwest Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Business Litigation (2012-2013) Kent Brockelman – Employment & Labor Law (recognized since 2007) Jill Chasson – Employment & Labor Law (recognized since 2016) Roopali Desai – Legislative & Government Affairs (recognized since 2019); Southwest Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2014-2016) John DeWulf – Business Litigation (recognized since 2007);...

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Karen Owens Advises Hospitals on Attracting Physician Leaders to Peer Review Committees

Karen Owens Advises Hospitals on Attracting Physician Leaders to Peer Review Committees

Serving on hospital peer review committees can be time-consuming, difficult work — sometimes making it hard to attract physicians to serve. Drawing on her years of advising hospital and medical staff leadership, Karen Owens educated Hospital Peer Review readers on how to attract health care professionals to peer review committees. Karen explained that physicians may be convinced to participate in staff self-governance for many reasons, including good citizenship, a desire to lead, camaraderie, or even curiosity. Transforming staff members into leaders takes ongoing cultivation over the course of months or years. Karen encouraged hospitals to develop physician and nurse champions to provide encouragement and tools to bring their peers into committee service. Additionally, she said an efficient committee is an attractive one —having committee processes that...

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Erin Dunlap Provides Insight on Overturned HIPAA Penalty for Healthcare Risk Management

Erin Dunlap Provides Insight on Overturned HIPAA Penalty for Healthcare Risk Management

When the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a $4.3 million civil monetary penalty imposed on the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Healthcare Risk Management asked health care data privacy attorney Erin Dunlap to explain how the decision may impact HIPAA covered entities and business associates. Erin called the decision a “game changer,” particularly in how entities subject to HIPAA will view HIPAA’s encryption rule, evaluate a loss of protected health information (PHI) and engage with HHS in setting investigations.  Erin specifically highlighted the Fifth Circuit’s position that the encryption specification was not a strict liability rule and perfection or ‘bulletproof protection’ is not the standard.  This is helpful for HIPAA covered entities...

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Kristen Rosati

Kristen Rosati’s AHLA & AzSHA Presentations Highlight 2020 Health Care Law Developments

At the annual American Health Law Association (AHLA) Physicians and Hospitals Law Institute, Kristen Rosati educated industry professionals on the numerous legal developments 2020 brought to the health care industry. She also shared her “Year in Review” presentation at the Arizona Society of Healthcare Attorneys’ (AzSHA) February meeting. During these presentations, Kristen focused on significant legal updates resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and a wave of regulations passed during the Trump Administration’s waning days. She provided health care lawyers with an overview of several topics related to the pandemic, including new legislation, the rapid rise of telemedicine, claims and developing immunity, and financial relief for providers and attendant risks. Her presentation also explored health care reform, including significant Supreme Court decisions and the status of the...

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Jill Chasson & Andy Gaona Help Arizona Attorney Readers Navigate Prop 207 Workplace Issues

Jill Chasson & Andy Gaona Help Arizona Attorney Readers Navigate Prop 207 Workplace Issues

With the passage of Prop 207, many Arizona employers wondered how adult-use marijuana legislation would affect their workplaces. In an article for Arizona Attorney, Jill Chasson and Andy Gaona help attorneys understand how to help Arizona’s businesses remain compliant. Prop 207 purposely did not alter the legal landscape for Arizona’s workplaces. However, with a likely uptick in marijuana usage across the state, Jill and Andy recommend employers review or update their existing substance abuse policies to ensure they are protected. Moreover, businesses will want to weigh the pros and cons of drug testing for marijuana in a variety of situations, as well as whether to exclude employees who use marijuana from safety-sensitive positions. Employers who wish to conduct testing should adopt a policy that complies with the...

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