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In-Person Schedule
AHLA's Winter Institute 2026 features three specialized tracks—Physicians/Hospitals (PHS), Academic Medical Centers (AMC), and Artificial Intelligence (AI)—plus networking receptions and lunch sessions. In-person attendees access all tracks, networking events, and post-conference recordings.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
7:00 AM - 4:45 PM
Conference Attendee Assistance: Check-In and Badge Pick-Up
7:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Conference Breakfast
This event is included in the conference registration fee. Attendees, speakers, and registered guests are welcome. Interested in sponsoring this event? Sponsor.
8:00 AM - 9:45 AM
Pre-Conference Session: In-House Counsel Think Tank PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED AMC PHS AI
Allison Petersen
This event is for provider In-House/General Counsel attendees ONLY. This highly interactive pre-conference session will focus on day-to-day challenges unique to those working in the in-house counsel or general counsel role. AHLA will remove anyone who does not meet the criteria. Pre-registration is required; limited attendance 100; there is no additional fee.
10:00 AM - 12:45 PM
10:00-10:15 AM
Welcome and Introduction AMC PHS AI
Mark Kopson, AHLA President, Plunkett Cooney PC
Manasa Gopal, Advising Providers Planning Committee Co-Chair
Allison Petersen, Advising Providers Planning Committee Co-Chair
Alaap Shah, AI Planning Committee Chair
10:15 AM-12:30 PM
1. Year in Review AMC PHS AI
Robert G. Homchick, Davis Wright Tremaine
Kim Looney, K&L Gates
Cynthia Wisner, (Ret.) Trinity Health
- The impact of the Big Beautiful Bill, shrinking of government agencies, and new policy initiatives
- RFK’s vision and the evolution of Public Health
- Health Equity and Access Post-Dobbs and patient care issues (EMTALA and clinical research updates)
- False Claims Act case law and settlements (key cases and enforcement trends)
- Stark and Anti-kickback developments
- Telemedicine updates
- Health Care Transactions (from hot trends, to record number of bankruptcies, to private equity, to tax issues, to new antitrust theories)
- Hot HIT developments (artificial intelligence, cyber-attacks, information blocking and interoperability, OCR enforcement, and state laws)
- Price transparency enforcement and drug prices litigation
- Reimbursement trends and 340B
- And much more!
12:45-2:00 PM
Lunch and Learn PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED
2:15 - 3:15 PM
2. Research Federal Funding (not repeated) AMC
3. Responding to a Health Care False Claims Act Investigation AMCPHS
Matt Blackburn, Senior Counsel, HCA Healthcare
Henry Leventis, Holland & Knight LLP
4. Resolving Modern Managed Care Conflicts: The Next Generation of Managed Care LitigationPHS
Mackenzie S. Wallace, Thompson Coburn LLP
Jeff Wurzburg, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
- Trends, practices, and practical guidance for parties involved in disputes between physicians/health systems and payers, with a focus on navigating the provider/hospital services agreements
- How the evolving regulatory landscape impacts and is reshaping managed care disputes
- The growing role of AI in reimbursement disputes and what it means for strategy and outcomes
- A framework for determining whether arbitration or court is the most effective forum for a given dispute
- How value-based arrangements are being interpreted and litigated in managed care disputes, including emerging theories, risks, and strategic considerations
- The key legal issues that drive provider-payer conflicts and the tools available to strengthen negotiation leverage and legal positions
5. Antitrust Hot Topics PHS
Vic Domen, DLA Piper US LLP
Bryan Perry, Senior Managing Director, FTI Consulting
Amanda L. Wait, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
- The state of non-competes for health care Professionals and what's to be made of the FTC's stern letters to Payors?
- All these new State Notification Laws...What should parties do?
- Is the Big Beautiful Bill accelerating the consolidation of providers?
- Are PE's and Payors cherry-picking practice groups regardless of the competitive impact?
- Where do the States stand on consolidation vs. access to care?
- The dangers of using AI and other information sharing tools under new federal scrutiny and auditing systems
6. Demystifying AI in Health Care: Foundations and Practical Legal Guardrails for Health Law Professionals (not repeated) AI
Erin Brisbay McMahon, Senior Associate General Counsel - Health Affairs, University of Kentucky
Alexandra Moylan, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz PC
Phoebe Ramsey, Director, Physician Payment & Quality Policy, Association of American Medical Colleges
Allison R. Trimble, Associate General Counsel, BJC Health System
- State policy spotlight and operational guardrails: Spotlight state policy trends and operational guardrails, including health chatbots (misrepresentation and harm risks, with special attention to mental health), clinical AI requirements (patient consent and disclosure, bias safeguards, provider oversight of outputs), payer use of AI (utilization management controls and clinician review), and broad transparency regimes for “high risk” AI—then translate those themes into governance and policy development, procurement, and frontline workflow practices
- Regulatory and reimbursement landscape: Unpack the evolving regulatory and reimbursement landscape, clarifying who regulates AI in health care and when among the FDA, CMS, and state authorities, how FDA clearance or approval intersects with—but does not replace—clinical validation, when different risk tiers warrant different policy guardrails, and how coverage and payment decisions are likely to play out across coding, benefit categories, prior authorization, and utilization management
- Validation, safety, and liability allocation: Examine validation, safety, and liability across the AI lifecycle, including who should validate tools (developers, providers, institutions, independent evaluators), what evidence standards and post market monitoring are appropriate for dynamic systems, how bias and change control are managed, and how liability for diagnostic and treatment uses may be allocated among developers, deploying providers, and institutions
- Data, privacy, IP, and ownership: Explore data, privacy, IP, and ownership, addressing who owns and controls data and outputs, how contracts should allocate rights in inputs, fine tuned models, and generated content, what privacy protections must be updated outside HIPAA (including consumer privacy laws and sector specific rules), the limits of de identification and secondary use, and practical safeguards for provenance, BAAs/DUAs, and vendor risk management
3:30 - 4:45 PM
7. Information Sharing in an Academic Health System: Navigating the Risks (not repeated) AMC
Cristina Blanton, HIPAA Privacy Officer and Counsel, General Counsel's Office, University of Texas System
Matthew Chayt, Principal Counsel, Managed Care, University of California Office of the President
- Privacy Concerns
- Contractual Concerns
- Antitrust Concerns
- Research Compliance Concerns
Attendees will walk away from the session with a road map of the issues presented, tools for resolving them and/or mitigating risk, and where applicable, legal authorities that inform those solutions.
8. The Future of Health Systems PHS
Bruce H. Hamory, Ret Former Partner, Chief Medical Officer Health and Life Sciences Practice Oliver Wyman
James G. Sheehan, Chief, Charities Bureau Office of NY Attorney General
9. We Didn't See that Coming; Strategies to Save Your Client, Your Job, and Your Sanity in a World Full of New and Unusual Ways to Create Fraud and Abuse Risk PHS
Chris Carnahan, VMG Health
Jim Daniel, Hancock Daniel
Marc D. Goldstone, Chief Legal Officer, Wellpath
- The valuation shell game, or which valuation/valuator will we rely on?
- You promised them what? How to undo a promise made by an operator?
- But the boss said so. How to avoid being the messenger who is on the wrong end of the crossbow.
- I may or may not have those documents. Dealing with issues of attorney-client veracity.
- E-discovery? What's that? I delete my texts every day, anyway.
10. Beyond the “Big Beautiful Bill”: Preparing for Major Medicaid Changes and Their Ripple Effects on ProvidersAMCPHS
Kelsey Bagheri, Principal Counsel, University of California San Francisco
Margia Corner, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton
Many of the Medicaid-related provisions of the federal budget reconciliation bill enacted in July 2025 do not take effect immediately. But over the next three years, changes to federal requirements for Medicaid eligibility, sources of non-federal funding to support Medicaid programs, and Medicaid coverage for home and community-based services will significantly impact academic medical centers, hospitals and health systems, and physicians. Growing uninsured populations, needs for charity care, stretched state budgets, and potentially reduced state investments in innovative Medicaid delivery programs will increase the financial strain on hospitals. This session will review the Medicaid fundamentals and forthcoming changes that every lawyer and compliance professional advising an academic medical center, hospital, health system or physician organization needs to understand about Medicaid in order to help their clients evaluate the financial, legal, regulatory and compliance risks posed by these changes and to help shape future federal and state Medicaid policy changes to implement the federal bill.
11. The Lawyer’s Role in Legal Ethical AI Use (not repeated)AI
Tienne L. Anderson, Chief Counsel, Global Pediatric Medicine Department, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Michael L. Silhol, Silhol Law, PLLC
- An understanding of common foundation ethical principles regarding AI use in both law and medicine
- An interactive format to discuss several hypotheticals with legal, medical, and environmental issues to determine the correct ethical course for each scenario
- A firm understanding of ethical issues with respect to the use of AI in health care, how to approach issues in everyday work, and build institutional consensus
4:45-5:45 PM
Networking Reception
Thursday, February 12, 2026
7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Conference Attendee Assistance
7:00 - 8:00 AM
Conference Breakfast
8:00 - 9:15 AM
12. All in the Family - After the Wedding: AMC and Community Hospital Affiliations in Practice (not repeated)AMC
Michelle Garvey Brennfleck, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
Katherine Miler Schilling, Managing Regional Associate General Counsel, University of Michigan
- AMCs are continuing to affiliate with community hospitals and health systems through various models (e.g., membership substitutions, joint ventures, and service line affiliations)
- While administrators and boards carefully vet these affiliations, particularly to ensure appropriate financial terms, post-closing integration frequently presents challenges
- Governance, faculty and medical staff integration, compensation and associated regulatory considerations, cultural differences, and educational/research priorities often present issues after the AMC/community hospital “wedding”
- Update regarding trends in affiliations between AMCs and community hospitals and address post-closing pain points from a regulatory and operational standpoint
13. What's Old Is New Again: Reinvigorating Compliance Efforts Related to Employed and Medical Staff Physicians In A Time of Increasing Enforcement PHS
Anthony Cestaro, Division Counsel, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Elliott Coward, Husch Blackwell
William J. George, Southeast Region Chief Legal Officer, Advent Health
- The recent increase in government investigations and other internal challenges related to hospital–physician alignment and medical staff oversight, emphasizing the necessity for hospitals to actively monitor and ensure compliance with established policies and plans
- Recognize that practices once considered high priority for hospital compliance related to employed and affiliated physicians may have become routine or overlooked, potentially resulting in vulnerabilities that trigger regulatory scrutiny, settlements, or corporate integrity agreements
- Essential components of effective compliance programs and internal policies for hospitals, including initial valuation requirements, compliant transaction structures, consistent monitoring of physician employees and medical staff, annual compliance training, routine compensation assessments, and robust conflict-of-interest, speaker program, meal, and gift policies
- Practical strategies for engaging between inside and outside counsel, compliance officers, administrators, and employed and medical staff physicians in collaborative discussions, aligning compliance efforts with business objectives—such as recruitment and retention—while maintaining vigilant oversight and ensuring ongoing adherence to compliance standards post-agreement
9. We Didn't See that Coming; Strategies to Save Your Client, Your Job, and Your Sanity in a World Full of New and Unusual Ways to Create Fraud and Abuse Risk (repeat) PHS
Chris Carnahan, VMG Health
Jim Daniel, Hancock Daniel
Marc D. Goldstone, Chief Legal Officer, Wellpath
- The valuation shell game, or which valuation/valuator will we rely on?
- You promised them what? How to undo a promise made by an operator?
- But the boss said so. How to avoid being the messenger who is on the wrong end of the crossbow.
- I may or may not have those documents. Dealing with issues of attorney-client veracity.
- E-discovery? What's that? I delete my texts every day, anyway.
14. AI View from the Regulators (not repeated) AI
Alaap B. Shah (Moderator), Epstein Becker & Green PC
8:15-9:15 AM
15. Guarding Against Harm: Navigating Sexual Misconduct Liability in Health Care AMCPHS
Ashley Lynam, Morgan Lewis & Bockius
Lindsey P. Ridgeway, VP, Deputy General Counsel, Integris Health
- Evolving Legal Landscape: Overview of recent litigation trends, regulatory enforcement actions, and plaintiff strategies targeting health care systems and providers for sexual misconduct claims
- Institutional Accountability: Examination of theories of liability including negligent hiring, supervision, and retention, as well as enterprise-wide duties of care
- Risk Indicators and Red Flags: Common fact patterns in health care settings that give rise to misconduct allegations, including issues unique to patient-provider dynamics and employee hierarchies
- Mitigation and Best Practices: Practical steps to reduce liability exposure, including effective reporting protocols, trauma-informed investigations, and proactive employee training programs
9:30 - 10:30 AM
16. Understanding Medicare Supported GME Reimbursement: Key Concepts and Policy Updates (not repeated) AMC
Allison M. Cohen, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz PC
Bradley Cunningham, Lead Policy and Regulatory Analyst, Association of American Medical Colleges
David J. Vernon, Hooper Lundy & Bookman PC
- Medicare’s support for GME, to include DGME and IME reimbursement policies
- Key policies for Medicare GME FTE caps and FTE audits
- GME development opportunities; Section 126 of the CAA, 2021, Section 4122; and, updated Rural Track Programs
- Teaching physician reimbursement: Requirements and billing guidelines
- Strategies for Medicare GME affiliated group agreements
- GME scenarios and exemplary issues
17. Labor Law Under the Trump Administration–What to ExpectPHS
Jon E. Anderson, Husch Blackwell LLP
- The organizational structure and function of the NLRB
- The key changes implemented since January 2025
- Potential shifts in legal precedents and enforcement focus expected under the new administration
- The impact of NLRB decisions and enforcement priorities on employers, employees, and unions
18. Civil Rights, Conscience, and Compliance: The Trump Administration's Use of the False Claims Act and OCR Authority in Health Care EnforcementAMCPHS
David O'Neal, Parker Hudson Rainer & Dobbs LLP
Patrick O'Rourke, Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Children’s Hospital Colorado
Leon Rodriguez, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
- The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (HHS-OCR) are now using the False Claims Act and federal civil rights statutes to combat alleged discriminatory practices
- The relevant memoranda and guidance from DOJ and HHS
- False Claims Act enforcement in this area, as well as HHS-OCR investigations and enforcement
- Relevant enforcement activity related to conscience-based accommodation claims levied by individuals who claim that they are being required to provide care that conflicts with religious beliefs
- Practical risk mitigation strategies for providers
4. Resolving Modern Managed Care Conflicts: The Next Generation of Managed Care Litigation (repeat)PHS
Mackenzie S. Wallace, Thompson Coburn LLP
Jeff Wurzburg, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
- Trends, practices, and practical guidance for parties involved in disputes between physicians/health systems and payers, with a focus on navigating the provider/hospital services agreements
- How the evolving regulatory landscape impacts and is reshaping managed care disputes
- The growing role of AI in reimbursement disputes and what it means for strategy and outcomes
- A framework for determining whether arbitration or court is the most effective forum for a given dispute
- How value-based arrangements are being interpreted and litigated in managed care disputes, including emerging theories, risks, and strategic considerations
- The key legal issues that drive provider-payer conflicts and the tools available to strengthen negotiation leverage and legal positions
19. Beyond the Black Box: Legal Strategies for Deploying Transparent, Trusted Health Care AI (not repeated)AI
Andrea Frey, Hooper Lundy & Bookman PC
Brenton Hill, Head of Operations and General Counsel, Coalition for Health AI
Julia Michael, Deputy General Counsel, K Health
- The Regulatory Landscape–Examine how the FDA, HHS, the Joint Commission, and state legislatures are shaping oversight of AI/ML tools in health care—including key definitions, risk tiers, and expectations
- Effective AI Governance–Learn how to structure cross-functional AI governance programs that embed safety, equity, and compliance—from procurement to clinical deployment and ongoing monitoring
- Operationalize Transparency and Trust–Discover how tools like Model Cards and assurance frameworks can support transparency by clearly documenting AI model purpose, limitations, data provenance, and real-world performance—for regulators, clinicians, and patients alike
10:30 - 11:00 AM
Networking Break
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
20. HIEs and Digital Health: How to Make Oil and Water Mix (not repeated) AMC
Sarah Chasson, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Privacy Officer at Particle Health
Jennifer Geetter, McDermott Will & Schulte
- TEFCA and current Administration initiatives aimed at increasing interoperability and coordination by and among health care providers
- Representative state HIE policies and applicable laws to illustrate how these rules may protect patients and/or may frustrate data sharing
- Strategies for building the consent infrastructure to work across state lines with HIEs
- Tools and steps to build patient trust in the use and utility of HIEs
3. Responding to a Health Care False Claims Act Investigation (repeat) AMCPHS
Henry Leventis, Holland & Knight LLP
21. 340B Pharmacy Case Studies: Why Compliance Matters, Where Are the Landmines, and How to Adapt to Recent Developments PHS
Mimi H. Brouillette, Senior Associate General Counsel, WMC Health Office of Legal Affairs
Emily J. Cook, McDermott Will & Schulte LLP
- Case Study 1: Why Compliance Matters Beyond HRSA Audits: Examples of arrangements requiring review under general health care laws and regulations, in addition to the 340B Statues
- Case Study 2: System 340B Strategies: Tips on working with consultants, hospital leadership and outside counsel on enrollment and conversions
- Case Study 3: Recent Developments: Maintaining an open line of communication with hospital leadership and pharmacy about recent changes in rebate model guidance and other drug pricing trends"
5. Antitrust Hot Topics (repeat) PHS
Vic Domen, DLA Piper US LLP
Bryan Perry, Senior Managing Director, FTI Consulting
Amanda L. Wait, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
- The state of non-competes for health care Professionals and what's to be made of the FTC's stern letters to Payors?
- All these new State Notification Laws...What should parties do?
- Is the Big Beautiful Bill accelerating the consolidation of providers?
- Are PE's and Payors cherry-picking practice groups regardless of the competitive impact?
- Where do the States stand on consolidation vs. access to care?
- The dangers of using AI and other information sharing tools under new federal scrutiny and auditing systems
22. Unlocking Capabilities, Navigating Challenges: Secondary Data Use and AI in Health Care (not repeated)AI
Julie Kilgore, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz PC
Gregory Stein, Legal Practice Group Chair for Artificial Intelligence, Data Protection, and Cybersecurity, Cleveland Clinic
Christine Young-Terpening, Senior Corporate Counsel, Altera Digital Health
12:15 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch and Learn PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED
1:45 - 3:00 PM
23. AMC Immigration Issues (not repeated) AMC
Jane E. Boubelik, Chief Counsel, UCLA Health
Jim Bowman, O'Melveny & Myers LLP
David S. Lee, Associate General Counsel, Rush University Medical Center
24. Caution: Lessons Ahead—Navigating the Potholes of Joint Venture Development Projects and TransactionsPHS
C. Addison Bradford, Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman PC
Mandy Hayes-Chandler, Regional General Counsel, Oklahoma, SSM Health
10. Beyond the “Big Beautiful Bill”: Preparing for Major Medicaid Changes and Their Ripple Effects on Providers (repeat)AMCPHS
Kelsey Bagheri, Principal Counsel, University of California San Francisco
Margia Corner, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton
Many of the Medicaid-related provisions of the federal budget reconciliation bill enacted in July 2025 do not take effect immediately. But over the next three years, changes to federal requirements for Medicaid eligibility, sources of non-federal funding to support Medicaid programs, and Medicaid coverage for home and community-based services will significantly impact academic medical centers, hospitals and health systems, and physicians. Growing uninsured populations, needs for charity care, stretched state budgets, and potentially reduced state investments in innovative Medicaid delivery programs will increase the financial strain on hospitals. This session will review the Medicaid fundamentals and forthcoming changes that every lawyer and compliance professional advising an academic medical center, hospital, health system or physician organization needs to understand about Medicaid in order to help their clients evaluate the financial, legal, regulatory and compliance risks posed by these changes and to help shape future federal and state Medicaid policy changes to implement the federal bill.
13. What's Old Is New Again: Reinvigorating Compliance Efforts Related to Employed and Medical Staff Physicians In A Time of Increasing Enforcement (repeat)PHS
Anthony Cestaro, Division Counsel, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Elliott Coward, Husch Blackwell
William J. George, Southeast Region Chief Legal Officer, Advent Health
- The recent increase in government investigations and other internal challenges related to hospital–physician alignment and medical staff oversight, emphasizing the necessity for hospitals to actively monitor and ensure compliance with established policies and plans
- Recognize that practices once considered high priority for hospital compliance related to employed and affiliated physicians may have become routine or overlooked, potentially resulting in vulnerabilities that trigger regulatory scrutiny, settlements, or corporate integrity agreements
- Essential components of effective compliance programs and internal policies for hospitals, including initial valuation requirements, compliant transaction structures, consistent monitoring of physician employees and medical staff, annual compliance training, routine compensation assessments, and robust conflict-of-interest, speaker program, meal, and gift policies
- Practical strategies for engaging between inside and outside counsel, compliance officers, administrators, and employed and medical staff physicians in collaborative discussions, aligning compliance efforts with business objectives—such as recruitment and retention—while maintaining vigilant oversight and ensuring ongoing adherence to compliance standards post-agreement
25. State Laws (not repeated)AI
Samuel Chang, Associate Corporate Counsel, Department of Legal Affairs Providence St. Joseph Health
Keri Wood, Senior Associate General Counsel, Regulatory & Risk, Spring Health
3:15 - 4:15 PM
26. Health Equity and The Trump Administration (not repeated) AMC
Amanda Smith, K&L Gates LLP
This session will cover how the administration’s interpretation of federal anti-discrimination laws and regulations may impact health equity programs. Health equity programs are designed to address health disparities, including disparities in health and health care disproportionately impacting racial and ethnic minorities. President Trump has issued several executive orders and other policies on illegal diversity, equity, and inclusion ("DEI") policies. While DEI-related enforcement has largely focused on employment and school admissions, providers are analyzing how the DEI executive orders and related enforcement action could impact health equity programs, including whether the administration could also consider services that address health disparities impacting racial and ethnic minorities to be illegal discrimination.
27. Physician Compensation Under the Microscope: FMV Reviews and Compliance Strategies for AMCs, Hospitals, and Private Practices (not repeated) PHS
Albert D. (Chip) Hutzler, HMS Valuation Partners
Ryan Kirshenbaum, Associate General Counsel, Nebraska Methodist Health System, Inc
Allison Petersen, General Counsel, Integris Health
Physician compensation arrangements are a focal point for compliance risk, especially in today's heightened regulatory environment. This session will provide practical, legally sound strategies for conducting both internal and external fair market value (FMV) reviews, and for structuring compliant professional service agreements, medical directorship agreements, and other physician compensation models. Using real-world examples, the session will explore how academic medical centers (AMCs), hospitals, and physician groups can proactively identify and address risk while preserving operational flexibility and physician engagement.
- Conducting Effective FMV Reviews–Step-by-step process for internal self-assessments versus engaging an external valuation firm, and when each is appropriate. We will also discuss hybrid approaches, including use of both self-assessment and external review during the same review to reduce cost while maintaining independent, third-party involvement
- Navigating Legal and Regulatory Risks–Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, IRS rules, and state laws considerations when structuring physician compensation arrangements, including review of relevant case law
- Reviewing Professional Service Agreements (PSAs)–Common pitfalls, red flags, and negotiation points from the institutional and physician perspectives
- Medical Directorship Agreements–Ensuring duties are clearly defined, compensation is supportable, and documentation is audit-ready
- Beyond Salary: Incentives and Productivity Models–Structuring quality-based and productivity incentives to withstand legal and FMV scrutiny
- Practical Compliance Tips–Policies, documentation practices, and board/committee oversight strategies to support defensibility in compensation arrangements
28. Legal Ethical Issues for In-House Attorneys in Preventing and Discouraging Corporate MisconductAMCPHS
Kelly R. Anderson, Baptist Healthcare System, Inc
J. Taylor Chenery, Bass Berry& Sims PLC
Mark Morrell, System Director, Senior Counsel, CommonSpirit Health
In-house counsel are often the gatekeepers at preventing, discouraging, investigating and disclosing corporate misconduct. This session will utilize a fact pattern scenario involving alleged violations of the Stark law and False Claims Act to examine an attorney's role in preventing, discouraging, investigating and disclosing corporate misconduct and the potential attorney ethics rules that are implicated in this role. We will examine multiple professional rules of Conduct, including:
- ABA Model Rule 1.13–Organization as Client
- ABA Model Rule 1.16–Declining or Terminating Representation
- ABA Model Rule 1.6–Confidentiality
- Counsel "going up the ladder" when the client ignores the advice
- Options for counsel when the client refuses to follow legal advice
18. Civil Rights, Conscience, and Compliance: The Trump Administration's Use of the False Claims Act and OCR Authority in Health Care Enforcement (repeat)AMCPHS
David O'Neal, Parker Hudson Rainer & Dobbs LLP
Patrick O'Rourke, Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Children’s Hospital Colorado
Leon Rodriguez, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
- The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (HHS-OCR) are now using the False Claims Act and federal civil rights statutes to combat alleged discriminatory practices
- The relevant memoranda and guidance from DOJ and HHS
- False Claims Act enforcement in this area, as well as HHS-OCR investigations and enforcement
- Relevant enforcement activity related to conscience-based accommodation claims levied by individuals who claim that they are being required to provide care that conflicts with religious beliefs
- Practical risk mitigation strategies for providers
29. AI Contracting De-Mystified - Crucial Considerations (not repeated)AI
Carolyn V. Metnick, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP
Lauren Willens, Henry Ford Health
4:30-5:30 PM
30. AI in Clinical Research (not repeated) AMCAI
Jessica G. Kelly, Legal Counsel, Mayo Clinic
David J. Peloquin, Ropes & Gray LLP
- When development of an AI tool constitutes “research” vs. “health care operations”
- When the use of an AI tool in a research study constitutes a “device” regulated by the US Food & Drug Administration (“FDA”) or triggers application of state AI laws
- Assessing appropriate validation of tools that affect patient care
- Ensuring data used to train the AI tool or that are otherwise input into the AI tool are used and disclosed in a manner that complies with applicable privacy laws
- Managing conflicts of interest that frequently arise with AI manufacturers
- Apportioning responsibility between the research sponsor and research site for regulatory obligations arising from use of an AI tool
31. Return On Investment: Employer Funded Direct Care Structuring and ROI Analysis PHS
Joe Aguilar, HMS Valuation Partners
James Eischen, Eischen Law Office
17. Labor Law Under the Trump Administration–What to Expect (repeat)PHS
Jon E. Anderson, Husch Blackwell LLP
- The organizational structure and function of the NLRB
- The key changes implemented since January 2025
- Potential shifts in legal precedents and enforcement focus expected under the new administration
- The impact of NLRB decisions and enforcement priorities on employers, employees, and unions
32. Representing the Founders, Investors, and Inventors of Healthcare AI: Venture Capital and Emerging Companies (not repeated) AI
Katherine Gomer, General Counsel, COO and Managing Director, Maverick Ventures
Carrie Kiebler, General Counsel, Yosemite Management
Andrea Linna, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati
33. Health AI and Nondiscrimination Law (not repeated)AI
Julie A. Simer, VP, Clinical Network Division Sr. Corporate Counsel, Providence
Drew Stevens, Parker Hudson Rainer and Dobbs LLP
- Health AI has the power to transform the health care industry for the better. But the risks around bias, perpetuating health disparities, and running afoul of anti-discrimination laws threaten to erode trust in these new tools and could expose health care actors to investigations or liability
- In response to these concerns, the Biden Administration initially enacted a landmark "ongoing due diligence" standard under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (its "Nondiscrimination" provision). Under this new regulatory standard, health care actors would be required to identify their uses of health AI that present the risk of discrimination and to take active steps to mitigate those risks
- Though it has not revised this regulation just yet, the Trump Administration is likely to take a different approach, one that prioritizes experimentation over undue restraint
- Regardless of what happens at the federal regulatory level, however, pre-existing federal statutory law (such as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act) will continue to impose certain obligations and potential liabilities on hospitals and health systems as the deployers/users of health AI. State laws may also impose their own "patchwork" nondiscrimination obligations
- Given the enduring importance of these longstanding statutory frameworks, this presentation will analyze these pre-existing legal frameworks and discuss the importance of proactively monitoring and minimizing the risks of discrimination in connection with these tools. This presentation will also summarize best practices associated with identifying and mitigating the risks of discrimination that a health system should consider when procuring and deploying health AI tools
5:30 - 6:15 PM
Networking Mixer
Friday, February 13, 2026
7:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Conference Attendee Assistance
7:30 - 8:30 AM
Conference Breakfast
8:30 - 9:45 AM
34. The Increased Need for Academic and Industry Partnerships–Collaborative Research Efforts in Today's Climate (not repeated)AMC
Kate Gallin Heffernan, Epstein Becker Green PC
The escalating challenges to federal funding sources for universities and academic medical centers require a refreshed look at how research is supported and the importance of partnerships between academia and industry. Academia is not the only sector hurt by the decreased federal research grants–industry, which relies heavily on the early-stage innovation of academic partners, also stands to lose opportunities as academic research stalls and stuffers from a lack of support. This session will highlight ways in which academic and industry partners can collaborate even further upstream in the research and technology landscape to create a value proposition for all stakeholders. Approaches to structuring deals between academia and industry, how to balance IP rights, and ways to foster stronger partnerships will be explored.
35. Assessing the "Value" in Value-Based Enterprises: Case Studies and Lessons Learned from the Implementation of VBEs (not repeated)PHS
Kelly Adams, Region General Counsel, Peaks Region, Intermountain Health
Thomas M. Donohoe, Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman, PC
- The value-based enterprise framework in the context the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute and how it has been leveraged by various health care organizations
- Work through 3-4 real world examples of VBEs and evaluate related successes, challenges, compliance and other considerations
- Focus and practical issues in meeting applicable Stark Law exceptions and Anti-Kickback Statute safe harbors, and other regulations
- Best practices for pursuing and implementing VBEs based on lessons learned
- The role of VBEs in the future, particularly in light of financial headwinds and other market dynamics
24. Caution: Lessons Ahead—Navigating the Potholes of Joint Venture Development Projects and Transactions (repeat)PHS
C. Addison Bradford, Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman PC
Mandy Hayes-Chandler, Regional General Counsel, Oklahoma, SSM Health
36. AI in Health Care: Unpacking Recent Government Policy, Antitrust Enforcement, and Litigation Risks for Insurers (not repeated)AI
Reema Shah, O’Melveny
Tiffany Shih, Cornerstone Research
Payton Thorton, McDermott Will & Schulte
- Federal Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy and priorities, including key AI executive orders and regulations, impacting AI development, and deployment in health care
- State and local legislation and regulation of AI uses in health care, and interactions between federal and local government policies
- The use of AI tools by health care companies, and practices such as algorithmic pricing that have led to litigation and agency enforcement activities
- How government policy has unfolded in AI-related insurer litigation, the key issues arising in such litigation, and litigation risk management and mitigation strategies
- Future directions in policy and regulation, and their potential impacts on litigation, as well as any significant updates in major litigations, such as litigation related to AI in utilization management and coverage denials and matters involving allegations of collusion through algorithmic pricing
37. Drinking from the Data Firehose: Legal Strategies for Deploying AI to Manage RPM, Interoperability, Data Integration and Patient Engagement Tools in a Fragmented Digital Ecosystem (not repeated)AI
Elizabeth F. Hodge, Akerman LLP
Gerard M. Nussbaum, Zarach Associates
Sean T. Sullivan, Alston & Bird LLP
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in remote patient monitoring (RPM), interoperability frameworks, and patient engagement tools, legal advisors must navigate a rapidly evolving landscape of regulatory, ethical, and operational challenges. This panel will explore how AI intersects with fragmented provider information systems, including RPM tools, electronic health records, and patient portals—raising complex questions around data governance, reimbursement, bias, and compliance. Panelists will share practical strategies for advising clients on AI deployment across diverse platforms, with a focus on risk mitigation, regulatory alignment, and maximizing patient-centered outcomes. We will discuss:
- Legal and regulatory risks associated with AI-enabled RPM and interoperability tools
- The implications of fragmented digital infrastructure on patient engagement and data sharing and develop strategies for the data rich environment
- Reimbursement models and payment challenges for AI-driven technologies
- Strategies to address bias, privacy, and ethical concerns in AI deployment across provider systems
- Structured approaches for AI-enabled analytics and point of remote care AI
10:00 - 11:00 AM
38. Provider Unionizing (not repeated)AMC
21. 340B Pharmacy Case Studies: Why Compliance Matters, Where Are the Landmines, and How to Adapt to Recent Developments PHS
Mimi H. Brouillette, Senior Associate General Counsel, WMC Health Office of Legal Affairs
Emily J. Cook, McDermott Will & Schulte LLP
- Case Study 1: Why Compliance Matters Beyond HRSA Audits: Examples of arrangements requiring review under general health care laws and regulations, in addition to the 340B Statues
- Case Study 2: System 340B Strategies: Tips on working with consultants, hospital leadership and outside counsel on enrollment and conversions
- Case Study 3: Recent Developments: Maintaining an open line of communication with hospital leadership and pharmacy about recent changes in rebate model guidance and other drug pricing trends"
28. Legal Ethical Issues for In-House Attorneys in Preventing and Discouraging Corporate MisconductAMCPHS
Kelly R. Anderson, Baptist Healthcare System, Inc
J. Taylor Chenery, Bass Berry& Sims PLC
Mark Morrell, System Director, Senior Counsel, CommonSpirit Health
In-house counsel are often the gatekeepers at preventing, discouraging, investigating and disclosing corporate misconduct. This session will utilize a fact pattern scenario involving alleged violations of the Stark law and False Claims Act to examine an attorney's role in preventing, discouraging, investigating and disclosing corporate misconduct and the potential attorney ethics rules that are implicated in this role. We will examine multiple professional rules of Conduct, including:
- ABA Model Rule 1.13–Organization as Client
- ABA Model Rule 1.16–Declining or Terminating Representation
- ABA Model Rule 1.6–Confidentiality
- Counsel "going up the ladder" when the client ignores the advice
- Options for counsel when the client refuses to follow legal advice
39. From Innovation to Implementation: Managing FDA Compliance in Hospital Adoption of AI combined The AI Landscape: Balancing Compliance and Innovation in Health Care (not repeated)AI
Michele Buenafe, Morgan Lewis and Bockius
Wedad Suleiman, AVP, Associate General Counsel, Radiology Partners
40. AI in Health Care Cybersecurity: Innovation, Intrusion, and Intelligence (not repeated)AI
Barry Mathis
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
41. Rural Reclassification: Reimbursement Opportunities and Operational Challenges for Urban Teaching Hospitals that Reclassify as Rural (not repeated) AMC
Daniel W. Peters, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, The University of Kansas Health System
Alek Pivec, King & Spalding LLP
- Overview of urban-to-rural reclassification and its relationship to other Medicare elections available to hospitals
- Key considerations for urban teaching hospitals contemplating rural reclassification, including the eligibility rules and the short-term and long-term reimbursement consequences
- Operational challenges facing hospitals that have undergone rural reclassification
- Opportunities for reclassified rural hospitals to establish new GME-funded programs
15. Guarding Against Harm: Navigating Sexual Misconduct Liability in Health Care (repeat) AMCPHS
Ashley Lynam, Morgan Lewis & Bockius
Lindsey P. Ridgeway, VP, Deputy General Counsel, Integris Health
- Evolving Legal Landscape: Overview of recent litigation trends, regulatory enforcement actions, and plaintiff strategies targeting health care systems and providers for sexual misconduct claims
- Institutional Accountability: Examination of theories of liability including negligent hiring, supervision, and retention, as well as enterprise-wide duties of care
- Risk Indicators and Red Flags: Common fact patterns in health care settings that give rise to misconduct allegations, including issues unique to patient-provider dynamics and employee hierarchies
- Mitigation and Best Practices: Practical steps to reduce liability exposure, including effective reporting protocols, trauma-informed investigations, and proactive employee training programs
31. Return On Investment: Employer Funded Direct Care Structuring and ROI Analysis PHS
Joe Aguilar, HMS Valuation Partners
James Eischen, Eischen Law Office
42. False Claims Act (not repeated)AI
Leslie Boles, Co-Owner/President, Revu Healthcare
Knicole Emanuel, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
43. Health Care Algorithms (not repeated)AI
Richard Chotard, Chief Counsel – IP Transactions and Cybersecurity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Erin Close, Assistant General Counsel, Abridge AI, Inc.
Dana Good, Legal Counsel, Mayo Clinic | Healthcare Innovations + AI
Hemant Gupta, Epstein Becker Green, PC