Mel Soliz BCBS

Mel Soliz Prepares Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) Conference Goers for CMS Expanded Interoperability Mandates

The deadline for compliance with CMS’s expanded application programming interface (API) requirements is closer than you think. Partner Mel Soliz was invited to the esteemed BCBSA 2024 Law, Audit, Compliance & Ethics Conference to discuss the new API requirements and significant implementation challenges. Mel covered what impacted payers need to achieve over the next three years to implement an expanded Patient Access API and a new Provider Access API, Payer-to-Payer API and Prior Authorization API. Mel’s regulatory practice focuses on compliance with data privacy, access and interoperability laws (such as the Information Blocking Rule and CMS interoperability mandates as well as state mini-interoperability laws), health IT/technology service contracting, and health information networks/exchanges (including national interoperability frameworks such as TEFCA, Carequality, CommonWell, DURSA, and DxF). She regularly...

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John DeWulf Celebrated Among Distinguished Alumni at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The College of Arts and Sciences at University of Nebraska-Lincoln recently honored Attorney John DeWulf with their Distinguished Alumni Award, recognizing his myriad professional successes at their annual Celebration of Excellence, an event that honors top students and alumni in the college. John earned his Bachelor of Arts in economics with minors in business, political science, English, and psychology in 1978 at the University. The award was given to alumni whose remarkable accomplishments and service demonstrated through lifetime career achievement or excellence in their field and community, which John has undoubtedly attained. With over 40 years of experience in complex commercial litigation, John is highly regarded among clients and colleagues for his successful practice. He has handled numerous cases before state and federal courts and administrative agencies...

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Kristen Rosati Moderates Panel on AI Governance in Health Care

As artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly utilized by the health care industry, new legal challenges are emerging. The American Health Law Association (AHLA) invited Partner Kristen Rosati to their Chicago conference to moderate a panel discussion exploring the governance structures needed to handle the complexities of AI in health care. Kristen’s opening remarks spoke to how AI’s growing presence is contributing to a fundamental shift in health care. She noted how easily organizations can get swept off their feet by the hype around AI applications. Health care organizations’ aim should not be the adoption of AI, but rather adopting AI in particular use cases to achieve progress in better patient care, improved population health, reduced cost of care, and better patient and clinician experience. Kristen and the...

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Kristen Rosati Talks Data Strategy for Digital Health Companies at the American Telemedicine Association Annual Meeting

“Big Data” attorney Kristen Rosati spoke on a panel at the American Telemedicine Association’s Annual Conference, Nexus, on the pros and cons of moving direct-to-consumer functions within the HIPAA-regulated functions of a company. In the presentation, “The Cutting Edge of Digital Health Privacy Law,” Kristen spoke to the big shift in digital health companies’ approach to HIPAA compliance. While many digital health companies tried to avoid HIPAA in the past, the explosion of state consumer data privacy laws have started to change that calculus because all state laws to date have HIPAA exemptions. Kristen explained that complying with HIPAA reduces the complexity of compliance processes, and offers exemption from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) health breach reporting rule, which has more stringent reporting obligations than HIPAA. Kristen...

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The Eagle Has Landed: Mel Soliz & Katherine Hyde Provide Insights on How the CARES Act Final Rule is Changing 42 CFR Part 2 Compliance in Newest Brief

The CARES Act Final Rule changes to 42 CFR Part 2 (Part 2) is effective today, April 16. On Feb. 16, 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), published the final rule modifying 42 CFR Part 2 to implement Section 3221 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (the “CARES Act Final Rule”). The compliance deadline is Feb. 16, 2026, but early voluntary compliance any time after the April 16 effective date is permitted. In the newest Coppersmith Brief, Attorneys Mel Soliz and Katherine Hyde summarize the most significant Part 2 rule changes and put those changes into context for health care providers, health...

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18 Coppersmith Brockelman Attorneys Honored by Super Lawyers

Coppersmith Brockelman announced today that 18 of its 22 attorneys have been recognized in Super Lawyers’ 2024 edition, including five attorneys being recognized for the first time, three partners making the Top 50 Arizona Super Lawyers, and Partner Kristen Rosati honored among the Top 25 Women Arizona Super Lawyers.  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 2024 honor are:  Michael Aguirre – Securities & Corporate Finance  Keith Beauchamp – Business Litigation (recognized since 2007); Top 50 Arizona Super Lawyers (2024, 2023, 2022, 2011)  Kent Brockelman – Employment & Labor Law (recognized since...

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