Penn State Law brings together experts to address impact of health care reform

The only thing certain about health care reform is that it will result in major changes for everyone involved in the value chain—from health care providers to insurers to citizens. "To help successfully navigate the waters of health care reform,” said Samuel Thompson, Penn State Law professor and director of the Center for Mergers and Acquisitions, "we’re bringing together two panels of distinguished experts to both help participants understand the policy issues and assess the potential impact on the business community.”

On Tuesday, November 10, 2009, Penn State University, The Dickinson School of Law will present "Lifting the Fog on Health Care Reform: Policy and Transactions." The event will begin at 5:15 p.m. in room 118, Lewis Katz Building, University Park and be simulcast to room 143, Advantica Building, Carlisle.

The first panel, moderated by Marilyn Yager, senior policy advisor, Alston + Bird LLP, will provide an overview of the current proposed legislation and insights into the implications of impending policy shifts. Panelists include:

• Ronald E. Chronister, former deputy insurance commissioner, Pennsylvania Insurance Department, and specialist/insurance industry consultant, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
• Robert J. Cindrich, senior vice president and chief legal counsel, UPMC Health System
• R. Mark Faulkner, partner, McQuaide Blasko, counsel to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
• William P. Follansbee, MD, FACC, FACP, FASNC, master clinician professor of cardiovascular medicine, professor of radiology, and director, nuclear cardiology, UPMC Presbyterian
• Deirdre McCaughey, Ph.D., assistant professor, health policy and administration, Penn State

The second panel, moderated by Robert Harper, co-chair of Buchanan Ingersoll's Health Care Section, will explain the likely impact on the structure of the health care industry and transactions, including access to financing and mergers and acquisitions. Panelists include:

• Martin A. Corry, director of federal health policy, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
• Keith J. Crocker, The William Elliott Chaired Professor of Insurance and Risk Management, Smeal College of Business
• Robert Cucuel, president and CEO, Critical Homecare Solutions
• Mark Francis, managing director, Houlihan Lokey
• George A. Huber, professor and associate dean, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy & Management

This program has been approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board for 3.0 hours of substantive law, practice, and procedure CLE credit. However, Pennsylvania CLE credits will be available only to those attending the program at University Park or Carlisle and will not be available for those participating via the Internet. Uniform certificates of attendance will be provided for self-reporting by those attendees desiring CLE credit for other states.

Sponsored by Penn State's Center for the Study of Mergers and Acquisitions and Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, PC, the event is open to the public free of charge and will include time for questions from the audience.

For the Media:

Many of the panelists will be available prior to the event for media interviews. Please contact Ellen Foreman at 814.865.9030 or Ellen.Foreman@psu.edu to make arrangements.