Chair's Column
by Paul R. DeMuro, Latham & Watkins LLP, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to the 2006-2007 Bar Year. We will continue to strive to add value to each one of our Health Law Section ("HLS") members and to our profession. This being my first Chair's column, I now truly appreciate Greg Pemberton's ability to consistently pen columns of wit and interest during the past bar year.

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Provider Enrollment Update: CMS Issues New Instructions to Contractors
by Mandy C. Foster, Sullivan Stolier Resor, APLC, New Orleans, LA and Stephen Sullivan, Sullivan Stolier Resor, APLC, Lafayette, LA

It is no secret to those who work on the provider enrollment side of the Medicare process that getting an enrollment application through a fiscal intermediary in a timely fashion can be trickier than making a field goal from the 50-yard line: all the training and preparation in the world may not be enough without a little luck on your side. In July 2006, however, CMS announced revisions to the instructions to its contractors regarding the enrollment process. These changes may get providers a little closer to the goal of timely enrollment.

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FROM: Your HLS Membership Committee

Congratulations! You have already made one great decision and are ready to make another. By deciding to join the Health Law Section you put yourself in position to take advantage of the Section's many opportunities to strengthen your practice and career through its cutting edge live, teleconference, podcasting and list serve formats. You are now ready to make the most of your membership by deciding to join (free) up to three (3) of the Section's eleven (11) Interest Groups (IGs). Your participation in the IGs is key to getting the most for your dues and will greatly enhance not only your Section membership, but also your legal practice (free). Joining an IG (or 2 or 3) does not necessarily equate to more involvement or commitment for you (although it can IF you want it too), but it does open up a wealth of new and more specialized health law information, research and networking for you. Whatever the focus of your health law practice, there is at least one IG suited to you. Better yet, IG membership is already covered by your Section dues.

The IGs are crucial to the success of the Health Law Section because the real work of the Section takes place in its eleven IGs. The IGs advise the Section on the latest developments and issues in their area of expertise. They also assist the Section on policy positions, and in providing comments on regulations or proposed legislation. The IGs are also crucial to the success of your association with the Section. Membership and participation in the IGs provide opportunities to stay in the forefront of (and even guide developments in) the industry, to meet and network with others having similar interests, and to share your expertise through articles, teleconferences or speeches. The IGs are both the moving force of the Section, and your route to active contribution within the Section. Learn more about each of the IGs and how to join online at www.abanet.org/health/.

P.S. IG membership is FREE.

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The redesigned MyABA page allows members to manage their ABA online profile preferences, billing, manage membership for Section and Interest Groups, product recommendation, area of concentration, CLE events, and even create a personalized abanet.org email address. Access your MyABA Account Now!

Payment & Reimbursement Interest Group

The Payment & Reimbursement Interest Group follows trends, changes and practices in reimbursement, billing and collection under Medicare, Medicaid and other federal and state healthcare programs.

The IG is led by Chair Karen Ann Lloyd, Community Health Network, Indianapolis, IN and Vice Chairs René Y. Quashie, Fulbright & Jaworski LLP, Washington, DC; Esther R. Scherb, Latham & Watkins LLP, Washington, DC and Stephen M. Sullivan, Sullivan Stolier & Resor, New Orleans, LA .

If you would like to join the Interest Group, continue by clicking the following link: Health Law Section IG Sign-up Form.

Do you want to communicate your ideas to thousands of other members through the wonders of cyberspace? To contribute a newsletter article on a health law topic, send us your ideas to Adam.Bielawski@americanbar.org