For the most comprehensive program available on legal issues related to reimbursement, attend AHLA's Institute on Medicare and Medicaid Payment Issues. Knowing the Medicare and Medicaid laws, regulations, and manuals, is not enough to advise clients properly. It is important to understand how these various authorities are being implemented, both nationally and locally. The program is a practical, informative program that brings together knowledgeable public and private sector speakers with CMS and other agency representatives.

The program will include an array of sessions that are of interest to those looking for fundamentals sessions and those looking for more intermediate/advanced sessions that will allow them to delve into their specific areas of interest.

On March 27, Reed Smith's Sal Rotella will co-present - with Edward Gaines, Chief Compliance Officer of Medical Management Professionals - on the topic of "Emergency Services." Topics to be covered include:

• Review and analysis of case law addressing the scope of EMTALA and coverage for emergency services
• Developments in payment rates for out-of-network emergency services
• 5 Emergency Medicine (EM) Payment challenges and strategies in 15 minutes:
  • Converting the rural hospital ED into a free standing ED (FSED), in states with no Medicaid expansion
  • Medical debt is skyrocketing and the impacts of the TCPA and FDCPA, respectively, on collecting patient cost sharing
  • Medicare provider charge and payment data is now searchable on Internet—what are the implications for EM providers?
  • How should EM providers adopt/react to tele-medicine?
  • Out of network (OON) services and balance billing (BB) are under assault in state legislatures—what does it mean to EM?