Podcasts about Berkeley Research Group

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found Click On Picture To See Larger Picture CA raised the minimum wage and now 16k fast food jobs have been lost. Cramer predicts that a Fed rate cut will ward off recession, the opposite is going to happen. Schumer folded and Trump confirms we are headed in a whole new direction. Economy is about to take off. Everything the [DS] projected onto we the people is now boomeranging on them. They called MAGA domestic terrorist but now we can see who the real domestic terrorists are. Sometime you have to show the people. Why did Trump start with fraud? This will build the narrative that everything that these people have done has to do with fraud. This will lead directly to the 2020 elections and that Biden was not the President of the US.   (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); Economy CA down 16K fast food jobs amid $20 wage, debunking Newsom-cited study  Federal data now shows California fast food employment is down 16,000 jobs since the passage of the state's $20-per-hour fast food minimum wage last year. A fast food study from the Berkeley Research Group found California fast food prices increased 14.5% from September 2023 to October 2024, or double the national average. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' quarterly employment survey covers 95% of American jobs, and is considered the gold standard for jobs and wage data. Now its latest report shows California fast food jobs declined from 570,909 in September 2023 to 554,748 in September 2024. Source: gopusa.com   Fed rate cuts could ward off a serious recession, Jim Cramer says CNBC's Jim Cramer analyzed   market action, saying new economic data could pave the way for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. “We're most likely not going to go into a serious recession, because the Fed can take action to prevent that,” he said. “And even if the Fed does nothing, the market can recover once all of this tariff stuff is behind us — and it will be behind us at some point.”Trump has a point with tariffs, but his rhetoric is too aggressive, says Jim Cramer Source: nbcnews.com China hits back at Canada with fresh agriculture tariffs  China has announced plans to impose tariffs on certain Canadian goods. This decision was made in retaliation to Canada's earlier imposition of tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum products in October of the previous year. According to statements from China's Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council, effective March 20, 2025, China will apply a 100% tariff on Canadian rapeseed oil, oil cakes, and peas, as well as a 25% tariff on Canadian aquatic products and pork. This move is part of an escalating trade dispute, influenced in part by broader tensions involving U.S. trade policies under President Donald Trump, who has also imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. China's commerce ministry has described Canada's actions as violating World Trade Organization rules and constituting protectionism, prompting this retaliatory response  Trump Effect: Gas Prices PLUMMET Below $3 in 31 States — A Stark Contrast to Biden's $5/Gallon Disaster Source: AAA https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1900529607129944543?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1900529607129944543%7Ctwgr%5Eb15a05fb480f65d2195faf46cde22bf1b8b17ed6%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2025%2F03%2Ftrump-effect-gas-prices-plummet-below-3-31%2F Source: thegatewaypundit.com 

Since its inception, the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program has been contentiously debated. For example, several pharmaceutical manufacturers filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) challenging the program’s constitutionality. This webinar will discuss whether the Biden Administration’s implementation and interpretation of the IRA go beyond Congress’s intent or constitutional boundaries. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently issued a statement that the Trump Administration is committed to “incorporating lessons learned to date from the program and considering opportunities to bring greater transparency in the Negotiation Program. CMS intends to provide opportunities for stakeholders to provide specific ideas to improve the Negotiation Program, consistent with the goals of achieving greater value for beneficiaries and taxpayers while continuing to foster innovation.” Accordingly, this webinar discusses whether the Trump Administration may pause the program and whether Congress should repeal the program. Featuring: (Moderator) John Shu, Attorney and Legal Commentator Jeff Stier, Senior Fellow, Conumer Choice Center and Taxpayers Protection Alliance Dan Troy, Managing Director, Berkeley Research Group

Welcome to the Hughes Hubbard Anti-Corruption & Internal Investigations Practice Group's podcast, All Things Investigation. In this podcast, host Tom Fox is joined by HHR Partner Mike Huneke and Brent Carlson from the Berkeley Research Group. Brent Carlson and Mike Huneke review the recent DeepSeek AI announcement, which has stirred significant debate in the business and compliance sectors. Brent views this development as a “Sputnik moment” in the technology space, highlighting both the exciting potential and the profound implications for national security and corporate strategy, particularly due to the dual-use nature of AI technologies. On the other hand, Mike has expressed concern over the contentious debates surrounding export controls, emphasizing the necessity for robust compliance frameworks to mitigate liability risks and adapt to the evolving AI landscape. Together, they stress the importance of incorporating high probability standards and reliable inputs into compliance programs to effectively navigate the complex challenges of advanced AI technologies like DeepSeek, ensuring corporate citizenship and strategic advantage in this new era. Key highlights: Groundbreaking AI Progress Raises National Security Concerns AI Market Disruption by DeepSeek Technology High Probability Standard in Export Control Compliance Subjective Judgment in Compliance Risk Assessment Framework Red Flag Detection with Data Analytics Tools Resources: Hughes Hubbard & Reed website Brent Carlson on LinkedIn A Fresh Look at US Export Controls and Sanctions DeepSeek Finds US Export Controls at a New ‘Sputnik Moment' in Bloomberg Law

Proximo talks to a panel of industry experts about the top project finance trends from 2024 and what those trends might mean for the market in 2025. Speakers include Ian Cogswell, a senior adviser at Portland Advisers; Jonathan Yellen, an investment director at Climate Investment; and Michael Whalen, a managing director and energy and infrastructure finance adviser at Berkeley Research Group.

Join two of our most influential scholars for a wide-ranging conversation about the public policy contributions of strategic management. Among other topics, the panelists will discuss: - The distinctive contribution of strategic management to public policy; - Opportunities to better unpack policy contributions in strategic management research; and - How strategic management scholars can engage more actively in public policy dialogues.   Featured Panelists David J. Teece, Thomas W. Tusher Professor at the Institute for Business Innovation, Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley. David J. Teece pioneered the dynamic capabilities perspective, co-founded the Berkeley Research Group, and has been ranked as the world's most-cited scholar in the combined field of business and management. (Google Scholar profile.) He has over thirty years of experience as an active consultant performing economic, business, and financial consulting services to businesses and governments around the world. He has testified in both federal and state court, before Congress, and before the Federal Trade Commission, as well as in several international jurisdictions.   Annabelle Gawer, Chaired Professor in Digital Economy; Director, Surrey Centre of Digital Economy (CoDE), University of Surrey. Annabelle Gawer is a leading scholar of platforms and ecosystems. (Google Scholar profile.) She is an independent Digital Expert for the UK Competition and Markets Authority has advised the European Commission on the regulation of online platforms as an Expert Member of the European Commission's Observatory of the Online Platform Economy (2018-2021). She has also advised the UK Parliament House of Lords, the UK Government, and the OECD.   Moderated by Tadhg Ryan-Charleton, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research   (c) STR - Strategic Management Division - AOM

James McHugh, managing director at Berkeley Research Group, discusses the firm's new study, which reveals great optimism among provider organization executives on deploying artificial intelligence in the next three years.

Talk about scrubbing data. Curtis Northcutt, cofounder and CEO of Cleanlab, and Steven Gawthorpe, senior data scientist at Berkeley Research Group, speak about Cleanlab's groundbreaking approach to data curation with Noah Kravitz, host of NVIDIA's AI Podcast, in an episode recorded live at the NVIDIA GTC global AI conference. The startup's tools enhance data reliability and trustworthiness through sophisticated error identification and correction algorithms. Northcutt and Gawthorpe provide insights into how AI-powered data analytics can help combat economic crimes and corruption and discuss the intersection of AI, data science and ethical governance in fostering a more just society. Cleanlab is a member of the NVIDIA Inception program for cutting-edge startups. https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/cleanlab-podcast/

In an era where technology rapidly reshapes the boundaries of privacy and innovation, understanding the intricate dance between AI regulation and data privacy becomes paramount. We explore critical domains with the expertise of Amy Worley, a distinguished figure in AI regulation and data privacy, currently making waves at Berkeley Research Group. Amy Worley, described as a "data globe trotter," brings to the table an unparalleled depth of knowledge garnered from her extensive experience consulting across borders—from advising a foreign government in Holland on data privacy to guiding Fortune 500 companies through the labyrinth of data compliance, privacy, and ethics. With a background as the global chief privacy officer for a leading global pharmaceutical and medical device company, Amy's insights are at the forefront of shaping how we navigate the complexities of data in a digital age. This episode unfolds the expected changes and challenges as the EU's new AI Act approaches its implementation. Amy elucidates how this act aims to foster innovation while safeguarding human rights, categorizing AI systems based on risk levels to balance progress with protection. Furthermore, we delve into the AI Pact's role in bridging the gap between current practices and future regulations, offering companies a collaborative platform to align with upcoming compliance requirements. However, the data privacy landscape isn't just a concern of the future but a pressing issue of today. Amy sheds light on the stalled progress of data privacy regulation in the US, dissected by political divides yet animated by state-level initiatives crafting their laws in response. Despite these challenges, a bipartisan consensus emerges on the necessity to protect children's privacy online, hinting at possible avenues for legislative progress. Staying abreast of these developments is no small feat. Amy shares her strategies for continuous learning and recommends essential readings and resources that offer broad overviews and deep dives into AI, privacy, and their societal impacts. As we wrap up today's enriching dialogue with Amy Worley, we're reminded of the ongoing evolution of AI regulation and data privacy laws. The conversation highlights the complexities of navigating these changes and emphasizes the importance of informed engagement with these topics. But the discussion doesn't end here; we invite you to share your perspectives. How do these regulatory shifts impact you or your business? What steps are you taking to adapt and stay informed?

Proximo talks to a panel of industry experts about the top project finance trends from 2023 and what those trends might mean for the market in 2024. Speakers include Ian Cogswell, a senior adviser at Portland Advisers; Jonathan Yellen, an investment director at Climate Investments; and Michael Whalen, a managing director at Berkeley Research Group.

In this series from AHLA's Early Career Professionals Council, health law professionals share their career paths, what they wish they had known as students, and what a typical day in their job looks like. In this episode, Rob Yates, Managing Consultant, Berkeley Research Group, speaks with Annie Shieh, Senior Director of Compliance, Bright Health Group. Annie talks about her role overseeing the day-to-day activities of her company's California compliance program, how she grew her company's compliance department, her experience as AHLA's first diversity intern, and how she stays connected and engaged with her network. Watch the conversation here.To learn more about AHLA and the educational resources available to the health law community, visit americanhealthlaw.org.

In this series from AHLA's Early Career Professionals Council, health law professionals share their career paths, what they wish they had known as students, and what a typical day in their job looks like. In this episode, Rob Yates, Managing Consultant, Berkeley Research Group, speaks with Samuel Shapiro, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Western District of Texas. Samuel talks about his role in the Civil Division representing the United States in False Claims Act cases, how his desire for litigation experience led him to the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the importance of learning about the different areas of health law and connecting with people in the field early on. Watch the conversation here.To learn more about AHLA and the educational resources available to the health law community, visit americanhealthlaw.org.

States are taking widely different approaches to the redetermination process, says John Barkett, managing director at Berkeley Research Group and a former White House Senior Policy Advisor.

In this series from AHLA's Early Career Professionals Council, health law professionals share their career paths, what they wish they had known as students, and what a typical day in their job looks like. In this episode, Rob Yates, Managing Consultant, Berkeley Research Group, speaks with Mikayla Garvey, Senior Compliance Associate, Northwestern Memorial Healthcare. Mikayla talks about her work on Northwestern's privacy team, how she pivoted from a clinical educational path to a compliance one, why a Master of Jurisprudence was suited to her career in compliance, and the importance of taking advantage of law school resources.Watch the conversation here.To learn more about AHLA and the educational resources available to the health law community, visit americanhealthlaw.org.

Fiduciary! In this episode we sit down with D. Doug Aldeen, a health care and ERISA attorney for some very specific questions. As I've learned, not all fiduciary questions have a single correct answer right now and as Doug discusses, pending litigation won't necessarily yield answers. ‌Doug Aldeen is an Austin, TX based health care and ERISA attorney who recently served as ERISA counsel on behalf of the Berkeley Research Group in New York City to the $7.7 billion May 2016 acquisition of Multiplan and its medical bill repricing product Data Isight by the private equity firm Hellman and Friedman. Since 1997, he currently and has represented reference base pricing organizations, a bundled payment software platform, PPO networks, medium to small self-funded plans, TPA's and provider sponsored HMO's in various capacities including Herdrich v. Peagram which was argued before the United States Supreme Court in 2001. Moreover, he serves as a resource to national news organizations regarding issues on health care and in addition as a consultant with the Governmental Relations Committee at the Self Insured Institute of America in Washington D.C. and as an advisor to RIP Medical Debt which has abolished over $9 billion in medical debt. Doug received his JD from the University of Illinois. He can be reached on LinkedIn or doug@health-attorney.net.

In this series from AHLA's Early Career Professionals Council, health law professionals share their career paths, what they wish they had known as students, and what a typical day in their job looks like. In this episode, Rob Yates, Managing Consultant, Berkeley Research Group, speaks with Jennifer Michael, Member, Bass Berry & Sims PLC. Jennifer talks about her role as a health care regulatory lawyer and her focus on fraud and abuse and regulatory compliance, her path from accountant to lawyer and between government and private practice, and why it's important to determine one's own version of success.Watch the conversation here.To learn more about AHLA and the educational resources available to the health law community, visit americanhealthlaw.org.

In this series from AHLA's Early Career Professionals Council, health law professionals share their career paths, what they wish they had known as students, and what a typical day in their job looks like. In this episode, Rob Yates, Managing Consultant, Berkeley Research Group, speaks with Amy Martin, Executive Director, Fairbanks Center for Medical Ethics. Amy talks about her role as a clinical ethicist, the multi-disciplinary nature of her team, her rationale for getting a Master of Jurisprudence degree, and the growing field of bioethics.Watch the conversation here.To learn more about AHLA and the educational resources available to the health law community, visit americanhealthlaw.org.

In this episode, we discuss the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' proposed changes to the Medicare Advantage risk adjustment payment model, which will take effect in 2024 if finalized. We're joined by special guest Alex Oliphant, Director of Berkeley Research Group's Health Analytics practice, who has extensive experience in the workings of the Medicare Advantage payment model. Phil Legendy, Of Counsel in Ballard's New York office and a member of our Health Care Group, hosts the discussion.

In this follow up to their December 2022 podcast, Jennifer Mannino, Managing Director, Berkeley Research Group, and Jennifer Rangel, Partner, Holland & Knight LLP, discuss some of the M&A trends and patterns they are currently seeing. They cover private equity rollups, telehealth after the Public Health Emergency ends, Amazon and other retailers entering the health care market, and compliance considerations in the evolving digital health environment. Sponsored by BRG.To learn more about AHLA and the educational resources available to the health law community, visit americanhealthlaw.org.

In this follow up to their December 2022 podcast, Mandy Asgeirsson, Director, Berkeley Research Group, and Melissa Wong, Partner, Holland & Knight LLP, discuss some of the big trends and developments related to Medicare Advantage/Part C and D. They cover the marketing of Medicare Advantage plans, recent CMS rules on Risk Adjustment Data Validation and National/Local Coverage Determinations, False Claims Act settlements for Medicare Advantage plans, and the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on Medicare Part D. From AHLA's Payers, Plans, and Managed Care Practice Group. Sponsored by BRG.To learn more about AHLA and the educational resources available to the health law community, visit americanhealthlaw.org.

Mandy Asgeirsson, Director, Berkeley Research Group, speaks with Melissa Wong, Partner, Holland & Knight LLP, about key issues related to the Medicare Advantage/Part C and D programs. They discuss the payment mechanisms for each program and the relationship between private companies and the federal government, benefit design, and current compliance and litigation trends. Mandy and Melissa spoke about this topic at AHLA's 2022 Fraud and Compliance Forum in Baltimore, MD. Sponsored by BRG.To learn more about AHLA and the educational resources available to the health law community, visit americanhealthlaw.org.

Jennifer Mannino, Managing Director, Berkeley Research Group, speaks with Jennifer Rangel, Partner, Holland & Knight LLP, about some of the M&A trends and patterns they are currently seeing as they assist clients during and after the acquisition process. They discuss how they advise clients through the process, key due diligence issues that clients need to be aware of, and top warning signs that clients need to address. Sponsored by BRG.To learn more about AHLA and the educational resources available to the health law community, visit americanhealthlaw.org.

Janice Jacobs, Managing Director, Berkeley Research Group, speaks with Ari Markenson, Partner, Venable LLP, about the latest trends and issues in billing and coding diligence in M&A transactions. They discuss the importance of billing and coding diligence, the scope and size of the diligence process, challenges that can arise, and how to report and analyze the results. Janice and Ari spoke about this topic at AHLA's 2022 Fraud and Compliance Forum in Baltimore, MD. Sponsored by BRG.To learn more about AHLA and the educational resources available to the health law community, visit americanhealthlaw.org.

There's a reason why top CEOs have David Teece's phone number on speed dial. Because Teece is one of the few people on the planet who can help these CEOs solve their most complex challenges. Teece is a scholar-entrepreneur who is equally comfortable creating a multi-disciplinary theory that solves a complex business challenge; directing an elite research institute at U.C. Berkeley; or advising Fortune 50 Boards of Directors on bet-the-company strategic decisions. Teece is also a world-class CEO, building from scratch the fastest-growing professional services firm in history - The Berkeley Research Group - an award winning economics consulting firm. Teece's leadership style is to create a talent magnet culture that attracts and inspires world-class consultants and academic experts who want to make a huge impact with clients and policy-makers. If that weren't enough, Teece is a savvy venture investor, real estate developer, viticulturist, and captain - with a fleet of sailboats across the world. Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - David Teece - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.

There's a reason why top CEOs have David Teece's phone number on speed dial. Because Teece is one of the few people on the planet who can help these CEOs solve their most complex challenges. Teece is a scholar-entrepreneur who is equally comfortable creating a multi-disciplinary theory that solves a complex business challenge; directing an elite research institute at U.C. Berkeley; or advising Fortune 50 Boards of Directors on bet-the-company strategic decisions. Teece is also a world-class CEO, building from scratch the fastest-growing professional services firm in history - The Berkeley Research Group - an award winning economics consulting firm. Teece's leadership style is to create a talent magnet culture that attracts and inspires world-class consultants and academic experts who want to make a huge impact with clients and policy-makers. If that weren't enough, Teece is a savvy venture investor, real estate developer, viticulturist, and captain - with a fleet of sailboats across the world. Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - David Teece - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.

What is big tech and why are competition disputes a growing issue?In this podcast, Ben Lasserson, a Partner in the Competition Litigation team speaks with experts Dr David Teece, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman and Greg Harman, Managing Director of the Berkeley Research Group.  As regulators have started to question the potential impact of massively powerful big tech companies, there is increasing interest in competition disputes. In this episode, we discuss what regulators can do to ensure that dominance does not lead to unfair outcomes for consumers and whether there is an argument for a fresh regulatory approach. 

This Is Not The End of Globalization As We Know It With Harry Broadman, Chair, Emerging Markets and Partner, Berkeley Research Group With Host Richard Levick of LEVICK: Harry Broadman, an economist who has been working on international economics, trade and sanctions issues for more than 40 years, preceding his roles as Chief of Staff for the President's Council of Economic Advisors and U.S. Assistant Trade Representative for the Executive Office of the President in the early 1990's, joins host Richard Levick of LEVICK. He provides unique insights into what Russia's invasion of Ukraine means for globalization, the world economy and trade as well as it's unique economic impact on Germany, a key NATO ally; India and on China's economic and political thinking.

In this episode of AHLA's monthly series on fraud and abuse issues, Matthew Wetzel, Partner, Goodwin Procter, speaks to Greg Russo, Managing Director, Berkeley Research Group, about HRSA-paid COVID claims and some of the potential fraud and compliance risks that providers might face as the public health emergency continues and eventually comes to an end. They discuss HRSA's guidance for providers, provider concerns over coding, and longer-term consequences beyond the public health emergency. From AHLA's Fraud and Abuse Practice Group. Sponsored by BRG.

In this Opportunity Economy conversation, Womble Bond Dickinson attorneys Suzanne Boehm and Sarah Motley Stone join Mary Karen Wills of the Berkeley Research Group, to examine expanded opportunities and unique challenges for companies in Government contracting as a result of the recently approved $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Act.

Webcast URL: https://knowledgewebcasts.com/know-portfolio/government-contracts-practical-guide-in-the-post-covid-era-cle/ While more and more Americans are getting vaccinated and COVID-19 infection rates are now ebbing, the pandemic's impact on government contracting continues. Uncertainty still looms for contractors as the government pushes for new and pending policies and regulatory changes. Among the administration's current procurement policy priorities are increased production of important products via the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA), intensified labor law enforcement, and contractor compliance with cybersecurity requirements. These notable developments further underscore the need for government contractors to keep themselves in the loop of present and new rules. In a LIVE Webcast, leading consultants Ryan D. Byrd and Rob McDonald, both from Berkeley Research Group's (BRG) Government Contracts Consulting Practice, will provide an in-depth analysis of the current and emerging regulatory trends in government contracting. Speakers will also share practical tips and best practices in addressing common compliance pitfalls in today's post-COVID world. For any more information please click on the webcast URL at the top of this description.

In this episode of AHLA's monthly series on fraud and abuse issues, Matthew Wetzel, Partner, Goodwin Procter, speaks to Rob Cepielik, Managing Director, Berkeley Research Group, and David Resnicoff, Partner, Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP, about third-party monitorships, including recommendations for how companies can plan for a government-imposed monitor or an independent review organization and what to expect during the process. They discuss the different types of monitorships, key government guidance, the benefits to a company of having a monitorship in place, and how monitors handle potential violations. From AHLA's Fraud and Abuse Practice Group. Sponsored by BRG.

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/40833847/admin/ Check out or new website: TalesOfTheTribunal.com For Feedback, comments or submissions contact TalesOfTheTribunal@Gmail.com News: Venezuela and Manifest Disregard for the Law, Here 2020 LCIA Workreport, Here English Court matter, Here Third Party Arbitration Clauses, Here Opportunities: Law firm Steptoe & Johnson LLP is seeking an International Arbitration Associate for its New York City offices, Here; Next, global law firm Withers Worldwide seeks a Litigation & Arbitration Associate with 3 and 4 years experience for its London, England offices, Here; And then staying in London, law firm Denton seeks an Associate for its international arbitration team in London with 2 to 4 years of experience, Here; Then research group Berkeley Research Group is seeking a Senior Managing Economist with international arbitration experience and 7+ years of experience, Here; and Finally for this week, National University of Singapore is seeking a Research Associate to join its Singapore offices, Here. Events: AI & Rule of Law Event, Here NYSBA, Here Asian-American Bar Associate, Here Beyond the Covid-19 World, Here Construction Arbitration Event, Here None of the views shared today or any episode of Disputes Digest is presented as legal advice nor advice of any kind.  No compensation was provided to any organization or party for their inclusion on the show nor do any of the statements made represent any particular organization, legal position or view point.  All interviewees or organizations included appear on an arms-length basis and their appearance should not be construed as any bias or preferred affiliation with the host or host's employer.  All rights reserved.

Can Japanese companies more ethically manage their global supply chains and be more sustainable and resilient over the long-term? Here Ben Fouracre gives advice and insights into the best-practices he works on with his clients in Japan. https://youtu.be/3jK2eRoRcAM (Watch the interview video here.) ** Keep Seeking Sustainability Live Talkshow Going ** ~HAPPS~ https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmoydEVVSWhIWWt2OWwwT29IazVlRmVPVEdHUXxBQ3Jtc0tudi0yRDJtVTNhZkdDWTZIdFFHUnVGRlI1VUJnVVhIb0ljVlBmMi15aWRRTjdxRkNxRzZFcm9nc3o1dUV4RHk0V3g0YlVfTkp3UFQwSmZ6V29mdXluT1FURVpHVFplUnE0WGNxb1ZROEdJSkY2eEUzTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fhapps.tv%2Finvite%2F%40JJWalsh%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B (https://happs.tv/invite/@JJWalsh​​)​ ~BuyMeACoffee~ https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbldMazlyZjZlN0M3OFh6cDJKeVBvZXZVLVk0UXxBQ3Jtc0tuZWRoUFFQdVJUdU9TZDZ6TUNEbHU3azJNak0yNTlfbWFURlExTk9zRENKOFpza3d2SDBJT21nSzliSlFYYXNQU0dRZVNlT2IwaHhSNGotSEVsbmFOb0pZb1NTbm02YkdKQkVfV1BqaUY1NDhvRk5HZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buymeacoffee.com%2Fjjwalsh%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jjwalsh​​)​ ~Patreon~ https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa29WZ2pLTHBqd2x5djJCQUZvS1Z0WjJHTlBpZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttR2k3LVFRd0QtTU5ZSWVsNnJLYzlxT2hzbjc4Vm82bEpOUXlBSnRPNENYdndHWVB6Wkh0MXJCM3hON1d1a29aSkRoQW1kVzZmNncyOXFGMVdvSHRPNkNOWTg3dWZ4cDNUTWtQbGdtTkU1WWFaU2JwYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.patreon.com%2Fjjwalsh%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B (https://www.patreon.com/jjwalsh​​) JOIN the support team on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbjRdeieOLGes008y_I9y5Q/join (YouTube Memberships ) SoundCloud sourced BGM thanks to Hikosaemon Berkeley Research Group: https://www.thinkbrg.com/offices/tokyo/ (https://www.thinkbrg.com/offices/tokyo/) Ben Fouracre: https://www.thinkbrg.com/people/ben-fouracre/ (https://www.thinkbrg.com/people/ben-fouracre/) Berkeley Research Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/berkeley-research-group-llc/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/berkeley-research-group-llc/) Support this podcast

On verdict day, Joan talks with former federal prosecutor and managing director of Berkeley Research Group, Jeffery Cramer, and Chicago Radio personality and activist, Patti Vasquez about the upcoming verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial. The guilty on all counts verdict comes in during the show.

Joan talks with former prosecutor, and managing director of the Berkeley Research Group, Jeffery Cramer about the start of the Derek Chauvin trial; Andrea Darlas about the week ahead; and Sam Levine, voting rights reporter for The Guardian, bout the spate of new laws restricting voting rights.

During these unprecedented times, in our world, relative to Social Injustice, many companies have crafted and communicated statements condemning Systemic Racism and are calling for Change. While we applaud these initial efforts. The real question is  "How many of these same companies have failed to take action?"   In this Podcast Series - "I'm only here so I don't get fined", we highlight CEO/Executives who are not just making statement to avoid being "fined" by the court of public opinion, social media or by their customer's wallets. But because, they authentically desire to see change, Personally and within their organizations. This desire turns Into ACTION! Our guest for this episode are: Jeanette Cross, is the first female President of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (Maryland Chapter) in seven years. Jeanette is also Managing Director at Berkeley Research Group. Linker Mills, President-Elect Healthcare Financial Management Association and Director, Finance and Revenue Management at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center. In this episode, we discuss the learnings from a workshop Worthy Leadership Group conducted for their organization entitled "6 Steps to a more Inclusive Culture." CLICK TO DOWNLOAD!• APPLE PODCASTS• SPOTIFY• GOOGLE PODCASTAccelerate your Leadership Journey!CLICK HERE - FREE DISCOVERY SESSIONVisit Worthy Leadership GroupJoin our Facebook Group!✓ FacebookThanks for listening!

Here’s a couple of sentences ripped from the headlines recently: It is free to be tested for COVID-19 in the US, but the cost of treatment can be shocking. Even if you’re insured, the deductible and co-pay can add up to several thousand dollars. And if you’re uninsured, the financial toll is even uglier. That’s what Boston resident Danni Askini learned when she got a $34,927 bill after receiving treatment in a local emergency room for COVID. That’s from Time magazine. Episode 260 of the show was about the Shkreli Awards and the worst profiteering in health care. The judges of the Shkreli Awards bucketed the winners into a few categories. One of the categories of “winners” was called Schizophrenic Compartmentalization, and this schizophrenic behavior seemed super applicable to hospitals this past year. This schizophrenic compartmentalization happens when the person who wrote the mission statement and probably doctors and nurses are on a totally different planet than the billing department. So, I wanted to take a look at a couple of mission statements just as a reference point, including the mission statements of the hospitals that won Shkreli Awards in the Schizophrenic Compartmentalization category.  Luckily, there is a Web page where hospital mission statements are all collected in one place, so I did not need to travel far to confirm that they are all very, very similar—something along the lines of treat patients with compassion, be a productive member of the community, ease suffering, and give the highest value to all concerned. That’s very noble and what I would expect a hospital, honestly, to be striving toward.  Here’s the thing, though. This is what the whole hospital is supposed to be doing. I didn’t find one mission statement that said everybody except the finance team is subject to this mission statement. Those guys over there? They have their own. In this health care podcast, I speak with Doug Aldeen. Doug is an attorney. He is generally hired by self-insured employers. He has dealt with hospital finance teams for two decades, so he is the perfect person to dig into the delta between the hospital’s mission statement and the finance team’s mission statement. This is what we talk about in this podcast. Doug also offers up some solutions at the micro and the macro level. One vocabulary word before we get started: RBP is otherwise known as reference-based pricing. This means when a health plan, usually a self-insured employer’s health plan, says that they’re going to pay for health care services based on usually the Medicare rate. So, they’ll pay, like, 1.5 times or 2 times what Medicare pays, for example. Do I want to be a little bit sensitive right about now to some of the hospitals that are struggling under the weight of COVID and the shutdowns that have been transpiring across the country? Yeah, I do. At the same time, there is absolutely no excuse to take advantage of those that you claim to serve. There’s a big delta between charging a fair price and wrenching dollar bills out of the sweaty hands of hard-working Americans just because you can. You can learn more by emailing Doug at doug@health-attorney.net or following him on LinkedIn.  Doug Aldeen is an Austin, Texas–based health care and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) attorney who recently served as ERISA counsel on behalf of the Berkeley Research Group in New York City to the $7.7 billion May 2016 acquisition of Multiplan and its medical bill repricing product Data iSight by the private equity firm Hellman and Friedman. Since 1997, he has represented reference-based pricing organizations, a bundled payment software platform, PPO networks, medium to small self-funded plans, third-party administrators, and provider-sponsored health maintenance organizations in various capacities, including Herdrich v. Pegram, which was argued before the US Supreme Court in 2001. Moreover, he serves as a resource to national news organizations regarding issues on health care and as a consultant with the Governmental Relations Committee at the Self-Insurance Institute of America in Washington, DC, and as an adviser to RIP Medical Debt, which has abolished over $1.2 billion in medical debt. Doug received his JD from the University of Illinois. 03:59 Exploitive hospital billing practices. 04:20 The impact these exploitive billing practices have on patients. 04:45 Why would a hospital exploit the patient with their billing practices? 09:31 “You could adversely affect 3 million people.” 10:53 The “scorched earth” policy. 11:33 EP242 with Marty Makary, MD.12:28 “I think the long-term plan … is preserving the network.” 13:08 EP186 with David Contorno. 16:03 A third exploitive billing process: hospital-owned insurance plans, or “payviders.” 20:35 MOOP: maximum out of pocket. 21:07 RBP: reference-based pricing. 21:58 Exploitive tactic #4. 26:03 The solution to changing exploitive billing strategies. 26:39 “You have to be willing to travel.” 28:34 EP240 with Olivia Ross.28:47 “It’s educating your employees and really having an honest conversation about ‘This is what it really costs.’” 30:28 Doug’s advice to hospital execs listening right now. You can learn more by emailing Doug at doug@health-attorney.net or following him on LinkedIn.  Check out our newest #healthcarepodcast with @AldeenDoug as he discusses exploitive #hospitalbilling practices. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth What is the impact of exploitive billing practices on patients? @AldeenDoug discusses exploitive #hospitalbilling practices. #healthcarepodcast #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth “You could adversely affect 3 million people.” @AldeenDoug discusses exploitive #hospitalbilling practices. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth What is the “scorched earth” billing policy some hospitals use? @AldeenDoug discusses exploitive #hospitalbilling practices. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth “I think the long-term plan … is preserving the network.” @AldeenDoug discusses exploitive #hospitalbilling practices. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth “You have to be willing to travel.” @AldeenDoug discusses exploitive #hospitalbilling practices. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth “It’s educating your employees and really having an honest conversation about ‘This is what it really costs.’” @AldeenDoug discusses exploitive #hospitalbilling practices. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth

Robin Cantor, Ph.D., and Dubravka Tosic, Ph.D., Berkeley Research Group, discuss how businesses and non-profits can begin to re-open and regain their customers post-COVID-19. 

MultimediaLIVE — In this edition of the Business Day Spotlight, we focus on the continued effects of Covid-19 on the economy, re-opening of the SA economy and government’s stimulus plan. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Phil Alves, an economist and senior managing consultant at Berkeley Research Group to discuss the issues. SA is in the fourth week of a five-week national lockdown. On Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a R500bn economic support package for SA, which amounts to 10% of the country's GDP. On Thursday, he announced that the lockdown restrictions would be lifted in phases. There are five levels, with level 5 being a hard lockdown and level 1 the most relaxed. The discussion also touches on the phased re-opening of the economy, the stimulus package, effect of coronavirus on small businesses, consumer buying power, concerns of corporate players, and an outlook for the SA and global economy.

In this health care podcast, I’m talking to Al Lewis from Quizzify. This episode also guest stars Rachel Miner from Thrive Benefits, David Contorno from E Powered Benefits, and Doug Aldeen, a health care attorney in Texas. This episode started out being about surprise billing in the emergency room (ER) and a potential defense strategy that patients and employees can use to protect themselves from egregious billing practices. Surprise bills are when a patient gets “balance billed” for a sum above what their insurance carrier will pay. Usually this transpires when an out-of-network provider somehow or another gets involved in their care. Usually the patient has no idea this happens until after the bill comes—the big bill, in many cases, thus the surprise. But here’s where surprise billing and COVID-19 connect. You might not have thought of this because you might know that patients who present in the ER with COVID-19 and then test positive are protected from surprise bills, for the most part, by the CARES Act. But there’s a couple of wrinkles. What if the patient does not actually have COVID-19? Then whatever treatment they wind up getting in the notoriously expensive ER is business as usual. Here’s another wrinkle: The cost of treatment for COVID-19 is not like it’s capped. So even if an employee doesn’t get a surprise bill, the self-insured employer or health plan might. And the CARES Act explicitly states that the employer or plan is on the hook to pay for it. And one last wrinkle: Dealing with this pandemic among other things leaves about 0.0 chance that the national surprise billing legislation is gonna happen this year. But it’s not like kids have stopped running into the side of the pull-out couch and needing stitches, or drug overdoses or heart attacks have suddenly vanished. There was a news article just the other day about a private equity–run ER in the Midwest continuing to dish out nasty surprise bills to their community of taxpayers at the exact same time that they were lobbying to get a piece of the federal bailout paid by taxpayers. Al Lewis and his team over at Quizzify created this handy wallet card that patients or employees can use when they have the unfortunate experience of going to the ER themselves or with a loved one. It protects them from egregious surprise bills, thus its moniker, the surprise billing defense strategy. But nothing for nothing, this wallet card, this surprise billing defense strategy, also protects employers and health plans from these large bills in the age of COVID-19.  Al Lewis and I start our conversation talking about a New York Times article (also available here for those who don’t subscribe to the New York Times) that came out recently featuring Al as well as myself and chronicles my visit to an emergency room wherein I deployed the surprise billing defense strategy/wallet card.  You can learn more at quizzify.com or connect with Al on LinkedIn. You can also connect with Al on Twitter at @quizzify and @whynobodybeliev.   You can also connect with Rachel and David on LinkedIn and with Doug on Twitter at @AldeenDoug and on LinkedIn.  Al Lewis wears multiple hats, both professionally and also to cover his bald spot. Hat #1: Employee Health Literacy. He is the founder and “quizmeister-in-chief” of Quizzify, whose mission is to help companies teach their employees to utilize health care services appropriately, using a format best described as “Jeopardy meets health benefit education meets Comedy Central.” Quizzify is the only vendor authorized to display the Harvard Medical School “Veritas” shield and has received excellent reviews from users.  Quizzify is best known today for its employee coronaquizzes (now exceeding 100,000 plays!) and its surprise billing “Prevent Consent” solution, which was recently featured in the New York Times. It can be taped to an insurance card, used as a stand-alone card, or downloaded into your Apple Wallet.  His quiz-specific background includes authorship of the best-selling Newsweek Presents the Ultimate Trivia Game, which Games magazine lauded as having the best questions of any trivia game; hosting two quiz shows on Boston network affiliates; and appearing on Jeopardy. Hat #2: Outcomes Measurement. As an author, his critically acclaimed category best-selling book on outcomes measurement, Why Nobody Believes the Numbers, chronicling and exposing the innumeracy of the health management field, was named digital health book of the year in Forbes. Cracking Health Costs, written in conjunction with Walmart alum Tom Emerick, was also a trade best seller. Surviving Workplace Wellness has also received great accolades, and excerpts appeared in Harvard Business Review and elsewhere.  He was the cofounder of the World Health Care Congress’s Validation Institute.  His expertise in outcomes measurement got him named one of the unsung heroes changing health care forever.  He graduated Phi Beta Kappa with honors from Harvard, where he taught economics as well. He also graduated from Harvard Law School, albeit with no honors that time—other than winning their annual trivia contest, of course. David Contorno is founder of E Powered Benefits. As a native of New York, David began his career in the insurance industry at the age of 14 and has since become a leading expert in the realm of employee benefits over the last 22 years. Most recently, David was Benefits Selling magazine’s 2015 Broker of the Year; and in March 2016, Forbes deemed him “One of America’s Most Innovative Benefits Leaders.” David is a member of the board of directors for both the Charlotte Association of Health Underwriters and HealthReach Community Clinic. He served on the NC Insurance Commissioners Life and Health Agent Advisory Committee, as well as participated in the Technical Advisory Group that helped with the market reforms required under the Affordable Care Act in North Carolina. He is a longtime member of the Lake Norman and South Iredell Chambers of Commerce as well as the National, North Carolina, New York, and Long Island Associations of Health Underwriters. David contributes to numerous publications, including Forbes, Benefits Selling magazine, Business Leader magazine, and Insurance Thought Leadership. David is committed to giving back to his community and actively participates in the membership drive for the United Way, assisting the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, and supporting The Dove House Child Advocacy Center. When he is not working, he enjoys boating, traveling, and being with his wife, Heather, and their two children, Hannah and Ethan. Rachel Miner became engaged with the health care system seven years ago as her son, Jackson, was consistently ill. Her frustration with the complexity of the health care system and expensive bills made her think about how helpless employees must feel. So, she set out to find a benefits firm that helped employees understand how to be educated consumers of health care year-round—and she didn’t find one. Thus, Thrive Benefits was born. Her mission is twofold: to help employers and employees. Rachel understands that companies need to have good benefits to attract and retain employees and makes it her mission to help employers save money so they can offer good benefits year over year. In addition, she helps employees to navigate the health care system so that they can have the highest quality of care at the lowest possible cost. Rachel says that her true passion is helping people and her purpose is to challenge the mindset of others so that they can overcome adversity, take risks, and achieve their goals. Health care is confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. For organizations to thrive, employees must thrive, too. Doug Aldeen is an Austin, Texas–based health care and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) attorney who recently served as ERISA counsel on behalf of the Berkeley Research Group in New York City to the $7.7 billion May 2016 acquisition of Multiplan and its medical bill repricing product Data iSight by the private equity firm Hellman and Friedman. Since 1997, he has represented reference base pricing organizations, a bundled payment software platform, PPO networks, medium to small self-funded plans, third-party administrators, and provider-sponsored health maintenance organizations in various capacities, including Herdrich v. Pegram, which was argued before the US Supreme Court in 2001. Moreover, he serves as a resource to national news organizations regarding issues on health care and as a consultant with the Governmental Relations Committee at the Self-Insurance Institute of America in Washington, DC, and as an adviser to RIP Medical Debt, which has abolished over $1.2 billion in medical debt. Doug received his JD from the University of Illinois. 04:26 What is the likelihood of a surprise bill in the time of coronavirus? 07:41 What the surprise billing wallet card looks like and what it does when you use it.09:55 Rachel Miner’s experience with the Quizzify surprise billing wallet card. 14:42 EP249 with Dale Folwell.15:33 Should employers be advocating for the use of the Quizzify wallet card? 16:22 How an employer should get the wallet card out to their employees. 17:29 David Contorno explains the inspiration behind the Quizzify wallet card. 19:29 “Because of that federal law, you do not need to sign that financial consent.”—David 19:42 “Don’t obligate yourself financially to some unknown amount.”—David 19:56 The legal standard: a battlefield consent. 21:18 Negotiating vs not negotiating. 22:38 Why employers should care about surprise billing. 22:58 Best practices for employers educating employees on why this wallet card is important. 24:19 “This is not something your employer is doing to you; this is something your employer is doing for you.”—David 24:25 EP186 with David Contorno.27:19 Doug Aldeen on what happens after using the wallet card and then gets the balance bill. 30:47 What happens after you sign the financial contract after editing. 32:01 Asking for the director of revenue cycle management after getting your surprise bill. 36:36 “It’s not as daunting as people think.”—Doug 36:56 “The general rule … is that the more you do in advance, the better.”—Al 37:49 Why 2x Medicare is the sweet spot for reasonable price. 38:38 What employers should be doing right now to distribute these Quizzify wallet cards. You can learn more at quizzify.com or connect with Al on LinkedIn. You can also connect with Al on Twitter at @quizzify and @whynobodybeliev.   You can also connect with Rachel and David on LinkedIn and with Doug on Twitter at @AldeenDoug and on LinkedIn. Check out our #healthcarepodcast with @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify and featuring Rachel Miner of @BenefitsThrive, @dcontorno, and @AldeenDoug. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #covid19 #surprisebilling What is the likelihood of a #surprisebill in the time of #coronavirus? @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discusses on our #healthcarepodcast featuring Rachel Miner of @BenefitsThrive, @dcontorno, and @AldeenDoug. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #covid19 #surprisebilling What does the #surprisebill #walletcard look like and what does it do? @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discusses on our #healthcarepodcast featuring Rachel Miner of @BenefitsThrive, @dcontorno, and @AldeenDoug. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #covid19 #surprisebilling Should #employers be advocating for the use of the Quizzify wallet card? @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discusses on our #healthcarepodcast featuring Rachel Miner of @BenefitsThrive, @dcontorno, and @AldeenDoug. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #covid19 #surprisebilling How should an #employer distribute the wallet card to his/her #employees? @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discusses on our #healthcarepodcast featuring Rachel Miner of @BenefitsThrive, @dcontorno, and @AldeenDoug. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #covid19 #surprisebilling What was the inspiration behind the Quizzify wallet card? @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discusses on our #healthcarepodcast featuring Rachel Miner of @BenefitsThrive, @dcontorno, and @AldeenDoug. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #covid19 #surprisebilling “Because of that federal law, you do not need to sign that financial consent.” @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discusses on our #healthcarepodcast featuring Rachel Miner of @BenefitsThrive, @dcontorno, and @AldeenDoug. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #covid19 #surprisebilling “Don’t obligate yourself financially to some unknown amount.” @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discusses on our #healthcarepodcast featuring Rachel Miner of @BenefitsThrive, @dcontorno, and @AldeenDoug. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #covid19 #surprisebilling What is battlefield consent? @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discusses on our #healthcarepodcast featuring Rachel Miner of @BenefitsThrive, @dcontorno, and @AldeenDoug. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #covid19 #surprisebilling Negotiating vs not negotiating surprise bills. @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discusses on our #healthcarepodcast featuring Rachel Miner of @BenefitsThrive, @dcontorno, and @AldeenDoug. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #covid19 #surprisebilling Why should employers care about surprise bills? @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discusses on our #healthcarepodcast featuring Rachel Miner of @BenefitsThrive, @dcontorno, and @AldeenDoug. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #covid19 #surprisebilling “This is not something your employer is doing to you; this is something your employer is doing for you.” @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discusses on our #healthcarepodcast featuring Rachel Miner of @BenefitsThrive, @dcontorno, and @AldeenDoug. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #covid19 #surprisebilling What happens when you use the Quizzify wallet card? @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discusses on our #healthcarepodcast featuring Rachel Miner of @BenefitsThrive, @dcontorno, and @AldeenDoug. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #covid19 #surprisebilling “It’s not as daunting as people think.” @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discusses on our #healthcarepodcast featuring Rachel Miner of @BenefitsThrive, @dcontorno, and @AldeenDoug. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #covid19 #surprisebilling “The general rule … is that the more you do in advance, the better.” @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discusses on our #healthcarepodcast featuring Rachel Miner of @BenefitsThrive, @dcontorno, and @AldeenDoug. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #covid19 #surprisebilling Why is 2x the Medicare rate the sweet spot for reasonable price? @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discusses on our #healthcarepodcast featuring Rachel Miner of @BenefitsThrive, @dcontorno, and @AldeenDoug. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #covid19 #surprisebilling What employers should be doing right now. @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discusses on our #healthcarepodcast featuring Rachel Miner of @BenefitsThrive, @dcontorno, and @AldeenDoug. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #covid19 #surprisebilling

On Friday, March 27, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act—otherwise known as CARES. This CARES Act covers the whole $2 trillion megillah stimulus package, but in this health care podcast episode, we’re talking quickly about a provision in that Act. I speak first with Doug Aldeen, an attorney specializing in helping employers settle hospital bills. Doug works with clients across the country. And then at the end of the episode, you will also hear from Al Lewis, who is a founder over at Quizzify. Al Lewis, as many of you may or may not know—but if you don’t know, you should—created a “surprise billing wallet card” that is actually super relevant to this discussion as you will see. There’s actually going to be a whole surprise billing episode coming up soon where we discuss this wallet card, so you can consider Al’s short commentary today as kind of a coming attraction. The provision that we’re going to talk about in this episode is the No Cost Sharing for COVID-19 Testing and Vaccines provision. This is where insurers are required to cover testing for COVID-19 without cost sharing to their enrollees, and they must pay for the tests based on contracts or the posted pricing of labs. So, the thing is, hospitals and diagnostic testing companies can essentially basically name their price on COVID-19 tests; and employers and insurers will be required to pay for it. This is in Section 3202, the Price of Diagnostic Testing, in that CARES Act. The plot thickens this week as health insurers—including Aetna, Cigna, and Humana—are now waiving patient cost sharing on all treatment for coronavirus, not just the testing, including hospitalizations and ambulance transfers. And they’re doing this for their insured members and employer plans at their in-network health systems—emphasis intended on the “in-network” part. So, you might be thinking, “Great … no costs to anybody!” But I did emphasize that last part for a reason. If you think for a minute about this, just because patients are not paying co-pays for COVID treatments first of all doesn’t mean that while they’re in the hospital that their diabetes won’t flare up … or their MS or their RA. COVID-19 is just one thing, and the US has a patient population that has, let’s just say, no shortage of chronic conditions—otherwise known as underlying conditions, otherwise known as the people most likely to be in the ICU. My concern is that there’s nothing to say that co-pays and coinsurance for treatment of other things while being treated for COVID are going to suddenly vanish, too, even if it’s an in-network health system. Furthermore, there is that problem of a patient going to a hospital that’s not contracted with the employer plan or the patient’s insurance carrier. At that point, I’m not seeing anything that would suggest that patients with COVID-19 are going to get any different treatment billing-wise than patients with anything else. We’ve seen COVID-19 bills that are, for uninsured patients, $34,000 and $73,000 in the press. What if the patient doesn’t have out-of-network coverage, for example? What if the patient’s out-of-network deductible is tens of thousands of dollars like some of them are? I don’t see anything in this bill to suggest that those are suddenly going to go away. And, oh, by the way, exactly as the bill pretty much states explicitly, regardless of what the patient pays, the employer’s on the hook to pay for whatever the hospital chooses to charge—at least as far as testing goes. You can connect with Doug on Twitter at @AldeenDoug and on LinkedIn.  You can learn more at quizzify.com or connect with Al on LinkedIn. You can also connect with Al on Twitter at @quizzify and @whynobodybeliev.   Doug Aldeen is an Austin, Texas–based health care and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) attorney who recently served as ERISA counsel on behalf of the Berkeley Research Group in New York City to the $7.7 billion May 2016 acquisition of Multiplan and its medical bill repricing product Data iSight by the private equity firm Hellman and Friedman. Since 1997, he has represented reference base pricing organizations, a bundled payment software platform, PPO networks, medium to small self-funded plans, third-party administrators, and provider-sponsored health maintenance organizations in various capacities, including Herdrich v. Pegram, which was argued before the US Supreme Court in 2001. Moreover, he serves as a resource to national news organizations regarding issues on health care and as a consultant with the Governmental Relations Committee at the Self-Insurance Institute of America in Washington, DC, and as an adviser to RIP Medical Debt, which has abolished over $1.2 billion in medical debt. Doug received his JD from the University of Illinois. Al Lewis wears multiple hats, both professionally and also to cover his bald spot. Hat #1: Employee Health Literacy. He is the founder and “quizmeister-in-chief” of Quizzify, whose mission is to help companies teach their employees to utilize healthcare services appropriately, using a format best described as “Jeopardy meets health benefit education meets Comedy Central.” Quizzify is the only vendor authorized to display the Harvard Medical School “Veritas” shield and has received excellent reviews from users.  Quizzify is best known today for its employee coronaquizzes (now exceeding 100,000 plays!) and its surprise billing “Prevent Consent” solution, which was recently featured in the New York Times. It can be taped to an insurance card, used as a stand-alone card, or downloaded into your Apple Wallet. His quiz-specific background includes authorship of the best-selling Newsweek Presents the Ultimate Trivia Game, which Games magazine lauded as having the best questions of any trivia game; hosting two quiz shows on Boston network affiliates; and appearing on Jeopardy. Hat #2: Outcomes Measurement. As an author, his critically acclaimed category best-selling book on outcomes measurement, Why Nobody Believes the Numbers, chronicling and exposing the innumeracy of the health management field, was named digital health book of the year in Forbes. Cracking Health Costs, written in conjunction with Walmart alum Tom Emerick, was also a trade best seller. Surviving Workplace Wellness has also received great accolades, and excerpts appeared in Harvard Business Review and elsewhere.  He was the cofounder of the World Health Care Congress’s Validation Institute.  His expertise in outcomes measurement got him named one of the unsung heroes changing health care forever.  He graduated Phi Beta Kappa with honors from Harvard, where he taught economics as well. He also graduated from Harvard Law School, albeit with no honors that time—other than winning their annual trivia contest, of course. 04:12 Hospital billing as it relates to COVID-19. 05:45 Who is “on the hook” for paying these COVID-19 bills. 08:17 “Reasonable payment” in the case of COVID-19. 08:45 Is COVID-19 different than every other billing situation? 10:12 What’s going to come out of the out-of-network COVID-19 costs? 11:29 What employers should be doing right now. 12:50 The takeaway for everyone “bankrolling” COVID-19. 13:26 “This whole thing is tilting towards, ‘Who’s going to pay for all this stuff?’” 13:53 Connecting the dots with COVID-19 billing. 15:25 Using the Quizzify wallet card, and how this can help avoid COVID-19 surprise billing. 16:17 Download the wallet card at quizzify.com.  You can connect with Doug on Twitter at @AldeenDoug and on LinkedIn.  You can learn more at quizzify.com or connect with Al on LinkedIn. You can also connect with Al on Twitter at @quizzify and @whynobodybeliev.   Check out our newest #AnExpertExplains #healthcarepodcast with @AldeenDoug and @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify as they discuss #hospitalbilling in the age of #covid19. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #billing #healthcarebilling Who is on the hook for #coronavirus billing? @AldeenDoug and @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discuss #hospitalbilling in the age of #covid19. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #billing #healthcarebilling #healthcarepodcast What is #reasonablepayment in the age of #coronavirus? @AldeenDoug and @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discuss #hospitalbilling in the age of #covid19. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #billing #healthcarebilling #healthcarepodcast Is billing for #coronavirus different than all other billing? @AldeenDoug and @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discuss #hospitalbilling in the age of #covid19. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #billing #healthcarebilling #healthcarepodcast What’s going to come out of the out-of-network COVID-19 costs? @AldeenDoug and @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discuss #hospitalbilling in the age of #covid19. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #billing #healthcarebilling #healthcarepodcast “This whole thing is tilting towards, ‘Who’s going to pay for all this stuff?’” @AldeenDoug and @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discuss #hospitalbilling in the age of #covid19. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #billing #healthcarebilling #healthcarepodcast Connecting the dots with #covid19billing. @AldeenDoug and @whynobodybeliev of @quizzify discuss #hospitalbilling in the age of #covid19. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #billing #healthcarebilling #healthcarepodcast

MultimediaLIVE — With the national Budget speech for the year firmly in the rear-view mirror, we look back at the tax and energy issues raised by finance minister Tito Mboweni in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Neil Cornelius, MD of the global consulting firm Berkeley Research Group, and Reabetswe Moloi, an attorney from Tax Consulting SA, for this budget review discussion.Moloi starts off the show giving a wrap of the tax matters raised in the budget, such as no increase  in major taxes and selective excise duties. She says the minister probably made the best decision to not increase personal taxes, given how pressured South Africans already are. Cornelius, who joins us on the line from London, summarises the energy-related parts of the budget, highlighting the uphill funding battle that government faces in trying to clear Eskom’s debts, while ensuring the power utility’s sustainability moving forward. Much of the discussion centres on taxpayer money being use to bail out ailing state-owned enterprises. 

Former federal prosecutor, Jeffrey Cramer, Managing Director of the Berkeley Research Group, discusses U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson refusing to bow to pressure in the sentencing of longtime Trump confidant, Roger Stone, and the fallout at the Justice Department. He speaks to host June Grasso. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Former federal prosecutor, Jeffrey Cramer, Managing Director of the Berkeley Research Group, discusses U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson refusing to bow to pressure in the sentencing of longtime Trump confidant, Roger Stone, and the fallout at the Justice Department. He speaks to host June Grasso.

Satellite finance has overcome some spectacular booms and busts, thanks to access to a variety of financing sources. Increased satellite data usage could take the market to ever greater heights. Tom Nelthorpe talks demand and launch risk with Michael Whalen from Berkeley Research Group and Nick Flitterman from Portland Advisers.

It's the inaugural Proximo Festive Trends Round-up and Draft. Jonathan Yellen, Michael Whalen of Berkeley Research Group, and Ian Cogswell of Cogswell Consulting join Proximo's Tom Nelthorpe to review and rank the most important trends of 2019 in energy, infrastructure and project finance.

Project and infrastructure bond funds are still a rarity in debt capital markets, and are even rarer in emerging markets. Can a new emerging markets infrastructure fund fill a gap in supplying long-dated debt? Tom Nelthorpe speaks to Susan Wisialko of Global Infrastructure Finance and Michael Whalen of Berkeley Research Group.

In the inaugural episode of our monthly series on fraud and abuse issues, Matthew Wetzel, Senior Counsel, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, and Kevin Raphael, Partner, Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti LLP, talked with Katherine (Katie) Norris, a Director in BRG’s Corporate Compliance and Risk Management practice, about hot topics and key developments in health care fraud and abuse, as well as recent trends in enforcement, and what to look out for in 2020. From AHLA's Fraud and Abuse Practice Group. Sponsored by Berkeley Research Group, LLC (BRG).

Live from the 2019 NYSBA Tech Summit Lisa M. Smith, United States Magistrate Judge and Ignatius Grande, Director at Berkeley Research Group join David to discuss the role technology is playing in litigation. They discuss the issues that can arise when technology devices like Alexa, Siri, Fitbit, Apple Watches and Google Home are brought into court proceedings. Do these devices violate 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendment rights? Miranda Warnings is hosted by NYSBA's 118th President David Miranda.

I spoke with Adam Cohen, an attorney and a managing director with the Berkeley Research Group, a global strategic advisory and expert consulting firm. He is a Certified Ethical Hacker and provides guidance on data governance, compliance, and security, including cybersecurity, digital forensics and electronic discovery. We discussed his role at the Berkeley Research Group, the work he performs as an ethical hacker, his evolution from a law firm partner to a consultant with technical data security certifications, the distinctions between the challenges that in-house lawyers face versus those of their outside counsel, and where data governance is headed.