Karl Bayer's Disputing Blog

JAMS Welcomes Karl Bayer to its Panel of Neutrals
JAMS, the world’s largest private alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider, is pleased to announce that Karl Bayer
Class Action Waivers in Arbitration Agreements: The Twenty-First Century Arbitration Battleground and Implications for the EU Countries
Linda S. Mullenix, Morris & Rita Atlas Chair in Advocacy at the University of Texas School of Law, has written “Class Ac
Picking the Proper Technological Tool for Problem-Solving in Arbitration
Professor Amy J. Schmitz, John Deaver Drinko-Baker & Hostetler Chair in Law and Co-Director of the Translational Data An
SCOTUS to Resolve Circuit Split Over Transportation Worker Exemption in the FAA
Today marks the start of the United States Supreme Court’s new term. During the term, the nation’s highest court will re

2011 Mediation Case Law

By Victoria VanBuren - January 4, 2012

In addition to our mediation series, during 2011 we published these posts discussing mediation case law: Federal Circuit Declines to Recognize a Mediation Privilege Texas Court of Appeals Dismisses Appeal Because Appellant Walked Out of the Court-Ordered Mediation Federal Texas Court Rules for Producing Negotiation Communications Texarkana COA Upholds MSA Where Mediator Resolved Dispute Regarding Scope Ninth Circuit Affirms Mediated Facebook Settlement E. D. of Texas Refuses to Vacate Judgment Despite Mediated Settlement Agreement California Supreme Court Holds Attorney-Client Communications Related to Mediation Not Discoverable Stay tuned for more 2011 Year-End Highlights!

2011 U.S. Legislation on Arbitration and Mediation

By Victoria VanBuren - January 3, 2012

In 2011, the following bills relating to alternative dispute resolution were introduced by the 112nd U.S. Congress. The session convened in Washington, D.C. on January 3, 2011 and will end on January 3, 2013. Click on the bill number to read its text and on the status link to find the bill’s most recent legislative action. Bills that passed: Patent Reform Act of 2011 (a.k.a. America Invents Act). The Act provides, among other things that parties to a derivation proceeding may resolve the dispute via arbitration. See Section 135(f). H.R. 1249; Status. H.R. 1249 was signed by President Obama on Sept. 16, 2011 and became Public Law No. 112-29. Bills still pending: Consumer Mobile Fairness Act of 2011. The bill would amend title 9 of the United States Code to prohibit mandatory arbitration clauses in contracts for mobile service. S. 1652; Status. Disaster Recovery Act of 2011. The bill would create a dispute resolution program to facilitate an efficient recovery from major disasters. S. 1630; Status. Personal Data Protection and Breach Accountability Act of 2011. As introduced, the bill provides that “the rights and remedies afforded by this section shall not be abridged or precluded by any predispute arbitration agreement. S. 1535 IS; S. 1535 RS; Status. Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act. The bill would create an emergency jobs program during 2012 and 2013. The bill provides that each unit of general local government that is an entitlement community and each State that receives funding under the Act shall agree to the arbitration procedure described in the Act to resolve certain disputes. H.R. 2914; Status. American Specialty Agriculture Act. The Act would create a non-immigrant H-2C work visa program for agricultural workers and provides that any H-2C worker may, as a condition of employment with an employer, be subject to mandatory binding arbitration and mediation of any grievance relating to the employment relationship. H.R. 2847; Status. Arbitration Fairness Act of 2011. Declares that no predispute arbitration agreement shall be valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of an employment, consumer, or civil rights dispute. S.987; Status. H.R.1873; Status. Labor Relations First Contract Negotiations Act of 2011. Amends the National Labor Relations Act to require mediation and, if necessary, binding arbitration of initial contract negotiation disputes. H.R.129; Status. Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2011. Certain appropriations for the Surface Transportation Board, including requiring the Board to establish a binding arbitration process to resolve rail rate, practice, and common carrier service disputes. S.158; Status. Endocrine Disruptor Screening Enhancement Act of 2011. “In the event of any dispute about an appropriate share or a fair method of determining an appropriate share of applicable costs of the testing requirements in a test order, any person involved in the dispute may initiate binding arbitration proceedings by requesting the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to appoint an arbitrator from the roster of arbitrators maintained by such Service or a hearing with a regional office of the American Arbitration Association.” H.R.553; Status. Non-Federal Employee Whistleblower Protection Act of 2011. It includes provisions on the nonenforceability of waivers and arbitration of disputes. S.241; Status. National Guard Technician Equity Act. Provides for a technician’s rights of grievance, arbitration, appeal, and review beyond the current stage of the adjutant general of the jurisdiction concerned. H.R.1169; Status. Postal Operations Sustainment and Transformation Act of 2011. Section 401 of the Act includes arbitration and labor dispute guidelines. S.1010; Status. Soledad Canyon High Desert, California Public Lands Conservation and Management Act of 2011. Advises the use of arbitration under Subchapter IV of chapter 5 of section 5 of the USC. S.759; Status. FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act of 2011. Requires the FAA Administrator and employee bargaining representatives, if their own negotiations and the services of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) have failed to lead to an agreement, to submit their controversy to the Federal Service Impasses Panel, subject to specified procedures, for binding arbitration. H.R.658; Status. Medical Care Access Protection Act of 2011 (MCAP Act). The limitations within the act apply to arbitration, and nothing in the act is meant to supersede arbitration. S.197; Status. Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2011. Provides that, “whether by arbitration or other means, in any health care lawsuit, the court shall supervise the arrangements for payment of damages to protect against conflicts of interest that may have the effect of reducing the amount of damages awarded that are actually paid to claimants.” S.1099; Status. S.218; Status. H.R.5; Status. U.S. Postal Service Improvements Act of 2011. Authorizes arbitration boards to consider the financial condition of the USPS in rendering decisions. S.353; Status. Preventing Homeowners from Foreclosure Act of 2011. Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to implement a competitive grants program for states and local governmental entities to establish mediation programs to assist mortgagors under home mortgages facing foreclosure on such mortgages. H.R. 1131; Status. Local Jobs for America Act. The bill provides that each unit of general local government that is an entitlement community and each State that receives funding under this Act shall agree to the arbitration procedure described in Act to resolve certain disputes. H.R. 2828; Status. Preserving Homes and Communities Act of 2011. Directs the Secretary of HUD to: (1) establish a grant program to make competitive grants to state and local governments to establish mediation programs that assist mortgagors facing foreclosure, and (2) develop and implement a plan to monitor conditions and trends in home ownership and the mortgage industry and the effectiveness of public and private efforts to reduce mortgage defaults and foreclosures. S.489; Status. H.R.1477; Status. Restoring Democracy in the Workplace Act. Declares that a specified rule prescribed by the National Mediation Board relating to representation election procedures shall have no force or effect. H.R. 548; Status. Community Access Preservation Act (CAP). Amends the Communications Act of 1934. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) LGS or state enforcement, (2) nonbinding mediation and court proceedings concerning disputed […]

What is an Accountable Care Organization (ACO)?

By Holly Hayes - December 30, 2011

By Holly Hayes A Wall Street Journal article from last week, titled “The Future of U.S. Health Care”, asks in the subtitle: “What is a Hospital? An Insurer? Even a Doctor? All the Lines in the Industry are Starting to Blur”. The same questions apply to the development of the Accountable Care Organization (ACO). Marc Bard and Mike Nugent provide some comprehensive answers about ACOs in their book: “Accountable Care Organizations, Your Guide to Strategy, Design, and Implementation”. Although only four pages of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) address the development and deployment of the ACO, no other aspect of the PPACA, with the exception of Medicare rate regulation has received as much attention as the ACO. Bard and Nugent describe four perspectives in the health care industry on the intent of ACOs: Those passionate about clinical quality improvement see the ACO as a means to achieve their goals. Those driven by the need for greater efficiency and cost management see the ACO as a potential pathway to that end. Those seeking improvements in population management see the ACO as a potential step in the right direction. Those focused on physician development and alignment see the ACO as an opportunity to achieve those goals. The successful implementation of an ACO must integrate all four perspectives. The authors state, “In brief, the ACO is not really an entity as much as it is a contractual relationship that consists of delivery and financing tactics between an organized healthcare delivery system and CMS or another payer to provide measurably high quality care efficiently and to share the benefits of efficient delivery with CMS (and possibly with patients)”. How those “contractural relationships” are developed will predict the success of the ACO model. We welcome your thoughts on building healthy relationships as part of a successful ACO. Technorati Tags: Healthcare Holly Hayes is a mediator at Karl Bayer, Dispute Resolution Expert where she focuses on mediation of health care disputes. Holly holds a B.A. from Southern Methodist University and a Masters in Health Administration from Duke University. She can be reached at holly@karlbayer.com.