BLN Open Meeting - Sept 20, 2007 (Wellesley, MA)

Topic: "Massachusetts Healthcare Reform Law"
Speaker: David Harlow of The Harlow Group LLC & James Earley of Mid-West National
Place: Rebecca's Café in the Wellesley Office Park, 55 William Street, Bldg. 3, Wellesley, MA 02181 (directions)

Massachusetts Health Care Reform Law went into effect on July 1, 2007. The new law promotes shared responsibility for healthcare among employers, individuals, and government. What obligations does the new law require for employers and individuals? What are the penalties for noncompliance? How should lawyers advise their clients?

David Harlow has over twenty years experience and has represented a broad range of health care providers. Before founding The Harlow Group, Mr. Harlow was a partner in the health law practice at Posternak Blankstein & Lund and, prior to that, he served as Deputy General Counsel of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Mr. Harlow has lectured extensively on health law topics to attorneys and to health care providers, and is a past President and Chairman of the Metropolitan Boston Emergency Medical Services Council. He also has served as the public member on the board of Affiliated Pediatric Practices, a group of pediatrics practices which is part of the Partners Community Healthcare, Inc. (PCHI) network. He is presently Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the New England School of Acupuncture. Mr. Harlow authored a chapter of the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Law Manual published in 2004 by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education. He has been quoted and featured in the legal, business, health care and general press in connection with health care legal and policy matters on numerous occasions.

James Earley is a licensed independent healthcare insurance agent in the state of Massachusetts, representing Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee. Working as a professional health insurance agent, James consults with and helps his clients, small business owners and self-employed individuals, to obtain healthcare insurance that meets their individual situations and needs. Customized health insurance plans are created to support the unique and different requirements of each client. Additionally, James provides advice on how best to leverage the various options available to the small business owner to reduce their overall healthcare insurance costs while gaining more control over the plans available and meeting the requirements of the new Massachusetts Healthcare Reform Law. James brings his understanding of a business' needs when helping his customers, having both been a senior manager of a Fortune 500 company and being a small business owner of two businesses.

The Business Lawyers Network (BLN) is comprised of lawyers concentrating in complementary disciplines such as corporate, securities, commercial contracts, government contracts, secured lending, taxes, import/export, immigration, real estate, environmental, patents, trademarks, licensing, etc. Non-lawyer business professionals are also welcome, but the topic and focus of discussion will be on the legal profession.

For slide presentation, go to: http://healthblawg.typepad.com/healthblawg/2007/09/david-harlow-to.html