The AHLA Neutrals Program

Brad Rostolsky works with Reed Smith LLP in Philadelphia, where he focuses on HIPAA and health privacy issues. A resident of Ambler, Pennsylvania, he belongs to the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA). Health lawyers like Brad Rostolsky come together as part of the AHLA to advance the profession through education, volunteer work, and participation in events.

An important program that AHLA provides is its neutrals program that lets members combine health law expertise with negotiation and mediation skills to resolve cases in a fast, fair, and inexpensive manner. Neutrals can serve as arbitrators, mediators, or hearing officers, provided they have appropriate training in that aspect of case resolution. AHLA retains a percentage of the amount invoiced by neutrals in order to operate the program.

AHLA offers its own 14-hour training program for arbitrators, though this training can also be earned elsewhere. Mediators must complete 20 hours of training through a reputable organization, such as a court, law school, or community mediation center. To become a hearing officer, an attorney must complete an AHLA peer-review training course. Those who have already served as counsel or as a hearing officer in two completed hearings, however, do not need to complete the course.

Keep HIPAA Compliant while Working from Home

A partner in the Philadelphia offices of Reed Smith LLP, Brad Rostolsky practices in the firm’s Life Sciences Health Industry Group. Focused primarily on health care regulatory and transactional law, Brad Rostolsky advises clients on information privacy and security compliance under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Because HIPAA directly addresses the need for security in electronic transmission of health-related information, allowing employees to work from home includes the need for companies to take various steps to ensure privacy and security. Companies typically start by assessing their risk, whether employees use a cloud-based system or tap directly into the network. Companies should also implement security protocols at the computer level, such as installing antivirus software and scheduling regular security updates.

Once a company implements security procedures for employees working from home, it should continually monitor the security of its systems and audit employees for compliance. The company must keep a careful log of employees who work from home, which allows for efficient updates of security software and connectivity practices. Implementing policies that address the actual manner in which employees/workforce members interact with the company's system is also critical.