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CLE program wrap-up

Issue July 2011

Affordable Health Care Act reforms top 2011 Health Law Conference discussion

2011 Health Law Conference Keynote Speaker John E. McDonough capped off the June 22 conference with an overview of the Affordable Care Act, a bill signed by President Barack Obama in March 2010, which is set to provide new health care rights and benefits for Americans.

McDonough, a professor of Public Health Practice and the director of the Center for Public Health Leadership at Harvard School of Public Health, began his review of the Affordable Care Act by polling conference attendees on both their understanding of the act's reforms and whether or not they were pleased the act had passed.

"I look at the Affordable Care Act [when trying to explain it] as a statue unto itself," said McDonough, who broke the act into 10 titles and explained how reforms within each title will impact the health care system and Americans. "[The Affordable Health Care Act] is huge in what it attempts to do."

Health Law Conference attendees also took part in a Health Law Career Panel and discussions on Accountable Car Organizations and issues of access, confidentiality and privilege with Medical Peer Review.

LOMAP's Super Marketing Conference

LOMAP, the Law Office Management Assistance Program, held its first "Super Marketing Conference," a free event, on May 26 at the MBA's Boston office.

It featured national and local legal marketing experts covering topics including: referral generation, online reputation management and advertising ethics.

The afternoon program was followed by a free networking reception.

Conference hosts Patrick's legal counsel

Mark A. Reilly, chief legal counsel to Gov. Deval Patrick, highlighted the Fifth Annual Public Law Conference on June 16 at the Massachusetts Bar Association's Boston headquarters. Reilly's keynote address presented the packed conference with an overview of his duties, including the office's role in the judicial nomination process.

Reilly, who first met Patrick when the governor was one of his professors at Boston College Law School, said his job is to be a facilitator. Reilly said his office helps draft and review, makes recommendations on which side of an issue the governor should stand, supports the administration's priorities and oversees the process of selecting judicial candidates.

In addition to Reilly's remarks, the conference featured the latest developments in public law. Attendees heard from representatives from the Division of Open Government, Office of the Attorney General, the state Operational Service Division, the Public Records Division, and the Office of the Secretary of State. The conference was co-sponsored by the City Solicitors & Town Counsel Association of Massachusetts.