On Oct. 22, GNYHA hosted a seminar, The Intersection of Quality, Governance, and Compliance, at which NYS Medicaid Inspector General Jim Sheehan was the keynote speaker. Mr. Sheehan discussed his views on the expanding role of the hospital board in relation to quality measures and related compliance functions. He also stressed the importance of meaningful peer review and responsive regulatory compliance processes. 
       
Following Mr. Sheehan's remarks, David Hoffman, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with extensive quality- and compliance-oriented prosecution experience, spoke about effective legal and clinical steps hospitals can take to ensure quality of care through compliance. Like Mr. Sheehan, he mentioned the importance of systemwide, meaningful compliance training and ongoing testing and education. 
       
The afternoon concluded with remarks by Michael Peregrine, a partner with the law firm of McDermott, Will & Emery, who has been instrumental in the development of national white papers on nonprofit health care governance structures; these documents are part of a joint project between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the American Health Lawyers Association. Mr. Peregrine spoke about key governance issues and emerging trends for consideration by board members, with respect to special duties of care and obedience to mission, as they relate to oversight of the quality of care.
       
Materials from the seminar have been circulated to GNYHA members and are available to those who have not yet received them. Members who wish to receive a packet should contact Asali Daniel at adaniel@gnyha.org.