18th Annual Health Law Symposium
The Center for Health Law Studies and the Saint Louis University Law Journal Present

From Risk to Ruin
Shifting the Cost of Health Care to Consumers
Friday, March 31, 2006
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Symposium Summary

Over the last few years, private health insurers and Medicaid have sought to control rising health insurance costs by shifting more of the cost of medical care to consumers. In the same vein, many of today's prominent health care reform proposals — health savings accounts, consumer-driven health care and multi-state purchasing alliances — call for higher deductibles, larger co-payments and fewer covered services; as a result, patients must absorb more of their health care costs. This Symposium examines the impact of this cost shift on individuals, their families and medical care providers. Scholars and researchers will discuss empirical studies examining the impact of medical debt on families and providers, evaluate some of the most prominent health insurance reform initiatives and analyze the issue of cost shifting to patients from a broad range of legal perspectives including tax, bankruptcy, debtor-creditor and corporate law.

The Center For Health Law Studies

Saint Louis University 's nationally recognized Center for Health Law Studies represents the University's commitment to the heightened and sustained contributions to education, research, policy analysis, publications and service. The Center utilizes the considerable expertise the School has developed over the past 20 years of Health Law teaching and research. The Center, in cooperation with the American Health Lawyers Association, publishes the Journal of Health Law. The Saint Louis University Law Journal publishes an annual Health Law Symposium issue based on the proceedings of the Center's health law conference, which takes place each spring. The School of Law sponsors dual degree programs in Health Law Administration (J.D./M.H.A.), Public Health (J.D./M.P.H.) and Health Care Ethics (J.D./Ph.D.) and offers an LL.M. in Health Law. Graduates of the J.D. and the LL.M. programs are employed by national law firms, state and federal government agencies, hospitals and health care systems.

Location
Saint Louis University School of Law
3700 Lindell Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108

Continuing Legal Education
Saint Louis University School of Law is an accredited sponsor of CLE in Missouri. This program qualifies for 6.0 Missouri Continuing Legal Education Credits. Registration for CLE credits requires a payment of $20 for administrative costs and should be included with your registration form.