The Alternative Press

Atlantic Health System today announced that Michael Regier, a nationally-recognized voice on the topic of health care, has been named the hospital system’s vice president, legal affairs, and chief legal officer.

As legal chief for AHS, the parent organization of Morristown, Overlook and Newton Medical Centers and Goryeb Children’s Hospital, Regier is responsible for the system’s legal, compliance, risk and claims management and internal audit teams, as well as the organization’s insurance matters.

Throughout his nearly 30-year career, Regier not only handled legal affairs for major hospital organizations, but also initiated efforts to educate others about health care issues such as national health care reform.

“Given his experience with large hospital networks and his thorough understanding of the various matters facing the field of health care, we are pleased to add Michael’s legal perspective to help guide our organization,” said Joseph A. Trunfio, President and CEO of Atlantic Health System.

Regier said he was looking forward to joining Atlantic Health System in the midst of historic change.

“I’ve never seen a more dynamic period in health care,” Regier said. “It’s very exciting to be part of an organization that is clearly forward-thinking and will be figuring out how to work together with our communities in this period.”

Regier joined Atlantic Health System following five years as senior vice president, legal and corporate affairs and general counsel for VHA Inc., the nation’s largest alliance of non-profit hospitals and health systems. At VHA, based in Irving, Texas, Regier was responsible for the company’s legal, compliance, risk management and insurance teams, as well as the company’s Washington, D.C.-based Office of Public Policy and the company’s public relations and corporate communications teams.

While at VHA, Regier was often called upon to help VHA’s member health systems understand and navigate the current complex health care environment. Among other things, he created and hosted “Focus on Reform,” a satellite television program broadcast from Washington, D.C., which aimed at helping VHA members and the public understand and prepare for the effects of national health care reform. The program featured guests including former Congressional Budget Office Director Doug Holtz-Eakin, former Office of Management and Budget Director Alice Rivlin, and House Budget Committee chairman, and current Vice-Presidential nominee, Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).

Prior to joining VHA in 2007, Regier had worked since 1995 as senior vice president, legal affairs and general counsel for the Seton Healthcare Network, a large Catholic multi-hospital system based in Austin, Texas.

Prior to that, Regier had practiced law in Chicago, Illinois for 10 years, where he counseled corporate clients, including hospitals and health care systems, about mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and governance.

Regier is a frequent speaker on national and regional health care programs. Earlier this summer, he testified on behalf of VHA before the Oversight Subcommittee of the Committee on Ways And Means of the United States House of Representatives, regarding new requirements for non-profit hospitals under the new federal health care reform act. He recently delivered the Marlowe Senske Keynote Address on health care reform at the 2012 Health Care Supplier/Provider Institute in Chicago, Ill., and in September, will discuss health care policy as a panelist for the 10^th Annual New Jersey Corporate Counsel Association’s annual conference.

Regier has also taken part in many civic initiatives in Chicago and Texas. He previously served on the boards of directors of the VHA Foundation, which focuses on disaster relief, as well as AIDS Arms, Inc., the largest provider of services for persons living with HIV/AIDS in the greater Dallas-Ft. Worth area, and AIDS Services of Austin, which is Central Texas’ largest HIV/AIDS services provider.

Regier received his undergraduate degree with highest distinction from Kansas University and his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School, where he was a Dillard Fellow. He is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association Health Law Section, the Association of Corporate Counsel and the state bars of Illinois and Texas. He has previously served on the adjunct faculty of the University of Texas School of Law.