Health Law

Published November 30, 2015 by Virginia Business

John C. Ivins Jr.

Hirschler Fleischer PC
Richmond

Title: Partner; chair, Healthcare Practice Group
Other legal specialties:  Health-care mediator and hearing officer
Birthplace: Portsmouth
Education: Virginia Tech, bachelor’s degree; University of Richmond, law degree
Spouse: Becky
Children: Three boys (two in their 20s and one age 17) and three girls (ages 16, 14 and 11)
Hobbies or pastimes: Musician (singer/guitar): John Ivins Worship Band (Christian rock band); worship leader, Powhatan Community Church; travel/international mission work
First job as a lawyer: Clerk, Virginia Supreme Court
Fan of: Football: college (Virginia Tech and James Madison University) and pro (Redskins, Seahawks)
Favorite vacation spot: Asia: Have been fortunate to travel throughout India, Nepal and Thailand.
Recently read book: “What The Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast” by Laura Vanderkam
Career mentors:  My dad, John C. Ivins.  Well into his career in the insurance business, he went to seminary and became a Baptist minister, providing me with great guidance through his words and life’s example that the work we do should be something we are passionate about.

What do you see as a major challenge for health-care providers?
Balancing the delivery of health-care services with the demands associated with increasing regulatory compliance.  While there is never a shortage of criticism concerning the high costs of health care, the public may be unaware of the extent to which industry regulation impacts health-care providers.  Compliance comes with a cost, and those costs can include legal/consulting expenses as well as the internal costs associated with organizational restructuring, the development/implementation of new processes and lost time and productivity.  As regulations change and new regulations arise, health-care providers must address these challenges.

Has the Affordable Health Care Act improved health care in Virginia?
It depends on your perspective and how the question is framed.  Certainly, the act has resulted in greater access to care/coverage for those previously uninsured or underinsured.  There are, however, other considerations in evaluating whether the act has improved health care — including overall costs and the impact on health in general.  Given the implementation costs, to date, it is too early to tell whether the act will ultimately result in an overall reduction of health-care costs.  Moreover, it may take years before any correlation can be drawn between increased access to insurance and overall health outcomes.