Sheppard's Health-e Law

Welcome to Health-e Law, Sheppard's podcast exploring the fascinating health tech topics and trends of the day. In this episode, associate and guest host Michael Sutton is joined by Dr. Gary Tsai, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Telecare. They discuss how 42 CFR Part 2 differs from HIPAA, what recent federal changes mean for patients whose substance use information is shared, the importance of consent and the role of stigma in help-seeking. They also explore how telehealth and AI are shaping access to addiction treatment.

A board-certified psychiatrist and addiction medicine physician, Dr. Tsai previously served as Director of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

What we discuss in this episode:

• What 42 CFR Part 2 is and why it exists

• How Part 2 differs from HIPAA, including its higher bar for consent to share information

• The importance of consent when a single form covers both HIPAA and Part 2

• Why patients may hesitate to share substance use information, given concerns about jobs, custody of children and criminalization

• How knowing about a substance use disorder can change the care patients receive, from pain management to transplant decisions

• Why stigma discourages people from seeking treatment

• Whether HIPAA and Part 2 can be aligned while still recognizing what makes substance use disorders unique

• How to measure whether expanded data sharing is improving care and reducing disparities

• Why normalizing conversations about substance use can help reduce stigma

• How telehealth expands access to treatment in rural and hard-to-reach communities

• Why in-person connection still matters in addiction recovery

• The role of AI in addiction care and why context matters

• Why educating providers and patients about Part 2 supports better consent

About Dr. Gary Tsai

Gary Tsai, MD, is the Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Telecare, where he leads clinical strategy, quality, medical affairs and innovation across the company's multi-state continuum of behavioral health services. A board-certified psychiatrist and addiction medicine physician, he is focused on advancing person-centered care and expanding access to high-quality treatment for people with complex mental health and substance use conditions.

Before joining Telecare, Dr. Tsai spent 12 years as Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's Substance Abuse Prevention and Control division, overseeing one of the nation's largest publicly funded substance use disorder treatment systems. He currently serves as a Governor-appointed Commissioner on California's Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, where he helps guide the state's shift from the Mental Health Services Act to the Behavioral Health Services Act and shape mental health and substance use priorities statewide.

Dr. Tsai's work is shaped by decades of lived experience helping a loved one navigate fragmented health and behavioral health systems, and he uses film, media and technology to raise awareness. Dr. Tsai completed his medical training at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine and his residency at the San Mateo County Psychiatry Residency Training Program.

About Michael Sutton

An associate in the Corporate practice group in Sheppard's Dallas office, Michael specializes in cutting-edge and disruptive areas of practice, blending healthcare, technology and legal compliance. In particular, he focuses on HIPAA and privacy regulations, considering their relationship with technological advancements in both healthcare and consumer sectors. He is skilled in negotiations regarding data usage and ownership rights, guiding clients on marketing or integrating technological innovations while navigating emerging regulations in digital healthcare, including artificial intelligence, web tracking, information blocking, offshoring and de-identification.

Michael has managed investigations, worked to resolve active breach incidents and advised clients on healthcare privacy and technology matters. He supports clients navigating HIPAA and other privacy laws to ensure their objectives are achieved within all legal and regulatory requirements. Michael also provides comprehensive regulatory services to a range of healthcare participants, including investors, managed care organizations, health plans and medical groups. In particular, he has tackled operational and contractual negotiations, licensing, compliance and fraud considerations and conducted regulatory due diligence for transactions, including mergers and acquisitions.

Michael also supports transactions involving tech companies and healthcare providers, guiding negotiations related to software and service relationships while identifying vulnerabilities in targets and devising creative solutions to address them.

Contact Information:

Dr. Gary Tsai

Michael Sutton

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If you enjoyed this episode, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and review this show on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or Spotify. It helps other listeners find this show.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

Welcome to Health-e Law, Sheppard's podcast exploring the fascinating health tech topics and trends of the day. In this episode, partner and host Sara Shanti is joined by Shoshanah Brown, Chief Population Health Officer at Popai Health, a health AI platform that turns everyday patient conversations into deep patient context for care teams. They discuss how Popai supports the non-clinical care management workforce by reducing administrative burden, why the company focuses on safety-net organizations and underserved populations, how AI can augment rather than replace the humans delivering care, and the role of trust, governance and responsible innovation in healthcare AI.

What we discuss in this episode:

• How Popai's health AI platform supports the non-clinical care management workforce

• Why reducing administrative burden matters for care managers and community health workers

• How AI-generated documentation can help meet compliance requirements and the importance of keeping a human in the loop

• Why Popai built its platform around three pillars: capture, coach and reach

• How scalable quality assurance moves beyond sampling a small share of patient calls

• Why conversation data can reveal patterns in medication adherence and missed appointments

• The importance of centering the patient's voice and building deep patient context across the care ecosystem

• Why Popai focuses on safety-net organizations and Medicaid-eligible populations

• Why AI should augment the care management workforce rather than replace it

• The role of governance and guardrails as technology outpaces regulation

• Why trust and transparency drive adoption of AI tools among patients and providers

About Shoshanah Brown

Shoshanah Brown is Chief Population Health Officer at Popai Health, which turns everyday patient conversations into deep patient context for care teams. When people share what matters most, Popai helps care teams act on it: reaching people sooner, understanding them better, spending more time on care and less on documentation.

Shoshanah began her career as a community health worker in the Peace Corps in rural Burkina Faso, West Africa, and spent the first part of her career in global health before bringing those lessons home to under-resourced communities in New York City and across the U.S. She founded and led AIRnyc for 13 years, scaling a community health worker organization born out of a community-based research project at Harlem Hospital into a Bronx-headquartered social enterprise whose CHWs meet New Yorkers where they live, addressing health and social needs across the city. She was a co-founder at Nest Health and held several roles at Cityblock Health before moving to Popai.

Shoshanah holds an M.S. in Population Health from the Harvard School of Public Health and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School—a combination that reflects her work at the intersection of public health and entrepreneurship. A recognized voice on the community health workforce, her expertise spans CHW workforce development, social care and the social determinants of health, safety-net operations, Medicaid 1115 waiver programs and community-based care management at scale.

About Sara Shanti

A partner in the Corporate practice group in Sheppard's Chicago office, and co-lead of the firm's Digital Health team, Sara Shanti's practice sits at the forefront of healthcare technology by providing practical counsel on novel innovation and complex data privacy matters. Using her medical research background and HHS experience, Sara advises providers, payors, start-ups, technology companies, and their investors and stakeholders on digital healthcare and regulatory compliance matters, including artificial intelligence (AI), augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), gamification, implantable and wearable devices, and telehealth.

At the cutting edge of advising on "data as an asset" programming, Sara's practice also supports investment in innovation and access to care initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions involving crucial, high-stakes and sensitive data, medical and wellness devices, and web-based applications and care.

Contact Information:

Shoshanah Brown

Sara Shanti

Resources:

Popai Health

Thank you for listening! Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive new episodes delivered straight to your podcast player.

If you enjoyed this episode, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and review this show on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or Spotify. It helps other listeners find this show.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

Welcome to Health-e Law, Sheppard's podcast exploring the fascinating health tech topics and trends of the day. In this episode, partner and host Sara Shanti sits down with Erik Pupo, Director of Commercial Health IT at Guidehouse, to discuss how healthcare's push toward greater connectivity and data sharing creates new cybersecurity risks, and what health systems need to do to stay ahead of emerging threats.

What we discuss in this episode:

• The current cybersecurity landscape for hospitals and health systems

• What TEFCA is and why it matters for healthcare data sharing

• The core cybersecurity practices providers of all sizes should have in place

• Cautionary tales from the field that emphasize the importance of maintaining a strong cybersecurity program

About Erik Pupo

Erik Pupo has spent more than 25 years advising healthcare organizations on technology, cybersecurity and business transformation. As Director of Commercial Health IT Advisory at Guidehouse, he helps healthcare organizations modernize their IT infrastructure as a principal strategist in cloud, security, data and AI.

Prior to joining Guidehouse, Erik served as Global Principal Practice Manager for Healthcare Cybersecurity at Amazon Web Services, helping health systems navigate the security challenges of moving critical infrastructure to the cloud. Before that, he served as Chief Information Officer at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, leading IT strategy and operations for one of the nation's most complex academic medical environments.

Earlier in his career, Erik spent nearly a decade in global consulting, first as Senior Manager at Deloitte, where he led health IT initiatives for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. He later served as Managing Director at Accenture, where he led strategic and technological transformation initiatives for providers, payers, and life sciences companies across North America.

About Sara Shanti

A partner in the Corporate practice group in Sheppard's Chicago office, and co-lead of the firm's Digital Health team, Sara Shanti's practice sits at the forefront of healthcare technology by providing practical counsel on novel innovation and complex data privacy matters. Using her medical research background and HHS experience, Sara advises providers, payors, start-ups, technology companies, and their investors and stakeholders on digital healthcare and regulatory compliance matters, including artificial intelligence (AI), augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), gamification, implantable and wearable devices, and telehealth.

At the cutting edge of advising on "data as an asset" programming, Sara's practice also supports investment in innovation and access to care initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions involving crucial, high-stakes and sensitive data, medical and wellness devices, and web-based applications and care.

Contact Information

Erik Pupo

Sara Shanti

Thank you for listening! Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive new episodes delivered straight to your podcast player every month.

If you enjoyed this episode, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or Spotify. It helps other listeners find this show.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

Welcome to Health-e Law, Sheppard's podcast exploring the fascinating health tech topics and trends of the day. In the second part of this two-part episode, Cora Han, Chief Health Data Officer for University of California Health, joins partner and host Michael Orlando to discuss the current state of AI adoption across healthcare systems, including deployment, governance challenges, regulatory developments and the future of AI-enabled care delivery.

What we discuss in this episode:

• The growing role and current state of AI adoption across healthcare delivery systems

• Ambient scribes, inbox management, coding assistance and other practical AI use cases

• Using AI to improve quality reporting and operational efficiency

• Opportunities for AI to address clinician shortages, burnout and healthcare access issues

• Expanding access to specialized care through AI-enabled care models

• The challenges of evaluating and governing a rapidly growing AI vendor ecosystem

• Adapting governance frameworks to keep pace with AI innovation

• Federal and state regulatory developments impacting healthcare AI adoption

• The importance of transparency in AI tools, including model development, performance and use

• Why implementation and workflow integration remain critical barriers to successful AI adoption

• Measuring ROI and real-world impact of AI tools in healthcare settings

About Cora Han

Cora Han is Chief Health Data Officer for University of California Health and Executive Director of the Center for Data-driven Insights and Innovation. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Health System and Provider Advisory Board for the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI).

Drawing on her extensive experience in AI strategy, regulatory advocacy, and data privacy, Cora leads efforts to establish consistent guardrails for the use of health data with AI vendors and third-party collaborators. Her work spans the full spectrum of health data challenges, from de-identification of clinical data to navigating HIPAA compliance and AI vendor relationships, making her a leading voice on responsible AI adoption in academic health systems.

Before joining UC Health, Cora spent over ten years at the Federal Trade Commission, most recently as Senior Attorney in the Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, where she focused on data privacy and consumer protection, including a term as Counsel to the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection. Prior to her tenure at the FTC, she practiced at a leading international law firm, where she counseled clients on copyright and trademark matters. Cora also served as an Adjunct Professor of Consumer Protection Law at George Mason University School of Law for five years.

Cora holds a BA in Government from Harvard University and a JD from the University of Chicago Law School.

About Michael Orlando

Michael Orlando is a partner in Sheppard's San Diego (Del Mar) office. He is team leader of the firm's Technology Transactions team, a member of the Life Sciences, Healthcare and Artificial Intelligence teams, and co-leader of the firm's Digital Health & Innovation team. Michael has more than 20 years of experience advising health technology companies, insurers, healthcare systems and providers, academic medical centers and research institutions, medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical and wellness companies on intellectual property and business transactions in key strategic areas, including EHR systems procurement and integration, telehealth, mobile health applications, clinical decision support technologies, artificial intelligence, data use, wearable devices, remote patient monitoring, medical devices and equipment, research and collaborations, patent licenses, software licenses, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, revenue cycle management, and other outsourcing transactions.

Michael founded a software-as-a-service company before entering private practice and completed an in-house secondment at a publicly traded biotechnology company, an experience that informs his practical and business-focused approach to client engagements.

Thank you for listening! Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive new episodes delivered straight to your podcast player every month.

If you enjoyed this episode, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or Spotify. It helps other listeners find this show.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

Welcome to Health-e Law, Sheppard's podcast exploring the fascinating health tech topics and trends of the day. In part one of this two-part episode, Cora Han, Chief Health Data Officer for University of California Health, joins partner and host Michael Orlando to discuss the adoption of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare, including the management of data privacy, vendor relationships and AI governance.

What we discuss in this episode:

• De-identification of protected health information in practice

• The HIPAA standards for de-identification and when to apply them

• The unique challenges unstructured clinical notes present for re-identification risk

• A layered approach to de-identification, including automated tools and human review

• Third-party certification of de-identification processes

• Key contract provisions for protecting PHI when working with AI vendors

• Hidden data training clauses in vendor agreements

• The evolving AI vendor marketplace and contract strategy

• UC Health's federated governance model for AI and data governance

• Shadow AI use and the importance of safe experimentation

• The importance of legal and compliance teams engaging early in the AI adoption process

About Cora Han

Cora Han is Chief Health Data Officer for University of California Health and Executive Director of the Center for Data-driven Insights and Innovation. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Health System and Provider Advisory Board for the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI).

Drawing on her extensive experience in AI strategy, regulatory advocacy, and data privacy, Cora leads efforts to establish consistent guardrails for the use of health data with AI vendors and third-party collaborators. Her work spans the full spectrum of health data challenges, from de-identification of clinical data to navigating HIPAA compliance and AI vendor relationships, making her a leading voice on responsible AI adoption in academic health systems.

Before joining UC Health, Cora spent over ten years at the Federal Trade Commission, most recently as Senior Attorney in the Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, where she focused on data privacy and consumer protection, including a term as Counsel to the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection. Prior to her tenure at the FTC, she practiced at a leading international law firm, where she counseled clients on copyright and trademark matters. Cora also served as an Adjunct Professor of Consumer Protection Law at George Mason University School of Law for five years.

Cora holds a BA in Government from Harvard University and a JD from the University of Chicago Law School.

About Michael Orlando

Michael Orlando is a partner in Sheppard's San Diego (Del Mar) office. He is team leader of the firm's Technology Transactions team, a member of the Life Sciences, Healthcare and Artificial Intelligence teams, and co-leader of the firm's Digital Health & Innovation team. Michael has more than 20 years of experience advising health technology companies, insurers, healthcare systems and providers, academic medical centers and research institutions, medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical and wellness companies on intellectual property and business transactions in key strategic areas, including EHR systems procurement and integration, telehealth, mobile health applications, clinical decision support technologies, artificial intelligence, data use, wearable devices, remote patient monitoring, medical devices and equipment, research and collaborations, patent licenses, software licenses, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, revenue cycle management, and other outsourcing transactions.

Michael founded a software-as-a-service company before entering private practice and completed an in-house secondment at a publicly traded biotechnology company, an experience that informs his practical and business-focused approach to client engagements.

Thank you for listening! Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive new episodes delivered straight to your podcast player every month.

If you enjoyed this episode, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or Spotify. It helps other listeners find this show.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

Welcome to Health-e Law, Sheppard's podcast exploring the fascinating health tech topics and trends of the day. In this episode, Ernie Ianace, founder and CEO of CareAlly, joins partner and host Michael Orlando to explain how AI orchestration can allow skilled nursing facilities to automate complex workflows, while keeping humans in the loop for clinical and regulatory decisions.

What we discuss in this episode:

• What CareAlly is, and the day-to-day issues it addresses for skilled nursing facilities

• How executives should approach choosing the first workflow to automate in a modular AI architecture

• What makes a good starting point to quickly demonstrate value without threatening existing staff

• What human-in-the-loop looks like in practice for operators, clinicians and compliance teams

• How the implementation differs in the skilled nursing environment compared to other healthcare settings

• How real-time data sharing changes care management, denial prevention and outcomes in these value-based arrangements

• How to avoid AI sprawl of various disconnected, independent systems

Upcoming Webinar

Register now for our April 23 webinar: AI for SNFs: A Roadmap for Reducing Costs, Improving Care and Gaining a Competitive Advantage.

About Ernie Ianace

Ernie Ianace is the CEO of CareAlly, an AI orchestration platform purpose-built to address healthcare's most urgent operational challenges: workforce shortages and care coordination breakdowns.

A founder and growth-focused executive with more than two decades of experience, Ernie has built and scaled technology companies across healthcare, senior living, cybersecurity, IoT, and AI. Throughout his career, he has led global commercial teams, launched new markets, and forged strategic partnerships that have collectively generated over $3 billion in exit value.

In addition to his role at CareAlly, Ernie serves as Chief Commercial Officer of InsightAlly.ai, the parent company behind a versatile AI orchestration engine serving healthcare, government, education, and enterprise productivity sectors. In this role, he drives strategic commercialization and market expansion, helping organizations streamline complex workflows and reduce operational friction at scale.

About Michael Orlando

Michael Orlando is a partner in Sheppard's San Diego (Del Mar) office. He is team leader of the firm's Technology Transactions team, a member of the Life Sciences, Healthcare and Artificial Intelligence teams, and co-leader of the firm's Digital Health & Innovation team. Michael has more than 20 years of experience advising health technology companies, insurers, healthcare systems and providers, academic medical centers and research institutions, medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical and wellness companies on intellectual property and business transactions in key strategic areas, including EHR systems procurement and integration, telehealth, mobile health applications, clinical decision support technologies, artificial intelligence, data use, wearable devices, remote patient monitoring, medical devices and equipment, research and collaborations, patent licenses, software licenses, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, revenue cycle management, and other outsourcing transactions.

Michael founded a software-as-a-service company before entering private practice and completed an in-house secondment at a publicly traded biotechnology company, an experience that informs his practical and business-focused approach to client engagements.

Resources:

CareAlly

Thank you for listening! Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive new episodes delivered straight to your podcast player every month.

If you enjoyed this episode, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or Spotify. It helps other listeners find this show.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

Welcome to Health-e Law, Sheppard's podcast exploring the fascinating health tech topics and trends of the day. In this episode, Sheppard partner and host Michael Orlando is joined by associate Michael Sutton to discuss their experience at ViVE 2026, the premier conference for digital health innovators and leaders.

What we discuss in this episode:

• The current prevalence and role of AI in healthcare

• How limited interoperability of legacy systems hinders AI adoption

• How AI has changed the way data is treated

• Potential healthcare use cases for agentic AI

• Challenges when using AI in the healthcare setting

• Why the concept of a "Human-in-the-Loop" is particularly important in healthcare

• The quality metrics providers should measure when evaluating AI

• The factors that ultimately determine whether an AI tool succeeds or fails in healthcare settings

About Michael Sutton

An associate in the Corporate practice group at Sheppard's Dallas office, Michael Sutton specializes in cutting-edge and disruptive areas of practice, blending healthcare, technology and legal compliance. In particular, he focuses on HIPAA and privacy regulations, considering their relationship with technological advancements in both healthcare and consumer sectors. He is skilled in negotiations regarding data usage and ownership rights, guiding clients on marketing or integrating technological innovations while navigating emerging regulations in digital healthcare, including artificial intelligence, web tracking, information blocking, offshoring and de-identification.

Michael has managed investigations, worked to resolve active breach incidents and advised clients on healthcare privacy and technology matters. He supports clients navigating HIPAA and other privacy laws to ensure their objectives are achieved within all legal and regulatory requirements. Michael also provides comprehensive regulatory services to a range of healthcare participants, including investors, managed care organizations, health plans and medical groups. In particular, he has tackled operational and contractual negotiations, licensing, compliance, and fraud considerations and conducted regulatory due diligence for transactions, including mergers and acquisitions.

Michael also supports transactions involving tech companies and healthcare providers, guiding negotiations related to software and service relationships while identifying vulnerabilities in targets and devising creative solutions to address them.

About Michael Orlando

Michael Orlando is a partner in Sheppard's San Diego (Del Mar) office. He is team leader of the firm's Technology Transactions team, a member of the Life Sciences, Healthcare and Artificial Intelligence teams, and co-leader of the firm's Digital Health & Innovation team. Michael has more than 20 years of experience advising health technology companies, insurers, healthcare systems and providers, academic medical centers and research institutions, medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical and wellness companies on intellectual property and business transactions in key strategic areas, including EHR systems procurement and integration, telehealth, mobile health applications, clinical decision support technologies, artificial intelligence, data use, wearable devices, remote patient monitoring, medical devices and equipment, research and collaborations, patent licenses, software licenses, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, revenue cycle management, and other outsourcing transactions.

Michael founded a software-as-a-service company before entering private practice and completed an in-house secondment at a publicly traded biotechnology company, an experience that informs his practical and business-focused approach to client engagements.

Resources: ViVE

Thank you for listening! Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive new episodes delivered straight to your podcast player every month.

If you enjoyed this episode, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or Spotify. It helps other listeners find this show.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

Welcome to Health-e Law, Sheppard's podcast exploring the fascinating health tech topics and trends of the day. In this episode, partner and host Michael Orlando welcomes Dr. Newton Howard, founder and CEO of ni2o, to discuss KIWI, the AI-driven brain implant his company is developing. Dr. Howard also shares where he sees this technology taking healthcare in the next decade, and the privacy and ethical considerations surrounding technology with such profound implications for the human mind.

What we discuss in this episode:

• How KIWI works and how it uses AI to treat neurological disorders.

• Why early detection is key to the way ni2o proposes to treat Alzheimer's disease.

• The impact this technology will have on brain health and healthcare in the next decade.

• What guardrails should be considered in deploying these technologies.

• The privacy risks raised by the use of brain tech.

• Whether these types of devices could be used to manipulate thought or memory.

• Key considerations for the health industry in the use of brain tech.

About Dr. Newton Howard

Dr. Newton Howard is the founder and CEO of ni2o, a neurotechnology company developing AI-powered brain-computer interfaces to treat debilitating neurological disorders and ultimately enhance human cognitive performance. A neuroscientist, inventor and professor, he holds advanced degrees in Mathematics and Neurosurgery from Oxford University and in Cognitive Informatics and Medical Sciences from the Sorbonne.

Dr. Howard's career spans academia, the U.S. military and the private sector, with professorships at Oxford, Georgetown University and MIT, where he directed the Synthetic Intelligence Lab. His foundational scientific contributions—among them the Theory of Intention Awareness, the Fundamental Code Unit and the Brain Code—have opened new pathways in predictive intelligence and the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions. His research has made its way into technologies used by millions of people every day, including Wi-Fi hotspots, Google Earth and Google Translate, and he has collaborated extensively with the Department of Defense on advanced defense applications of brain science and AI.

Dr. Howard also founded the Howard Brain Sciences Foundation, which funds research in brain disease and neurological treatment, and C4ADS, a data-driven think tank focused on global conflict and transnational security.

About Michael Orlando

Michael Orlando is a partner in Sheppard's San Diego (Del Mar) office. He is team leader of the firm's Technology Transactions team, a member of the Life Sciences, Healthcare and Artificial Intelligence teams, and co-leader of the firm's Digital Health & Innovation team. Michael has more than 20 years of experience advising health technology companies, insurers, healthcare systems and providers, academic medical centers and research institutions, medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical and wellness companies on intellectual property and business transactions in key strategic areas, including EHR systems procurement and integration, telehealth, mobile health applications, clinical decision support technologies, artificial intelligence, data use, wearable devices, remote patient monitoring, medical devices and equipment, research and collaborations, patent licenses, software licenses, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, revenue cycle management, and other outsourcing transactions.

Michael founded a software-as-a-service company before entering private practice and completed an in-house secondment at a publicly traded biotechnology company, an experience that informs his practical and business-focused approach to client engagements.

Resources:

ni2o

Thank you for listening! Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive new episodes delivered straight to your podcast player every month.

If you enjoyed this episode, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or Spotify. It helps other listeners find this show.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

Welcome to Health-e Law, Sheppard's podcast exploring the fascinating health tech topics and trends of the day. In this episode, partner and host Michael Orlando welcomes Adam Herbst, a partner in Sheppard's Healthcare industry team, to explore key insights from the 2026 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference and discuss both the pitfalls and opportunities the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA) presents for the healthcare sector.

What we discuss in this episode:

• What does the increased use of technology in healthcare mean for the aging population?

• What key considerations should healthcare leaders keep in mind as they adapt to OBBBA when caring for aging populations?

• Practical challenges providers will encounter as they seek to deploy technology solutions to address additional OBBBA restrictions.

• How might OBBBA change the way health systems negotiate partnerships or structure payer contracts?

• What are some positive outcomes that could arise with these changes?

• Which anticipated changes in healthcare delivery excite you most about the future of health equity?

About Adam Herbst

Adam Herbst is a nationally regarded authority at the intersection of healthcare law, policy and delivery, with nearly three decades of experience spanning government, health systems, nonprofits and the private sector. He advises on the full range of corporate and transactional healthcare matters including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and financings involving hospitals, long-term care facilities, managed care organizations and private equity funds. He is also widely recognized for his mastery of Medicaid law, financing and policy. His Medicaid work includes 1115 waivers, state-directed payments, managed care contracting, HCBS waiver design, PACE program expansion and long-term care reimbursement across multiple states. Adam regularly structures governance arrangements, negotiates complex management and administrative services agreements and guides providers and investors through multi-state regulatory approvals and compliance regimes.

Clients value Adam's ability to combine inside knowledge of government with sophisticated deal experience and a genuine understanding of mission-driven care. Whether guiding a multi-state transaction, structuring a PACE or HCBS program, advising on Medicaid waivers or supporting aging and disability service organizations, he brings a holistic approach that integrates law, policy, operations and strategy, helping clients build sustainable, compliant growth models while advancing care for vulnerable populations.

Before joining Sheppard, Adam served as Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health and as a special advisor to two governors, where he led major initiatives in Medicaid transformation, long-term care reform, and managed care modernization, and chaired New York's Master Plan for Aging. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a critical leadership role in the state's emergency response—coordinating with federal partners, standing up COVID-only nursing facilities, managing hospital surge capacity and supporting one of the largest vaccine distribution efforts in the country. His career has also included running a children's hospital, leading a major community health center and advising faith-based organizations and disability service agencies through periods of growth, transformation and financial stress.

About Michael Orlando

Michael Orlando is a partner in Sheppard's San Diego (Del Mar) office. He is team leader of the firm's Technology Transactions team, a member of the Life Sciences, Healthcare and Artificial Intelligence teams, and co-leader of the firm's Digital Health & Innovation team. Michael has more than 20 years of experience advising health technology companies, insurers, healthcare systems and providers, academic medical centers and research institutions, medical device manufacturers, and pharmaceutical and wellness companies on intellectual property and business transactions in key strategic areas, including EHR systems procurement and integration, telehealth, mobile health applications, clinical decision support technologies, artificial intelligence, data use, wearable devices, remote patient monitoring, and other medical devices, research and collaborations, patent licenses, software licenses, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, revenue cycle management, and other outsourcing transactions.

Michael founded a software-as-a-service company before entering private practice and completed an in-house secondment at a publicly traded biotechnology company, an experience that informs his practical and business-focused approach to client engagements.

Thank you for listening! Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive new episodes delivered straight to your podcast player every month.

If you enjoyed this episode, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or Spotify. It helps other listeners find this show.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

Welcome to Health-e Law, Sheppard's podcast exploring the fascinating health tech topics and trends of the day. In this episode, partner and host Michael Orlando welcomes Eric Newsom, partner and Transactions lead of Sheppard's national Healthcare industry team, to discuss key takeaways from the 2026 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference and explore what growing AI adoption, shifting reimbursement models and evolving macroeconomics mean for M&A and strategic partnerships.

What we discuss in this episode:

• How the conference addressed the growing focus on AI-powered healthcare platforms.

• The key factors driving adoption of AI technologies across the healthcare industry.

• How providers and payers are adjusting their M&A and joint‑venture strategies amid shifting reimbursement models and evolving macroeconomic pressures.

• The top three priorities for healthcare leaders when advancing AI adoption and structuring strategic partnerships.

• Topics not covered at the conference that Eric would have liked to learn more about.

About Eric Newsom

Eric Newsom is a partner in the Corporate practice group in Sheppard's San Francisco office and serves as Transactions Lead of the firm's national Healthcare industry team.

Eric's nationwide practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, strategic joint ventures, corporate reorganizations, private equity and venture capital transactions, and corporate governance and compliance matters. Eric has represented buyers, sellers, investors, and intermediaries in numerous business combinations, buyouts, and investment transactions, with particular emphasis on the healthcare industry.

In his healthcare and health technology practice, Eric advises on mergers, acquisitions, affiliations, comprehensive corporate reorganizations, multi-channel joint ventures, and private equity investment and disposition transactions. His experience spans for-profit, nonprofit, and government-owned hospital and provider systems; academic medical centers; health plans; physician groups; ambulatory and specialty service providers; and startup and growth-stage companies in the healthcare information technology sector.

About Michael Orlando

Michael Orlando is a partner in Sheppard's San Diego (Del Mar) office. He is team leader of the firm's Technology Transactions team, a member of the Life Sciences, Healthcare and Artificial Intelligence teams, and co-leader of the firm's Digital Health & Innovation team. Michael has more than 20 years of experience advising health technology companies, insurers, healthcare systems and providers, academic medical centers and research institutions, medical device manufacturers, and pharmaceutical and wellness companies on intellectual property and business transactions in key strategic areas, including EHR systems procurement and integration, telehealth, mobile health applications, clinical decision support technologies, artificial intelligence, data use, wearable devices, remote patient monitoring, and other medical devices, research and collaborations, patent licenses, software licenses, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, revenue cycle management, and other outsourcing transactions.

Michael founded a software-as-a-service company before entering private practice and completed an in-house secondment at a publicly traded biotechnology company, an experience that informs his practical and business-focused approach to client engagements.

Contact Info

Eric Newsom

Michael Orlando

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