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Alumna Elizabeth Walker, ’99, joined Ice Miller attorney Kevin Woodhouse in discussing “Mergers and Acquisitions in the Trump Era: Expect the Unexpected” in the opening lecture of the IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law Hall Center for Law and Health Grand Rounds Lecture Series.

The event, on Thursday, September 14, focused on key legal considerations in healthcare mergers and acquisitions at stake during a period most notable for what Walker called “a lack of clarity” from Washington D.C.

Walker is Principal at BDC Advisors. In addition to her J.D. from IU McKinney, she earned a Masters of Health Administration from IU. Kevin Woodhouse is a Partner at Ice Miller, where his primary practice concentration is in health care.

While the long-term political fate of the landmark Affordable Care Act is as uncertain as ever, merger mania continues as 10 “mega-deals” were announced in the second quarter of 2017 alone, Walker noted. Deals are driven by several factors, including implementation of coordinated care systems and capital access for investment in technology and facilities, not by profits alone, she said. Walker also discussed pressure on the rural health safety net in the wake of hospital closures. Indiana has not been impacted by this trend yet, but the future of rural hospitals are in jeopardy, she said.

The current environment calls for “a disciplined decision-making process,” when it comes to healthcare merger and acquisition activity, according to Walker.

Woodhouse offered his expertise on the merger and acquisition process, including casting for potential partners while considering other factors, including the unique aspects of Indiana’s county hospital statute, employee retention, capital commitments, tail insurance, and scrutiny by regulators and stakeholders.

He also offered some advice to students who gathered in the Wynne Courtroom for the lecture, noting that health law is a great area in which to practice. “There’s always something new to do,” he said.