As Deputy Director of the Health Care Policy Program, Julie Barnes oversees the Program’s educational and outreach activities. With a team of policy analysts, writers, researchers and insurance market and delivery system experts, Julie directs the Program’s efforts to educate industry stakeholders and policymakers about the issues in the health care reform debate, facilitate discussion among the key players and identify areas of agreement. Ms. Barnes is particularly involved in health information technology proposals, state reform efforts and legal barriers to legislative solutions.

Prior to joining New America, Ms. Barnes was counsel in the Health Care Practice Group of Crowell & Moring’s Washington, D.C. office. She focused her practice on health law, advising and counseling managed care organizations, self-funded employers, behavioral health organizations, disease management companies and health-related trade associations on state and federal regulatory and litigation matters. As a litigator, Ms. Barnes defended health care organizations in court, administrative hearings and arbitrations regarding payment and benefit disputes, breach of contract claims, internal grievance procedures, coordination of benefits, subrogation rights and other legal matters. Ms. Barnes has expertise with numerous statutes and regulations related to health care and employee benefits, including ERISA, HIPAA portability and privacy, Medicare, Medicaid, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, TRICARE, EMTALA, and various state statutes governing client operations.

Ms. Barnes is a frequent writer and speaker on various issues related to the health care system. Most notably, Ms. Barnes is the Editor-In-Chief of MANAGED CARE LITIGATION, a textbook published by the Bureau of National Affairs in 2005, and supplement in 2007. Julie is also a former Capitol Hill staffer. Ms. Barnes received her law degree from American University’s Washington College of Law and undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa. She is a member of the Maryland and District of Columbia Bars.