Amanda Bast
Chicago,IL
Summary
Seasoned Associate General Counsel with broad experience in corporate law, risk management, and contract negotiation. Possess strong skills in legal research, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution. Have successfully advised on strategic business decisions while mitigating risks and ensuring adherence to applicable laws and regulations. Demonstrated leadership in fostering interdisciplinary collaboration for effective problem-solving.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Associate General Counsel
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
Chicago, IL
09.2022 - Current
- Negotiate commercial contracts with Health Plans and Vendors, including data use and licensing agreements, hosting agreements, statements of work and other agreements that involve BCBSA data, PHI and/or PII.
- Advise the internal business operations team on legal issues related to healthcare regulations and data privacy laws, including plan compliance with the Consolidated Appropriations Act.
- Provide legal support for clinical initiatives involving pharmaceutical drug coverage, health equity, maternal health and behavioral health.
- Counsel and support BCBSA governance committees and regularly assess risk on new initiatives.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with various internal departments such as Market Solutions and Finance to achieve company goals and operational excellence.
Associate Legal Counsel
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS)
Rosemont, IL
04.2019 - 09.2022
- Primary legal contact for drafting, review and negotiation of all company commercial contracts, including hosting agreements for meeting services software, data access agreements and agreements with outside vendors, including large hotel groups, education providers and technology companies.
- Advised internal business units and the Board of Trustees on various legal risk issues that arise within the medical specialty and recommend appropriate action, including compliance with state and federal regulations.
- Collaborated with Finance Department to modernize contract review and approval process to include full electronic processing and monitoring throughout contract lifecycle.
- Managed relationship with outside counsel for litigation and trademark matters.
- Served as primary legal contact for the Commission on Professional Conduct, a committee which reviews and investigates misconduct of oral and maxillofacial surgeons with state licensing boards.
Associate Attorney, Medicare Compliance Department
Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C.
Chicago, IL
08.2018 - 04.2019
- Negotiated directly with Medicare on amounts owed in workers’ compensation cases through written legal arguments on behalf of insurance company clients, and advised insurance company clients on various risk issues.
- Drafted and reviewed workers’ compensation settlement contracts to reflect Medicare’s future interests.
Compliance Specialist
Centene Corporation
Chicago, IL
01.2018 - 07.2018
- Reviewed changes to contracts and amendments including business associate agreements, confidentiality agreements, master services agreements, statements of work, and other commercial agreements.
- Analyzed key contract provisions and ensured company compliance with applicable health care regulations.
- Performed breach assessments on potential employee HIPAA privacy violations and reported accordingly to OCR.
Office of General Counsel Paralegal (2012-2017); Policy Analyst (2017-2018)
American Medical Association
Chicago, IL
04.2012 - 01.2018
- Independently drafted, reviewed, edited and negotiated license agreements for hospital systems, pharmaceutical companies and government agencies with values between $5,000 and $500,000 for access to JAMA content.
- Managed approximately 40-50 contracts monthly from initial request, through negotiations, to final signature using a contracts management system as a first point of contact within the Office of General Counsel.
Education
Juris Doctor - Health Law Certificate
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Chicago, IL05.2017
Master of Science - Public Service Management
DePaul University, School of Public Service
Chicago, IL01.2010
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science and Sociology, Specialization in Law, Criminology & Deviance
University of Michigan, School of Literature, Science & the Arts
Ann Arbor, MI01.2005
Skills
- Contract negotiation
- Regulatory compliance
- Stakeholder engagement
- Corporate governance
- Risk assessment
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Data privacy
- Project management
Certification
Admitted to Illinois Bar, November 2017
Accomplishments
Postpartum Depression: Why Increased Access to Screening will Improve a New Mother’s Mental Health, Advance Directive, Volume 35, Issue 2, Spring 2016
Timeline
Associate General Counsel
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
09.2022 - Current
Associate Legal Counsel
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS)
04.2019 - 09.2022
Associate Attorney, Medicare Compliance Department
Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C.
08.2018 - 04.2019
Compliance Specialist
Centene Corporation
01.2018 - 07.2018
Office of General Counsel Paralegal (2012-2017); Policy Analyst (2017-2018)
American Medical Association
04.2012 - 01.2018
Juris Doctor - Health Law Certificate
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Master of Science - Public Service Management
DePaul University, School of Public Service
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science and Sociology, Specialization in Law, Criminology & Deviance
University of Michigan, School of Literature, Science & the Arts
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