Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Board Leadership
Websites
Bar Admission
Key Legal Proficiencies
Key Leadership Competencies
Timeline
Generic

STEPHANIE J. MILLS

Brunswick,ME

Summary

Entrepreneurial business leader and trusted legal advisor to the CEO, President and Board of Directors, with multifaceted experience in healthcare, Fortune 500 insurance, and litigation. Creative strategic thinker driving company growth by leveraging deep knowledge of healthcare finance, law and local market to solve business problems, mitigate risk, and create opportunities. Action-oriented leader of teams across multiple divisions: legal, compliance, risk and quality assurance, communications, government relations, coding education, and clinical documentation deep expertise in negotiating contracts and joint ventures to drive revenue. Ability to engage, mobilize, and influence stakeholders to produce positive business outcomes. Passionate brand advocate and communications strategist helping to elevate and protect company reputation by guiding corporate communications. Talent for adapting messaging to appeal to diverse audiences. Fantastic critical thinker connects seemingly separate details and keep up-to-date on regulations. Proficient in critical thinking and solutions-oriented problem-solving.

Overview

21
21
years of professional experience

Work History

Chief Legal and Compliance Officer

INTERMED, P.A.
South Portland, USA
09.2015 - Current
  • Company Overview: Chief Legal and Compliance Officer of an independent multi-specialty medical practice and ASC with four campuses and 150 providers serving 110,000 patients across southern Maine
  • $150 Million in gross revenue
  • Reporting to CEO, serve as inside counsel while maintaining ownership of contracts, payer relationships, government relations, and multiple operational teams
  • Integral role in strategic planning and decision-making to advance value-based initiatives and business development
  • Support multiple committees of the board, including Finance, Chiefs, and Quality Improvement; co-chair the Quality Assurance and Compliance Oversight Committees
  • Successfully negotiated all corporate contracts, including ACO, vendor, data use, shareholder, business associate, and employment agreements
  • Renegotiated the MaineHealth service agreement
  • Negotiated lucrative payer contracts and complex renewals, while reducing risk by keeping majority of contracts contingency-free
  • Designed winning contract strategies despite increasingly volatile market
  • Increased risk score 20%+, and propelled negotiating power, by forming a Clinical Documentation Improvement team of registered nurses certified as risk adjustment coders
  • Created the legally compliant process
  • Championed InterMed as brand ambassador and liaison between the company and all health plans
  • Eliminated liability following a data breach (2019) by securing discharges from OIG and state Attorneys General
  • Spearheaded all legal and communications, and managed internal due diligence investigation
  • Built and grew legal/compliance/contracting/risk management program from 1 individual to a team of 22; with the addition through re-structure of the Health information Management and Prescription refill teams, now oversee a combined staff of 70+
  • Spearheaded launch of telehealth program, in partnership with CMIO
  • Co-developed program design and implementation strategy
  • Negotiated with technology vendor
  • Collaborated with physicians to create workflows
  • Within 3 weeks of launch, recaptured 30% of business lost during early pandemic
  • Chief Legal and Compliance Officer of an independent multi-specialty medical practice and ASC with four campuses and 150 providers serving 110,000 patients across southern Maine
  • $150 Million in gross revenue
  • Responded promptly to complaints received from employees or customers.
  • Advised management on best practices in compliance-related matters.
  • Reviewed contracts for compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
  • Performed fact-finding research by investigating, collecting and analyzing data and compiling in report format.
  • Established internal controls and processes to support compliance through project management and engagement of key stakeholders.
  • Maintained and revised policy procedures for general operation of compliance program.
  • Planned and executed compliance audits to check company policies, procedures and controls.
  • Recruited, hired, and oversaw team of personnel maintaining compliance.
  • Provided guidance on legal requirements related to the organization's operations.

Senior Provider Network Manager

ANTHEM BLUE CROSS & BLUE SHIELD
South Portland, USA
10.2012 - 09.2015
  • Managed Anthem’s contracting relationships in Maine and negotiated fee-for-service and accountable care (ACO) agreements with provider groups, hospitals, and health systems
  • Implemented cost containment and high-quality clinical gateways related to programs such as Anthem’s Enhanced Personal Health Care programs, and custom arrangements
  • Represented Anthem at Maine Health Management Coalition
  • Negotiated the state’s 1st full upside-downside risk arrangement, transforming accountability by measuring providers on total cost of care & introducing pay-for-performance model
  • Secured the lowest rate of increase in Anthem’s history (at the time) with MaineHealth, the state’s largest provider system and Anthem’s 2nd-largest customer
  • The high-profile renewal resulted in significant, positive business impact
  • Achieved advantageous contract renewals with Maine’s two largest independent specialty practices (in 2013 and 2014)
  • Negotiated contracts significantly under budget, while maintaining strong relationships
  • Established data sharing arrangements with Maine’s three largest health systems
  • Negotiated HIPAA and data security issues with local and national counsel and ensured compliance across 3 unique IT systems
  • Helped Anthem pioneer coverage under the ACA, enabling sale of products on the national exchange by helping create Maine’s 1st 'narrow network' of hospitals and launching Health Insurance Exchange business
  • Drafted nondisclosure agreements and contracts
  • Collaborated with senior leaders and outside counsel to win disputes from unincluded providers at the state level
  • Proactively prevented and mitigated issues such as potential antitrust considerations
  • Secured 3 key facilities’ narrow network participation by negotiating deeply discounted rates
  • Prepared and coached executives for testimony at network adequacy and product migration hearings before the Maine Bureau of Insurance

Associate Attorney

MCTEAGUE HIGBEE
Topsham, USA
09.2005 - 06.2009
  • Represented clients in state and federal courts, MHRC and EEOC on cases involving medical malpractice, personal injury, civil rights, and employment discrimination
  • $750K jury verdict in Harding vs Cianbro, one of the largest awards for disability discrimination in Maine at that time (second chair at trial and involved at all stages of litigation and appeal).
  • Negotiated resolutions of cases with defense attorneys and judges.
  • Counseled clients on their rights under the applicable laws.
  • Provided legal advice and consultation to clients on a wide range of issues, ensuring they are informed of their rights, obligations, and legal options.
  • Collaborated with legal teams, paralegals, and administrative staff to coordinate case preparation and manage workload efficiently.
  • Interpreted recent court opinions and current legal research to remain current with developments.
  • Coordinated discovery efforts including document requests and responses from third parties.
  • Leveraged knowledge of precedents and applicable laws to determine probable case outcomes.

Law Clerk

MCTEAGUE HIGBEE
Topsham, USA
10.2004 - 09.2005

Student Attorney

CUMBERLAND LEGAL AID CLINIC
Portland, USA
01.2005 - 05.2005

Summer Associate

RUDMAN & WINCHELL
Bangor, USA
06.2004 - 08.2004

Extern

MAINE PATENT PROGRAM
Portland, USA
01.2004 - 03.2004

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.) -

UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SCHOOL OF LAW
Portland, ME
01.2005

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Biology and Environmental Science

TUFTS UNIVERSITY
Medford, MA
01.2001

Skills

  • Negotiation Strategy and Execution
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Crisis Management
  • Communications


  • Strategic Partnerships
  • Strategic Planning
  • Medical/Legal and Corporate Risk Management



  • Medical Malpractice
  • Mediation

Board Leadership

  • MIDWIFERY EDUCATION ACCREDITATION COUNCIL, Ann Arbor, MI, Board Member & Treasurer, 01/14, 12/16
  • BIRTHWISE MIDWIFERY SCHOOL, Bridgton, ME, Board President, 01/09, 12/11

Bar Admission

  • Maine
  • Connecticut
  • Federal District Court, District of Maine
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit

Key Legal Proficiencies

  • Contracts
  • Employment
  • Medicare Policy
  • Telemedicine
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Mediation

Key Leadership Competencies

  • Negotiation Strategy and Execution
  • Crisis Management
  • Communications
  • Compliance | Ethics
  • Stakeholder Management
  • Strategic Partnerships
  • Strategic Planning
  • Medical/Legal and Corporate Risk Management

Timeline

Chief Legal and Compliance Officer

INTERMED, P.A.
09.2015 - Current

Senior Provider Network Manager

ANTHEM BLUE CROSS & BLUE SHIELD
10.2012 - 09.2015

Associate Attorney

MCTEAGUE HIGBEE
09.2005 - 06.2009

Student Attorney

CUMBERLAND LEGAL AID CLINIC
01.2005 - 05.2005

Law Clerk

MCTEAGUE HIGBEE
10.2004 - 09.2005

Summer Associate

RUDMAN & WINCHELL
06.2004 - 08.2004

Extern

MAINE PATENT PROGRAM
01.2004 - 03.2004

Juris Doctor (J.D.) -

UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SCHOOL OF LAW

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Biology and Environmental Science

TUFTS UNIVERSITY

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STEPHANIE J. MILLS