California's Prior Authorization Remodel: SB 306 and the New Role of DHCS

Erik Wochna is a Senior Managing Partner at Albert and Mackenzie’s Inland Empire office, where he specializes in defending workers’ compensation claims, conducting exposure analysis, and overseeing the firm’s medical rating program based on the AMA Guides/Permanent Disability schedules. Throughout his career, he has secured numerous Take Nothing decisions across a wide range of affirmative defenses, partnered with the District Attorney and Department of Insurance to obtain restitution orders in fraud cases, and successfully reduced clients’ exposure through skilled doctor cross-examinations. He holds a J.D. from the University of West Los Angeles School of Law and a B.S. in Business Law and Finance from California State University, and is a member of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association, Los Angeles County Bar Association, and American Bar Association.

Glenn T. Melchinger is a counsel in Dentons’ Honolulu office. Glenn helps clients efficiently find solutions and take action.  Glenn’s practice focuses on complex civil and commercial disputes, including those involving computer systems including installations and TCPA, electronic evidence and technology, and defense of products liability cases involving complex scientific and medical causation issues. 

Glenn writes and speaks Japanese and has also helped Japanese clients with a wide array of disputes, regulatory issues, business formation, lease negotiations, real property sales, business acquisition, and other transactions, and has handled disputes in many fora, including bankruptcy court, the Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission, state and federal trial and appeals courts, and the International Trade Commission. 

Ian R. Friedman focuses his practice on professional liability defense, complex commercial litigation, and professional ethics. Ian is a Certified Specialist in Legal Malpractice Law by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

In his practice, Ian represents business entities, as well as individuals in multi-million dollar disputes involving the ownership and operation of corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships. He also has previous experience litigating cases involving school bond issues, investment fraud, wrongful deaths, federal and state housing claims, real estate issues, ADA compliance and employment claims. In his professional liability defense practice, Ian has successfully represented attorneys, real estate brokers, and investment advisers against claims of breach of fiduciary duty, negligence and fraud.

Ian has continually obtained early resolutions for his clients through California’s Anti-SLAPP statute, summary judgment, demurrer, and motions to dismiss. He has protected his clients’ right to litigate in their chosen venue by succeeding on motions to transfer venue and motions to compel arbitration. Ian has also assisted in the trial of multiple cases to verdict including serving as co-trial counsel examining and cross-examining critical witnesses during a two-week bench trial.

Within the community, Ian is an active member of San Diego Defense Lawyers, and was named Young Attorney of the Year in 2016. In 2024, he has the privilege of serving as that organization’s President. He has achieved the highest AV®-Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Ian earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2013 where he completed a concentration in business and corporate law. He worked as a judicial extern with the San Diego County Superior Court and as a law clerk for several San Diego law firms and public agencies. He is a former newspaper reporter and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona.

Hilary Bowman is the Founder and CEO of Querious. Prior to starting the legal tech company, she advised over 40 healthcare startups on the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark Law, and HIPAA as healthcare counsel for Redesign Health; a New York City-based company that ideates, funds, and launches healthcare startups. Hilary also previously served as product counsel and healthcare regulatory counsel at IBM Watson Health (RTP), including through divestment of the business unit to a private equity firm in 2022. Hilary developed her subject matter expertise through prior roles at global law firms, K&L Gates (RTP) and Womble Bond Dickinson (Raleigh & Greensboro). She also clerked for administrative law judges at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. She holds a J.D. from Case Western Reserve University and a B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford University. Hilary is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and Massachusetts.

Michael J. Timpane, Esq. brings more than four decades of experience resolving complex construction disputes involving payment claims, delay and disruption issues, and related counterclaims. His work spans major public and private projects, including water treatment and pumping facilities, prisons, schools, public buildings, and large commercial, retail and residential developments.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Timpane has resolved more than 900 matters in roles including mediator, arbitrator, early neutral evaluator, court-appointed referee, special master, project neutral and chair or member of dispute resolution boards.

Mr. Timpane began his career as a trial lawyer focused on construction, surety, construction defect, real estate, insurance coverage and complex commercial litigation before transitioning into dispute resolution. He later joined JAMS, serving from 2008 to 2012 on its Global Engineering and Construction Panel, as well as its Construction Defect, Insurance Coverage and Real Property panels.

In 2012, Mr. Timpane returned to private practice while continuing his work as a neutral, combining construction and surety litigation with a robust alternative dispute resolution (ADR) practice as a law firm partner. He continued to develop his reputation as an evaluative, merit-based mediator who stays with the parties and the case, following up until resolution is achieved. As an arbitrator, he handled increasingly large and complex matters and was recognized by counsel as a highly regarded arbitrator for construction mega-projects, based on his credentials and extensive experience.

Lizbeth Hasse has served as mediator, arbitrator, negotiator, or special master since 1998 in over 1,000 matters in the United States as well as internationally. Bringing 30+ years of international experience in the fields of intellectual property, business operations, entertainment and media, and technology law, Ms. Hasse has proven sophistication to manage a wide range of disputes.

Ms. Hasse is best known for her commitment to the process and its participants. Her resourceful insights, tenacity, intellectual acumen, and masterful communication skills enable her to resolve high stakes and multi-party cases involving highly talented lawyers and their clients. Ms. Hasse is also a mentor to new mediators and frequently speaks and writes about mediation and intellectual property.