Contract Negotiations Research Articles

Contract Law and Artificial Intelligence: Examine the Implications of AI on Contract Negotiation and Execution, Including the Challenges of Automated Contracting

Contract Law and Artificial Intelligence: Examine the Implications of AI on Contract Negotiation and Execution, Including the Challenges of Automated Contracting

Analysis of NBA player salary based on multiple linear regression model

Abstract. This study explores the use of machine learning techniques to predict NBA player salaries. Traditional salary evaluation methods often rely on subjective expert judgment, whereas data-driven approaches can provide more objective and accurate predictions. With the advancement of data analysis techniques and machine learning algorithms, it is now feasible to predict player salaries based on performance data. This study employs advanced statistical and machine learning techniques to analyze detailed player performance data, including points scored, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, to establish a data- and algorithm-based salary prediction model. This model can assist team management in making more scientific decisions during contract negotiations and player acquisitions, thereby avoiding the overvaluation or undervaluation of players and achieving a more balanced and fair salary distribution. Accurate salary predictions help teams allocate their limited salary cap more effectively, optimizing budget management and enhancing overall team competitiveness. This study not only demonstrates the practical value of data analysis and machine learning methods in the sports field but also promotes the further development of data science in sports management. Additionally, the results of the prediction model can provide valuable references for fans and media, enhancing their understanding of player salaries and team management strategies. This transparency enriches the overall fan experience and media coverage of the sport, facilitating more informed discussions and debates about player value and team decisions.

Optimizing contract negotiations in clinical research: Legal strategies for safeguarding sponsors, vendors, and institutions in complex trial environments

This paper examines the complexities of clinical trial contract negotiations, focusing on legal strategies and technological innovations that safeguard the interests of sponsors, vendors, and institutions. In an increasingly globalized and digital research environment, contract negotiations are pivotal to ensuring compliance, protecting intellectual property, and mitigating legal risks. The study’s purpose was to explore key components of clinical trial contracts, address the challenges involved, and assess future trends, particularly in light of evolving regulatory frameworks and technological advancements. Through a comprehensive review of legal literature and emerging technologies, the study identified crucial aspects of contract negotiations, including risk allocation, indemnification, intellectual property rights, and data privacy. Special attention was given to the role of technology—such as AI, blockchain, and contract management platforms—in streamlining the negotiation process. These tools have proven effective in reducing errors, enhancing collaboration, and ensuring regulatory compliance. The main findings revealed that while traditional contract structures remain integral, the adoption of digital tools and a patient-centric approach are critical in addressing new challenges posed by decentralized trials and cross-border collaborations. The study concluded that stakeholders must embrace flexible contract frameworks, incorporate robust data protection measures, and leverage technology to optimize negotiations. Recommendations include the integration of advanced analytics for decision-making, the adoption of blockchain for contract security, and a heightened focus on patient rights in contract structures to ensure ethical conduct and compliance in clinical research.

Forecasting of Solar Irradiation Based on the Deep Learning Model Using Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition Technique

Since solar energy plants have been developing so quickly in recent years, accurate solar power forecasting plays a significant role in contemporary intelligent grid systems and setup a bilateral contract negotiation between suppliers and customers. This paper introduces a novel three-step method for predicting two-channel solar irradiance that combines cutting-edge techniques like Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory, Wasserstein Generative adversarial Networks and Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with adaptive noise. This methodology that is being suggested involves a framework of decomposition integration which allows for the effective isolation of the solar output signal into sub-sequences that are simple and can be differentiated based on their unique frequency disparities. This is achieved after the subsequences have been separated, and then they are subjected to individual prediction models. The high subsequences are predicted using the WGAN model, while the low subsequences are forecasted using the Bi-LSTM model. This approach ensures the specific characteristics of each subsequence are captured in the prediction process. The experimental result shows that the proposed model surpasses the performance of the suboptimal model in terms of evaluation metrics: RMSE, MAPE and R2. Compared to the suboptimal model, the RMSE, MAPE of all seasons

العقد في الفكر الفلسفي: دراسة في فلسفة القانون

The aim of the study is to investigate the development of the idea of the contract from a philosophical perspective, and to know the philosophy of the balance of civil contracts. The philosophical approach was used to study and derive the idea of the balance of civil contracts as one of the pillars of contracts. The study reached a number of results, the most important of which are: The principle of the authority of the will in creating legal actions, but within its reasonable limits, in which the will is balanced with justice and the public interest. This is what is meant by the objectivity of the contractual will. The principle of good faith in negotiations always works to achieve contractual balance because it aims to protect legitimate trust in transactions, in order to conclude a contract based on informed consent to the contract by its parties. Although this principle is stipulated to be dealt with in the stage of interpreting and implementing the contract, the prevailing opinion in jurisprudence and judiciary is to work with it in the stage prior to contracting as a moral duty. Contractual negotiations give the will complete freedom to decide the fate of the contract. When the will enters into contractual negotiations, it is able to determine the effects of the contract, which is something that is taken away from it in contracts of adhesion. Contractual negotiations play a fundamental role in achieving contractual balance, because they protect the contract from defects, by allowing the negotiating parties to review the terms of the contract, and thus they are a guarantee for the weak party against the strong party that has economic and legal dominance over the contract. The study recommended many recommendations, the most important of which are: paying attention to the principle of good faith in general in contracting in all stages of the contract, and stipulating it and formulating it in a clear legal formulation in the stage preceding the contract. Also, paying attention to studying the stage of contractual negotiations in the stage preceding the conclusion of the contract, and allocating a legal regulation for it that regulates the relationship between the negotiators in Egyptian civil law.

EU Methane Regulation and its impact on LNG imports

Abstract The EU Methane Regulation entered into force on 4 August 2024. It creates rules and obligations on measurement-based Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification of methane emissions of relevant activities, and on Leak Detection and Repair, and introduces limits on routine venting and flaring within the European Union (EU). In addition, and importantly for this article, it creates the first import-related requirements on methane emissions for imported fuels globally. This article will focus on the impact of the Methane Regulation on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) imports into the EU. In this respect, the Methane Regulation creates far-reaching and difficult-to-implement obligations. The concerns for the LNG industry and imports into the EU are that (i) many of the central rules are not set out in the Methane Regulation and will be provided in the years to come and (ii) some of the key concepts and key provisions lack clarity and are open to various interpretations. As we will discuss in detail, the uncertainty created by the Methane Regulation will make contract negotiations more difficult and will negatively affect the security of gas supply within the EU.

Comprehensive Analysis of Football Player Market Valuation: Integrating Performance Metrics and Marketability Factors

In the fast-paced world of professional football, valuing players involves numerous factors. This paper explores the determinants of football players' market values using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data from sources like Opta Sports, Transfermarkt, and the CIES Football Observatory, along with qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews with industry experts, were analyzed. The quantitative analysis found that goals scored and social media followers significantly predict player market value, with a strong social media presence amplifying the impact of goals. Non-linear relationships revealed diminishing returns on market value as social media followers increase. Qualitative insights highlighted the importance of media presence, cultural impact, and digital engagement in shaping player valuations. Players frequently featured in media, seen as cultural icons, or active on digital platforms tend to have higher market values. A comparison with historical data showed a growing emphasis on marketability and digital presence. The study concludes that integrating quantitative performance metrics with qualitative marketability factors is crucial for accurate player valuation. This holistic approach offers valuable insights for clubs, agents, and policymakers, enhancing decision-making in player transfers and contract negotiations. The research contributes to sports management and economics by providing a comprehensive framework for managing player assets in professional football.

Implant Cost Awareness Among Orthopaedic Surgeons at a Single Academic Institution

Introduction Despite the increasing costs of implants, surgeons’ awareness of these costs varies widely. The purpose of this study is to determine baseline awareness of sports-medicine-related implant cost among orthopaedic surgeons. Methods A survey including images of 10 different orthopaedic implants related to sports medicine was sent to 18 surgeons. All included surgeons practice in a single ambulatory surgery center and routinely perform sports-medicine-related procedures. Surgeons were asked to estimate the cost of each implant and answer questions about surgeon characteristics. Cost estimates were compared with implant cost found in the institutional charge master database. Results Cost estimates varied widely among providers regardless of fellowship training. The average percent error among all providers was 54.3%. Surgeons that rated knowledge of implant cost to be important most or all of the time had an average cost estimate error of 60.7% versus 48.0% error in their counterparts that stated that knowledge of cost was important to them only some of the time, though this did not reach statistical significance. Low-cost implants were more likely to be overestimated while high-cost implants were more often underestimated. Years of experience, sports medicine fellowship training, and involvement in contract negotiations had no effect on implant cost accuracy. Conclusion Implant cost awareness is dishearteningly low sports medicine orthopaedists despite the large economic impact of these devices. There is considerable room for improving cost awareness in sports medicine.

Multi-objective optimal allocation of construction project risks, ant colony optimization algorithm

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to introduce a new approach for finding the most appropriate risk allocation among construction contract parties. Although risk allocation is a strategic decision that can greatly affect the cost and time of the project, it is often made based on the personal judgments of employers. That is why owners usually find it a very time-consuming and expensive decision process, while most contractors feel that risk sharing is not done fairly. In this paper, a quantitative model for risk allocation is introduced to fulfill clients’ conflicting expectations in the risk allocation process.Design/methodology/approachBy defining conflicting expectation of owners in the form of three quantitative objectives (lowest cost, maximum reliability and minimum risk exposure), a multi-objective optimization algorithm was developed to select the most appropriate risk allocation. Using experts’ knowledge through fuzzy set theory, a multi-objective decision-making model is developed based on an ant colony optimization algorithm. The proposed model is able to find the optimum risk allocation at the lowest cost and highest reliability while protecting the client against risk exposure within multiple parties projects.FindingsThe proposed model has the ability to select the most appropriate risk allocation in multi-parties projects (such as public–private partnerships) and quantitatively measure the impact of each employer’s choice on project results in the form of cost and time. The results of implementing the proposed model in a case study project revealed that optimum risk allocation requires a balanced attitude, and the transfer of all risks to the other parties will not necessarily lead to the lowest cost. The client should bear more responsibilities in risk management to avoid extreme time delay and cost overrun.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed model can be implemented in multi-parties projects (such as public–private partnership), while other methods introduced in previous studies can only be used for projects with two party (client and contractor).Practical implicationsBy implementing the proposed model in a real project in this article and comparing its results with previous works, it has been shown that the proposed model has a good performance. Using this model can help clients drastically reduce cost and time and ultimately successfully conclude risk allocation negotiations (which is the most difficult part of any contract negotiation).Originality/valueIn this paper, the risk allocation process is modeled in the form of a multi-objective decision problem. This method helps employers to measure their conflicting goals and choose the most appropriate risk allocation according to their objectives. Also, in this article, the conflicting expectations of the employer in the process of contract negotiations are introduced as three measurable goals, which gives the decision-maker the ability to balance his expectations and not miss an objective. In the final step, an optimization model is developed to select the best option, which can choose the most appropriate party to bear the risk in a short time and among an unlimited number of participants.

Analysis of the Implementation of As-Salam Contract in White Garlic Purchase Transactions between Retailers and Distributors: Case Study White Garlic Industry Supply Chain in Medan City

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the application of the As Salam contract in the purchasing system of garlic between retail traders and importers in Medan, Indonesia. Research Methodology: The research utilizes a qualitative approach, employing observation and structured interviews with key participants in the garlic trading industry. The instruments include interview guides and observational checklists to gather detailed insights into the contract negotiation and execution process. Results: The findings indicate that the trading practice involves detailed contract agreements, including specific terms on quantity, quality, and delivery schedules. The principles of the As Salam contract are strictly adhered to, ensuring clarity and minimizing the potential for disputes. Prepayment is an integral part of the contract, facilitating efficient stock planning and delivery logistics. Limitations: The study is limited to the garlic trade within the Medan region, which may restrict the broader applicability of the findings to other commodities or regions. Contribution: This research contributes to the discipline of Islamic economics by providing practical insights into the implementation of As Salam contracts in commodity trading, offering a model for ensuring fairness and transparency in accordance with Islamic law.

Financial and Business Literacy Among Urology Residents: Is this a Problem and How Can We Better Prepare Residents for their Careers?

Although financial wellness is a predictor of physician burnout, we are yet to optimize financial education or wellness of Urology trainees. We assessed existing studies, compared them to those of other specialties, and discussed resources and methods to address this deficiency. Urology residents tend to be less fiscally savvy (carry significant debt, and lack retirement savings or disability insurance), and 90% of trainees and young Urologists do not feel comfortable with the business of practice, including skills like coding and billing, contract negotiation, and self-value assessment. Financial and business literacy are deficiencies of Urology training, as in other specialties. Eventually, the goal should be universal adoption of a formal curriculum that is graded in nature. In the interim, we need to propose and endorse adoption of a formal curriculum, and we should support trainees by promoting a space for easily accessible and transparent information regarding best practices in personal finance and the business of healthcare.

Incentive-Aware Models of Financial Networks

A financial network is a web of contracts between firms. Each firm wants the best possible contracts. However, a contract between two firms requires the cooperation of both firms. This contest between cooperation and competition is studied in “Incentive-Aware Models of Financial Networks” by Akhil Jalan, Deepayan Chakrabarti, and Purnamrita Sarkar. They show how contract negotiations lead to a stable network where no firm wants to change contract sizes. In this network, the size of any contract depends on the beliefs of all firms, not just the contract’s two parties. Minor news about one firm can affect these beliefs, causing drastic changes in the network. Moreover, under realistic settings, a regulator cannot trace the source of such changes. This research illustrates the importance of firms’ beliefs and their implications for network stability. The insights could inform regulatory strategies and financial risk management.

Net Zero and Natural Resources Law: Sovereignty, Security and Solidarity in the Clean Energy Transition (Oxford University Press, 2024)

The IBA’s Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law is advised by the Academic Advisory Group (AAG), a group of leading academics from around the world. Every two years, the AAG publishes a book about a key topic of interest to the entire Section. This year’s book focuses on the legal issues involved with the clean energy transition. In response to the climate emergency, several countries, corporations and other actors worldwide have announced programmes aimed at reducing global emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change to net zero by the year 2060 or earlier. While the need for a clean energy transition is clear, incoherently designed transition programmes could produce complex environmental, social and governance risks, including legal liability and protracted disputes. At the same time, the growing rush for minerals needed to manufacture clean energy technologies raises fundamental questions. Most crucial is how to ensure the exploration and development of energy transition minerals in a manner that does not exacerbate resource conflicts, resource nationalism, human rights violations, protectionism, energy insecurity, social exclusions and inequity, especially in conflict-affected and high-risk regions. These scenarios raise the need for net-zero and climate-aligned natural resource contracts, legislation and investment agreements to drive a just and inclusive energy transition. With presentations from some of the expert contributors to the latest AAG book, Net Zero and Natural Resources Law, this panel session reflected upon innovative legal drafting, contract negotiation and policymaking approaches needed to address the wide range of resource sovereignty, security and solidarity questions posed by the net zero transition.

Leveraging technology for improved contract management in the energy sector

Effective contract management is critical for the energy sector, where complex agreements and regulatory requirements demand precision and oversight. Leveraging technology for improved contract management can transform how energy companies manage their contracts, enhancing efficiency, compliance, and strategic alignment. This paper explores the impact of technological advancements on contract management processes in the energy sector, emphasizing digital solutions and automation. The energy sector deals with multifaceted contracts involving various stakeholders, including suppliers, contractors, regulatory bodies, and customers. Traditional contract management methods, often characterized by manual processes and paper-based documentation, are prone to errors, delays, and inefficiencies. Technology, particularly contract lifecycle management (CLM) software, offers comprehensive solutions to these challenges by digitizing and automating contract management processes. CLM software facilitates the entire contract lifecycle, from drafting and negotiation to execution and renewal. These platforms provide centralized repositories for all contract documents, ensuring easy access and retrieval. Advanced features such as automated alerts and notifications for key dates and obligations help companies stay compliant with contractual and regulatory requirements, reducing the risk of penalties and legal disputes. Moreover, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities integrated into CLM solutions enable intelligent contract analysis and risk assessment. AI-driven tools can extract critical data from contracts, identify potential risks, and suggest mitigative actions. This predictive insight enhances decision-making, allowing energy companies to proactively address issues before they escalate. Blockchain technology also holds significant potential for contract management in the energy sector. Smart contracts, enabled by blockchain, offer a secure and transparent way to automate contractual obligations. These self-executing contracts reduce the need for intermediaries and enhance trust among parties, ensuring that terms are met efficiently and without dispute. In addition to these technologies, cloud-based platforms offer scalability and flexibility, allowing energy companies to manage contracts remotely and collaboratively. This is particularly beneficial in an industry where projects span multiple locations and jurisdictions. In conclusion, leveraging technology for contract management in the energy sector results in streamlined processes, improved compliance, and enhanced strategic alignment. By adopting digital solutions and automation, energy companies can mitigate risks, reduce costs, and drive operational efficiency, ultimately contributing to their sustainability and competitiveness in a rapidly evolving market. Keywords: Leveraging, Technology, Energy Sector, Contract Management, Improved.

Part II: Contract Negotiation and Job Preparation-The Gastroenterology Perspective.

GI fellowships do not mandate curricula in career development. Often, fellows resort to peer mentorship for guidance. Fellows should recognize that the path to a successful career varies greatly based on how one defines and measures success. Keywords are preferr Through introspection, fellows will be able to craft their ideal post-fellowship position that balances wants versus needs. In this article, we cover four practical tips for trainees entering the job negotiation process.

External Debt and Economic Growth in Sierra Leone: A Threshold Analysis

The main focus of this study is to investigate the impact of external debt on economic growth and determine the threshold level of external debt that is favourable for economic growth in Sierra Leone, within the framework of a non-linear model (quadratic function). The study employs the Ordinary Least Squares estimation technique with annual time series data for the period 1980 to 2022. The empirical findings reveal that, lagged GDP, external debt, external debt squared and investment are the main drivers of economic growth in Sierra Leone. Specifically, the result reveals that external debt, investment and lagged GDP have a positive impact on growth whilst, external debt squared has a harmful impact on growth. Furthermore, the study establishes a nonlinear relationship between external debt and economic growth. The result indicates that the optimal threshold level of external debt (as a % of GDP) in Sierra Leone is 115%. The findings reveal that, external debt below the threshold level is growth enhancing. However, the accumulation of external debt beyond the threshold level of 115% is detrimental to growth. The diagnostic result confirms that about 76% of the variation in economic growth is explained by the regressors (independent variables). Also, the granger causality test result suggests a unidirectional causality from external debt to economic growth with no reverse causality, indicating that external debt granger caused economic growth at the 5% level. Based on the findings, the study recommends that, government should develop a robust debt management policy, to keep debt levels within sustainable limits and also cultivate an economic culture of transparency, on the issue of debt management and contract negotiations.

Experiences and Interest in Value‐Based Payment Arrangements for Medical Products Among Medicaid Agencies: An Exploratory Analysis

Policy Points State Medicaid experience with value‐based payment (VBP) arrangements for medical products is still relatively limited, and states face a number of challenges in designing and implementing such arrangements, particularly because of the resource‐intensive nature of arrangements and data needed to support measurement of desired outcomes. A number of success factors and opportunities to support VBP arrangement efforts were identified through this study, including leveraging established venues or processes for collaboration with manufacturers, engaging external and internal partners in VBP efforts to bolster capabilities, acquiring access to new data sources, and utilizing annual renegotiation of contracts to allow for adjustments. ContextTo date, uptake of value‐based payment (VBP) arrangements for medical products and knowledge of their design and impact have been mainly concentrated among private payers. Interest and activity are expanding to Medicaid; however, their experiences and approaches to VBP arrangements for medical products are not well characterized.MethodsThis study sought to characterize the use of VBP arrangements for medical products among state Medicaid agencies through the use of a two‐staged, mixed‐methods approach. A survey and semistructured interviews were conducted to gain an understanding of state experiences with VBP arrangements for medical products. The survey and interviews were directed at senior leaders from nine states through the survey, with respondents from seven of these states additionally participating in the semistructured interviews.FindingsAlthough experience with VBP arrangements for medical products among states varied, there were similarities across their motivations and general processes or phases employed in their design and implementation. States collectively identified a number of significant challenges to VBP arrangements, such as manufacturer engagement, outcomes measurement, and the time, expertise, and resources required to design and implement them. We outline a range of strategies to help address these gaps and make it easier for states to pursue VBP arrangements, including more direct engagement from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, state‐to‐state peer learning and collaboration, data infrastructure and sharing, and additional research to inform fit‐for‐purpose VBP arrangement approaches.ConclusionsFindings from this study suggest that it may be easier for states to pursue VBP arrangements for medical products if there is greater clarity on processes employed that support design and implementation as well as effective strategies to address common challenges associated with contract negotiations. As states gain more experience, it will be important to monitor the design and implementation of common VBP arrangements to assess impact on the Medicaid program and the populations it serves.

A national virtual job search series for neonatal-perinatal medicine fellows

BackgroundA standardized approach to prepare trainees for the job search has not been described. The objective of this study was to describe and evaluate an educational series on the job search for Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (NPM) fellows and identify participants’ job search knowledge gaps.MethodsDuring the 2020–2021 academic year, we created a virtual, seven-part job search series for NPM fellows that required no funding. The series has been repeated annually. We use REDCap surveys to register participants, collect baseline/demographic information, and evaluate the series’ impact at the beginning and end of the job search timeline.ResultsIn the 2021–2022 academic year, 290 individuals registered for the series, and 89% completed the baseline/demographic survey. The majority were NPM fellows (89%). Early career neonatologists, NPM hospitalists, and pediatric residents also utilized the series (11%). Less than 25% reported being “knowledgeable” or “very knowledgeable” of core job search components, including the timeline of the job search, contract negotiation, and the general roles and responsibilities of junior faculty. Of those who completed the final job search survey and underwent a job search (60%, 97 of 162), the majority (86%) felt that career planning during training was stressful and believed that job search preparation should be structured into the NPM fellowship curriculum (81%). Many felt that the Job Search Series was helpful in elucidating components of the job search.ConclusionsWe identified several knowledge gaps in NPM fellows’ understanding of how to find, prepare for, and negotiate their first post-training job. We strongly believe these knowledge gaps are not unique to NPM fellows and that all graduate medical education trainees would benefit from a similar, easy-to-implement, no-cost series.

Accelerating cancer research trial startup in the community setting: A quality-improvement study.

11066 Background: There is a large variation in activation times for cancer clinical trials, delaying the opportunity for patients to benefit from cutting edge treatments. Academic medical centers typically take longer to activate a clinical trial as compared to community settings. Some academic medical centers have adopted quality improvement processes to reduce clinical trial start-up time. Our center, TriHealth Cancer & Blood Institute (TCBI) in the SW Ohio community has also adopted quality improvement processes to further reduce startup time within our oncology research group. Methods: This study encompassed July 2022-June 2023, with baseline data drawn from January 2021 to December 2021 prior to the study period which revealed a mean clinical trial start-up time of 116 days. The research group used a swim-lane process to define the typical process & stakeholders for clinical activation time at our institution prior to the study time. Our group identified three major areas with significant lag-time - contracts, budgets, & IRB/ICF - with the overarching root cause for delays due to lack of organizational process & expertise in these major areas. Using Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA), we instituted interventions, which included utilizing a central IRB, identifying a responsible member with extensive research budgeting to review research study budgets, & identified a responsible member with extensive contracts review & negotiations working with Central Legal throughout the contracts negotiation process with sponsor(s). Results: During this 12-month study time, our center demonstrated a 44% reduction in trial start up time (141 days to 79 days), while at the same time doubling the number of active trials. This process change resulted in sustainability that carried into 2023, further reducing start-up time to 70 days. In 2021, we opened 6 studies and after adoption of these process improvements (2022) we doubled the number of studies by 117%, while opening 67% more in 2023 than in 2021. The ability to open more studies has allowed us to shift patient enrollment to more investigational trials while increasing treatment enrollment from 2022 to 2023 by 24%. Through process improvement, more treatment studies are open & available for our community. Conclusions: By implementing interventions to streamline clinical trial activation time, our center was able to significantly & sustainably reduce the time required to start a clinical trial in our community health system in a 12-month period, resulting in our ability to initiate more clinical trials. As a result, more treatment trial patients were able to be enrolled in these clinical trials at TCBI, with the hope of improved outcomes. We anticipate that further adoption of just-in-time studies may help to decrease this activation time further. [Table: see text]

Ethics of patients losing insurance coverage due to hospital-insurer contract disagreements Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at QuinnipiacUniversity, North Haven, Conneticut

Despite most Americans having healthcare coverage, coverage does not equate to access. For many, healthcare coverage is being threatened by contractual disagreements between major health insurers and hospitals. In New York, in efforts to control costs, Aetna and United Healthcare have recently engaged in contentious contract negotiations with NewYork-Presbyterian and Mount Sinai medical centers, resulting in unprecedented ripples in patients’ health plans and access. These disruptions have been shown to negatively impact patient health and result in patients managing their treatment at steep out-of-pocket rates or scrambling to find new providers in-network. We discuss the ethical implications of fallouts between insurance companies and hospitals and their impacts on patients.