Challenges and Opportunities in the Healthcare Industry with Brandon Hatfield and Jim Kaufman

Mr. Kaufman and Mr. Hatfield with the West Virginia Hosptial Association (WVHA) will discuss current challenges and opportunities within the healthcare industry.  This will include staff shortages, employment concerns, WV’s Certificate of Need law, and other matters affecting healthcare in WV. Mr. Kaufman is President and CEO of the WVHA.  Mr. Hatfield is its General Counsel.  The WVHA is a not-for-profit statewide organization representing hospitals and health systems across the continuum of care. The WVHA was founded in 1925 to serve as the collective voice of the state’s hospital community.

Jim Kaufman serves as President and CEO of the West Virginia Hospital Association (WVHA). Prior to joining WVHA, Jim served as vice president of public policy for the Children’s Hospital Association and director of government affairs for the Johns Hopkins Institutions.  With over 25 years of health policy experience, he has advocated at the federal, state, and local levels, addressing a variety of issues to improve access to care including Medicaid hospital payments, Medicare physician incentive reforms, and biomedical research. Jim’s experience also includes the Maryland Higher Education Commission and the Maryland General Assembly.

In addition, Jim is a member of the Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE) Board of Trustees, the West Virginia University’s Master of Health Administration Advisory Board, an instructor with the West Virginia Rural Community Health Scholars programs, and the American Legion Mountaineer Boys State program.  Jim earned his bachelor’s degree from McDaniel College, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Baltimore and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore Graduate Schools.

Brandon Hatfield serves as General Counsel and Lobbyist for the West Virginia Hospital Association. Prior to joining the WVHA, Brandon served as Committee Counsel with the West Virginia House of Delegates.  Brandon has over 10 years of legislative experience, with the last 7 years specifically dedicated to health policy. His advocacy at the state legislature has addressed a variety of issues, including modernizing the Certificate of Need program, streamlining the involuntary hospitalization process, and hospital reimbursement.  As a native West Virginian, Brandon earned his bachelor’s degree from Marshall University, and his Doctor of Jurisprudence from West Virginia University.

The West Virginia Hospital Association is based in Charleston, WV.