The Indiana Hospital Association (IHA) yesterday awarded John C. Render the inaugural John C. Render Award for Health Policy. The award was created and named after Render for his leadership, courage and perseverance advocating positive health policy for all Hoosiers during the past 40 years.
“John Render’s impact on health care in Indiana is immeasurable,” said Doug Leonard, president, IHA. “We are fortunate to have great leaders in health care, but few whose service has historically shaped the industry.”
Render started working with Attorney William S. Hall in 1971 to help with the increasing burdens of regulation and advocacy for the health care industry. Today, Hall Render is the second largest health care law firm in the United States, with more than 160 attorneys, serving health care industry clients throughout the country.
“There has not been a piece of health care legislation passed in the state of Indiana that has not had the touch of John Render,” said Ken Stella, president emeritus, IHA. “He is tremendously respected by the state legislature and by the regulators, and they continue to seek his advice as new health care legislation is drafted.”
Render is responsible for the legislation that established and/or revised reimbursement programs such as “the hospital care for the indigent program,” Indiana’s “Medicaid disproportionate share program” and the “Medicaid upper payment limit program.” For many years, these programs have been the financial lifeblood of hospitals serving large numbers of lower income patients. It is no exaggeration to say that many communities in Indiana would be without a hospital today if not for the creative reimbursement programs that Render helped develop.
“John set a high standard for health policy leadership through his work at Hall Render and involvement with IHA,” said Bill Thompson, president, Hall Render. “I know many others are, and will be, inspired by him just as I am.”
Render plans to step down as Hall Render chairman of the board at the end of 2011 but will continue to practice law and remain an active IHA member for many years to come.
