Jill Winters is an attorney and healthcare executive with 25+ years of experience at both payor and provider organizations. She now resolves complex disputes as an arbitrator on the AAA Healthcare Panel.
Q: Tell us about your background in healthcare law or the healthcare industry.
Jill: I have over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry, including 22 years in executive leadership at UnitedHealthcare—the nation’s largest health plan—and at Pathways Health and Community Support (now Clarvida), a large outpatient behavioral health provider. My roles spanned regulatory affairs, compliance, litigation, HR, customer service, sales, marketing, medical and pharmacy benefits, public relations, and physician and hospital contracting. This background gives me deep expertise in payment models, healthcare economics, coding, and the operational and regulatory complexities of government-sponsored and commercial health plans.
Q: What types of healthcare disputes do you typically handle as an arbitrator or mediator?
Jill: I handle a broad range of healthcare disputes, most commonly payment and provider conflicts. Parties have included hospitals, physician groups, outpatient providers, pharmacy benefit managers, and health plans. I also address complex issues such as multi-party discovery disputes and dispositive motion practice. My experience on both the payor and provider sides allows me to balance legal, operational, and business considerations effectively.
Q: What drew you to ADR work in the healthcare space? What do you value most about serving as a neutral on the AAA’s Healthcare Panel?
Jill: Transitioning to ADR was a natural next step after a full-time executive career. Serving as a neutral allows me to leverage my dual perspective to help parties reach fair, practical resolutions in complex disputes while preserving professional relationships.
Q: What advice do you have for parties preparing for arbitration or mediation in complex healthcare disputes?
Jill: Work closely with your client’s subject matter experts to understand the business realities of healthcare, which are often highly regulated and complex. Also, consider the arbitrator’s experience—knowing their background can help you present your case efficiently without over-explaining basic concepts, keeping the focus on what really matters.