Speaker Biographical Information

Harvey Cotton is a Principal in the Boston office of Ropes and Gray, LLP and a member of its employee benefits practice. He represents a wide range of employers, both tax-exempt and for-profit, on all aspects of health and welfare benefits matters. Harvey advises clients on the design, drafting, and administration of employee health and welfare plans, with a particular focus on compliance with ERISA, COBRA, and HIPAA and the establishment and maintenance of section 125 cafeteria plans. Harvey also deals extensively with the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and state health care reform on employers and the wide array of health care coverage options available to them. Formerly a Deputy General Counsel at a major New England not-for-profit health plan where he worked closely with senior management on human resources, employee benefits and corporate matters, Harvey frequently advises employers on the review and selection of high-deductible health plans, health reimbursement accounts, and health savings accounts, as well as options available to Medicare-eligible employees and retirees.

Tara Sciscoe is a Partner at Ice Miller, a full service law firm with offices in Indiana, Washington, D.C. and Chicago. She concentrates her practice in employee benefits and tax, including qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, health and fringe benefit plans, executive compensation, fiduciary duties, tax reporting and withholding, and benefit litigation and disputes. Ms. Sciscoe works closely with public and private colleges and universities, educational organizations, hospitals and other tax exempt organizations and for-profit companies. She has focused most recently on counseling clients on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and is a frequent speaker and writer on health care reform.Ms. Sciscoe is an active member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys.

Steven M. Bloom is the Director of Federal Relations in the Office of Government Relations at the American Council on Education (ACE). Mr. Bloom came to ACE from the Independent Sector, where he served as senior lobbyist and director of government relations. As director of Government Affairs at ACE, Bloom’s primary focus is on tax issues, health care reform and student health insurance, immigration, and labor and employment. In fall 2002, Bloom served as counsel to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in the Labor Policy Office of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA). He also worked at the United Jewish Communities as a senior legislative associate. Prior to coming to Washington, DC, Bloom was a practicing attorney in Boston for 10 years, focusing on employment law, federal civil rights, torts and commercial disputes. He also clerked for the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Before attending law school, he served as a fellow of the Oberlin Shansi Memorial Association in India. Bloom graduated from Oberlin College (OH) in 1983 and the Northeastern University School of Law (MA) in 1992