The Healthcare Practice is highly regulated and rapidly changing. Individuals and companies that do business in this arena require legal counsel with a hands-on understanding of the unique issues of the healthcare environment and constructive solutions to their problems. Our Healthcare lawyers practice exclusively in this area and, consequently, have in-depth expertise helping clients properly structure their business relationships and transactions, comply with laws and regulations, and achieve successful resolutions in civil, criminal and administrative proceedings. Our excellent service and skills are evidenced by the practice’s ranking in Chambers USA 2009, a leading legal services ranking publication.

Key Services:

• Anti-Kickback statute & false claims act
• Certificates of need
• HIPAA privacy & security regulations
• Medicare & medicaid audits & appeals
• Medicare & medicaid regulations
• Mergers & acquisitions
• Staff membership & clinical privileges disputes
• Stark II & physician self-referral laws

Business Transactions and Regulatory Guidance

Our industry knowledge uniquely positions us to assist clients in structuring transactions and relationships that meet their business goals and comply with state and federal healthcare laws. Our Healthcare lawyers have extensive experience in assisting clients in selecting and forming the appropriate business entity(ies); putting into place effective corporate governance and financial mechanisms; documenting contractual and other legal relationships; implementing tax efficient business arrangements; and developing, documenting and executing joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and other business relationships. We provide our clients with advice and creative solutions to ensure compliance with the myriad of complex healthcare laws and regulations, including the Antikickback Statute, federal and state Self-Referral laws, Certificate of Need matters, HIPAA’s Privacy and Security Standards, and the Georgia Medical Practice Act.

Healthcare Litigation

Our experienced Healthcare litigators regularly represent clients in litigation in federal and state courts and in administrative proceedings. This representation includes matters ranging from complex business litigation to employment issues to whistleblower actions to provider reimbursement issues to medical staff disputes. Additionally, our attorneys have represented clients in civil and criminal disputes involving allegations of fraud and abuse and false claims. In administrative matters, we regularly represent healthcare providers in certificate-of-need appeals; licensure investigations and disciplinary actions; credentialing matters; Medical Staff investigations, adverse actions and hearings; and Medicare/Medicaid audits, investigations, and appeals.

Complete Industry Solutions

Our lawyers experience in these areas of business transactions, statutory and regulatory guidance, and litigation extends to all components of the healthcare industry, including hospitals and healthcare systems, physician practices (both single and multispecialty), home health agencies, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, ambulatory surgery centers, and diagnostic imaging centers. This comprehensive knowledge and experience allows us to anticipate and address concerns throughout the healthcare industry.