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We counsel and represent health care professionals in all aspects of disciplinary and licensing matters. Our representation includes addressing the legal, ethical, logistical and economic repercussions of state regulatory or licensing accusations. We defend health care professionals throughout the administrative process from the preliminary investigation through the actual hearing. We have achieved many favorable results for our clients including several negotiated resolutions. Medical Malpractice Litigation We defend health care professionals in all types of medical malpractice litigation. Our representation includes the management of all aspects of litigation from pretrial preparation through discovery, trial preparation and trial. We are strong proponents of alternative dispute resolution techniques. However, if trial is inevitable, we draw on substantial trial and motion experience to defend our clients. Over the years, we have litigated hundreds of malpractice claims ranging from neonatal intensive care and high-risk obstetrics cases to spinal cord and brain injury cases. In addition, we have filed many successful appeals, appearing before numerous intermediate courts of appeal and the California Supreme Court. Health Care Fraud and Abuse We represent and counsel a variety of health care providers, including hospitals, independent practice associations, and independent clinical laboratories, about health care fraud and abuse issues. We assist our clients in responding to investigations and audits conducted by federal agencies such as the Health Care Financing Administration, the Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Justice, as well as by various state fraud control units and health care agencies. We also advise clients with respect to federal government subpoenas and civil investigative demands. We participate in the negotiation of both federal and state settlement agreements arising out of alleged health care law violations, achieving positive business resolutions for our clients. We are familiar with the federal and state laws and regulations applicable to health care providers, including the federal False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark I and Stark II, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Health Care Corporate Compliance We help our clients develop and implement corporate compliance and risk management programs geared specifically toward health care providers. We counsel them to ensure their understanding of the benefits of effective corporate compliance programs, and provide guidance with respect to the elements of such programs. Frequently, our clients seek our assistance in the preparation and drafting corporate compliance policies and procedures, and we often participate in the training and education of employees on corporate compliance matters. We are directly responsible for advising corporate compliance officers with respect to corporate compliance matters, and serve as active members of corporate compliance committees. We also have substantial experience in the area of health care risk management, an expertise uniquely adaptable to the corporate compliance environment because of the closely related principles that underlie traditional risk management principles and corporate compliance programs |
