Regulations at the federal and state levels present an enormous and costly challenge to the healthcare sector. The complexity of a continually shifting political environment only adds to the murkiness of an already convoluted regulatory framework governing a sector depended upon by millions for essential care and well-being.
Akerman’s Healthcare Practice Group helps sector participants understand their requirements and obligations—from state and federal regulations, including state licensing, to Medicare and Medicaid certification and reimbursement. Our clients include hospitals, physicians, physician practices, pharmacists, pharmacies, ambulatory surgery centers, diagnostic imaging centers, health insurance companies, health maintenance organizations, third-party administrators, and other healthcare payors and providers.
Our lawyers manage all aspects of compliance with federal and state statutes, including anti-kickback statutes, false claims acts, self-referral rules, and safe harbors. We defend clients in fraud and abuse actions and overpayment determinations by state and federal authorities, and represent clients facing administrative action, complaints, and licensure disciplinary proceedings.
We draft policies and procedures and conduct compliance training related to HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Code Sets Rules as well as related state law requirements, and we represent clients before the Office of Civil Rights on HIPAA enforcement cases. When breaches occur, we advise clients on complying with federal and state notification requirements and responding to government investigations and subpoenas of protected health information, law enforcement requests for documents containing protected health information, and third-party subpoenas of protected health information. Clients also turn to us to handle professional licensing cases involving HIPAA disclosures and to draft, review, and revise business associate agreements.
