Kimela R. West has joined Husch Blackwell’s St. Louis office as an Associate. She will practice Healthcare law. West’s arrival closely follows the addition of another Healthcare Associate and former Hospital Risk Management Director and Compliance Officer Tina Boschert who joined Husch Blackwell in May.
West previously practiced healthcare law with a firm in St. Louis (2008-2012), where she represented a major health system with more than 20 hospitals, home health agencies and assisted living facilities. West handled transactional, contractual and regulatory matters including Stark Law, Anti-Kickback, Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance and Medicare and Medicaid compliance.
West received her J.D. and a Health Law Certificate from Saint Louis University School of Law (2008). In addition, West held an Externship in Saint Louis University Medical School’s Office of the General Counsel. Prior to law school, West was a Deputy Probation Officer for the Los Angeles County Probation Department and a Therapeutic Behavioral Specialist for Hillsides Home for Children. West received her master’s degree in Social Work from California State University in Long Beach, Calif. (2004), and her B.S., cum laude, from Kansas State University (2000).
Husch Blackwell's Healthcare attorneys have extensive experience representing healthcare clients in all types of litigation, regulatory enforcement actions and investigations throughout the country covering all facets of the industry. They also represent clients in transactional, operational and administrative matters. The group's clientele includes hospitals and health systems, healthcare professionals, and long-term care and nursing facilities. Many members of the Healthcare team worked in the healthcare industry as counselors, researchers, administrative coordinators and academics before joining Husch Blackwell, providing valuable insight for the firm. In addition to the group's involvement in the American Health Lawyers Association, many are also active members of the Health Care Compliance Association and several are noted as high achievers by groups including The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA and Super Lawyers.