Capabilities / Healthcare Providers

Healthcare Providers

On the front lines of the healthcare industry.

Husch Blackwell understands the complex market demands that healthcare providers face, and we’re committed to helping them keep ahead of the constantly shifting healthcare landscape. We draw on our experience and comprehensive industry knowledge in advising providers on transactions, regulatory compliance, labor and employment challenges, privacy and data security concerns, and litigation.

Our guidance to clients in the healthcare providers sector includes:

Academic medical centers

Husch Blackwell takes a holistic approach to its partnerships with more than 400 hospitals, research entities and institutions of higher education. Drawing on the resources of our full-service firm, our attorneys provide transactional, compliance and operational counsel; training; government affairs advocacy; and litigation and enforcement defense.

Ancillary services

Clients that provide care outside of traditional hospital and doctor’s office settings trust our counsel on licensure and certification, physician practice management and risk management. Our team also advises on public and private financing vehicles and regulatory compliance, including state fraud and abuse statutes and regulations of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Behavioral health

Husch Blackwell has significant experience handling legal issues unique to behavioral health providers, such as privacy, restraint and seclusion, and chemical dependency. Our team also advises on compliance, reimbursement, labor and employment, litigation and the application of general healthcare laws – such as the Emergency Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) – in a behavioral health context. Further details about our Behavioral Health work are available here.

Children's hospitals and pediatric providers

Husch Blackwell understands the unique challenges associated with the ever-changing delivery of healthcare services to a vulnerable population of children and their families. Our counsel includes physician recruitment and integration strategies, regulatory compliance, innovative uses of accountable care networks, outcome-oriented reimbursement methodologies, captive insurance plans and telehealth networks.

Hospitals and health systems

Our team is on the cutting edge of hospital industry advancements, developing innovative relationships between hospitals and providers and even between multiple hospitals and hospital systems. We advise hospitals and health systems on compliance and regulatory matters, including fraud and abuse avoidance and all aspects of Medicare, Medicaid, Stark Law and federal anti-kickback law. Labor and employment, research and technology, and strategic transactions are other areas of focus for our team.

Pharmacy, specialty pharmacy and pharmacy benefit managers

Husch Blackwell is one of the only law firms in the country with an entire group devoted to pharmacy law and practice. Our attorneys offer pragmatic and strategic counsel on complex matters such as Medicare and Medicaid coverage and provider enrollment, billing and reimbursement, federal and state fraud and abuse laws, patient privacy and data security, and licensing and accreditation requirements. We also advise on transactions, investigations and litigation.

Physicians and other professionals

The Husch Blackwell team has decades of experience advising physicians and other professionals on the nonclinical aspects of their business, often serving as primary outside counsel. We help providers resolve reimbursement issues, analyze potential business transactions and develop strategies for growth, including through innovative integration arrangements, network development and ancillary ventures.

Post-acute care providers

Our team has the depth and breadth of knowledge to help our clients’ businesses grow along with the aging U.S. population. Our counsel to skilled nursing facilities, senior living facilities and other post-acute care providers includes licensure matters, corporate compliance, internal investigations, privacy, data security and Medicaid certification.

Rural health providers

Our team understands the unique situations our clients face in delivering high-quality healthcare to rural communities. We provide counsel on the development of provider networks and affiliations with large health systems, access to capital and equipment, licensing and certification, IT support and compliance, and provider staffing models and telehealth support. We also assist with regulatory compliance and reimbursement issues unique to rural providers.

Client Success

Physician Group Receives Substantial Reduction in Overpayment

Representative Experience

Represented hospital systems and medical groups in developing, negotiating and implementing service line management agreements.
Assisted hospital systems and physician groups with the sale and acquisition of medical practices and other affiliations.
Assisted multispecialty physician groups in developing and applying for approval from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as shared savings ACOs.
Assisted ACOs in negotiations with health plans for commercial products and analyzed antitrust issues regarding the joint negotiation with health plans based on clinical integration.
Represented provider networks and quasi-networks such as IPAs, PHOs and ACOs in provider contracting, quality assurance, utilization review and claims payment. We also counseled on risk-based contract negotiations, gain sharing, insurance and licensure.
Assisted a children’s hospital in preparing a comprehensive analysis of alternative contractual relationships with an ACO-like organization affiliated with another pediatric hospital. We handled the contract negotiations and analyzed federal antitrust, tax and healthcare regulatory matters for the new network.
Created a multi-community, clinically integrated PHO involving two hospital systems.
Participated in American Health Lawyers Association’s work groups for Managed Care and ACO and Bundled Payment.
Advised providers on antitrust implications of joint venture transactions, development of ACOs, integrated networks, managed care contracting, and price and cost surveys among competitors.
Structured and developed pediatric provider networks designed for Medicaid managed care and/or commercial payor contracting.
Represented Medicaid providers in supplemental reimbursement Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) appeals and consult on Upper Payment Limit (UPL) program development.
Designed and developed patient safety organizations unique to children’s hospitals.
Designed, developed and evaluated compliance with federal research regulations (informed consent/IRB issues), NIH Grants Policy Statements, and federal investigations involving pediatric research.
Provided counsel regarding GME matters, including community provider/educational institution affiliation models, funding and resident allocation considerations, resident and medical student supervision requirements and appropriate billing practices as they relate to teaching physicians and academic institutions.
Advised on day-to-day operational issues impacting pediatric providers such as consent, guardianship and child abuse/ neglect reporting requirements.
Defended psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric residential treatment facilities in decertification proceedings, including immediate jeopardy situations.
Developed a multi-state guardianship and consent matrix and decision tool for client currently being utilized by providers in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Utah and Wyoming to help front line personnel navigate sensitive and oftentimes highly controversial situations related to the terminally ill and end of life decisions, durable power of attorney and healthcare proxies, minor consent issues and guardianship.
Led a lengthy and complex negotiation between anesthesiology group and hospital to facilitate the transition of 11 anesthesiologists and select clinical and operations staff to the hospital.
Successfully negotiated major updates to joint venture arrangement between a neuro service provider and a large health system in Arizona which led to the provider working with the hospital to build and develop a new offering, a neuro services tower.
Assisted hospital in preserving relationships with departing cardiologists who were forming an independent group. Created complex, comprehensive set of arrangements with cardiologists and outside management company to preserve services to hospital patients.
Merged three orthopedic practices with very different compensation structures, varied affiliations and different management approaches into one single large orthopedic practice, the largest in western Missouri and eastern Kansas.
Represented healthcare provider in defending against a GAO bid protest challenging the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ award of a contract to the client for substance use and mental health treatment services.
Represented infusion care provider and specialty pharmacy in dispute with insurance company over wrongful denial and underpayment of insurance claims.
Represented physician-owned hospitalist practice in a suit for breach of contract, tortious interference with existing contracts, and conspiracy to tortiously interfere with existing contracts.

Alerts | July 19, 2022

CMS Releases CY 2023 OPPS and ASC Proposed Rule

Podcast | June 23, 2022

Lumina Health Partners: Decoding Legalese of Value-Based Contracts

Alerts | June 15, 2022

340B Medicare Reimbursement Cuts Ruled Unlawful by Supreme Court

Alerts | June 10, 2022

CMS Imposes First Price Transparency Rule Penalties

Podcast | May 16, 2022

AHLA's Speaking of Health Law: Choose Your Own Adventure Guide: Considerations for Physicians Entering into Partnerships

Blog | April 25, 2022

The Future of Hospital at Home

Blog | March 25, 2022

OSHA Re-opens Comment Period and Schedules Public Hearing on ETS – Occupational Exposure to COVID-19

Blog | March 11, 2022

EEOC Issues Employer Guidance for COVID-19 Vaccinations and Religious Objections

Alerts | February 24, 2022

Texas District Court Vacates Portions of No Surprises Act Rule Related to Arbitration

Blog | February 15, 2022

ACGME Mandates Paid Resident/Fellow Leave, Starting Day One

Podcast | January 21, 2022

AHLA's Speaking of Health Law: Top Ten 2022: Pandemic-Related Enforcement and Oversight

Blog | November 18, 2021

Stay Prepared: Create Your Customized COVID-19 Policy

Alerts | November 05, 2021

CMS Releases OPPS and PFS Final Rules

While there are no surprises in the latest rulemaking, there is some cause for concern for healthcare providers.

Blog | November 05, 2021

CMS Interim Final Rule: Hard Vaccine Mandate for Healthcare Facilities

Blog | November 04, 2021

New California Transparency Requirements for Substance Abuse Treatment Centers

Podcast | October 25, 2021

Provident's Healthcare Dealcast: Considerations When Selling a Healthcare Organization: How to Prepare and What to Expect (Ep. 16)

Blog | October 14, 2021

Texas Governor Mandates "No Mandates" for COVID-19 Vaccination

Blog | September 15, 2021

Healthcare Providers to Receive $25.5 Billion in Relief Funds

Alerts | September 14, 2021

Healthcare Providers to Receive $25.5 Billion in Relief Funds

Blog | September 13, 2021

Update: Texas HHSC Issues Provider Relief Fund Reporting Requirements – October 1, 2021 Deadline

Blog | August 02, 2021

Husch Blackwell Prevails Over Opposition to Missouri Medicaid Expansion

Blog | July 30, 2021

Texas Legislature Passes S.B. 809 – Federal Provider Relief Fund Reporting Requirement

Blog | July 06, 2021

Federal Guidance on Balance Billing: The No Surprises Act and its Interim Final Rule: Part I

Alerts | June 17, 2021

Provider Relief Fund Update: HHS Changes Reporting and Use of Funds Deadlines

Blog | May 20, 2021

Funny You Should Ask: Is a Vaccine Mandate Subject of Bargaining?

Articles | May 11, 2021

Healthcare Innovation: Does Information Blocking Apply to College and University Student Health Centers?

Blog | May 06, 2021

Funny You Should Ask: Employer Considerations for Rehiring Employees

Blog | May 04, 2021

2021 Texas Legislature Amends Texas Tax Code to Define Medical and Dental Billing Service and Address Texas Comptroller Policy

Blog | April 29, 2021

Information Blocking: College & University Student Health Centers – Does the Rule Apply to Us?

Blog | April 27, 2021

New Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity FAQs

Blog | April 15, 2021

Opening for Business? Your Return-to-Work Policies Answered

Blog | April 02, 2021

Wisconsin Business Entities Granted Civil Immunity for COVID-19 Exposure

Articles | March 10, 2021

BenefitsPRO: The No Surprises Act: How does it affect employer-sponsored health plans?

Blog | March 01, 2021

Multi-Agency FAQ Issued Regarding COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Coverage by Health Plans

Alerts | February 23, 2021

Missouri Senate Advances COVID-19 Liability Protection Bill

Alerts | February 11, 2021

The "No Surprises Act:" How Does It Affect Employer-Sponsored Health Plans?

Blog | December 15, 2020

Department of Health and Human Services Releases Proposed Changes to HIPAA

Blog | October 26, 2020

Information Blocking: Ready or Not, Here it Comes!

Blog | October 23, 2020

Post-Payment Notice Reporting Requirements Revised

Blog | October 06, 2020

Emergency Order #2 Targets Staffing Demands in Wisconsin Healthcare Facilities

Blog | October 05, 2020

HHS Opens Application for $20 Billion of Phase 3 General Distribution Provider Relief Funds

Blog | September 23, 2020

Updated Guidance on FEMA Public Assistance

Alerts | September 21, 2020

HHS Releases New Details on Provider Relief Fund Reporting Requirements

Blog | August 21, 2020

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee Signed the Tennessee COVID-19 Recovery Act

Alerts | August 18, 2020

HHS Reporting Requirement Delay Continues

Podcast | August 05, 2020

COVID-19 Hospice How-To Series: Hospice Physicians are Being Tested by COVID-19, and Increased Scrutiny Lies Ahead—What to Expect and What to Do

Blog | August 05, 2020

CMS Announces a Temporary Policy for Premium Reductions

Blog | July 29, 2020

Update on CMS's Process for Approving Provider Transactions Structured as Equity Transfers (CHOI)

Alerts | July 21, 2020

HHS Begins Clarifying Reporting Requirements for Provider Relief Funds

Alerts | July 16, 2020

Deadline Approaching for Dental Provider Relief Funds

Blog | June 25, 2020

OCR Confirms HIPAA Permits Covered Healthcare Providers to Contact Former COVID-19 Patients About Blood and Plasma Donation

Blog | June 24, 2020

Texas Department of Insurance Rolls Out Final Rules on Out-Of-Network Notices and Disclosures

Articles | June-July 2020

Missouri Medicine: COVID-19: Has the Standard of Care Changed And Are Providers Immune From Liability?

Blog | June 11, 2020

Medicaid Provider Relief Fund Distribution of $15 billion

Podcast | June 04, 2020

AHLA's Speaking of Health Law, "Strings Attached: Compliance for Long Term Care Facilities In Using Funds From the COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund"

Blog | May 18, 2020

CMS Adds Additional Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers

Articles | May 15, 2020

ABA Health eSource: Best Practices for Immunizing Healthcare Professionals from COVID-19's Legal Side Effects (log-in required)

Blog | May 15, 2020

Missouri Encourages COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing but Urges Caution with Serological/Antibody Testing

Articles | May 12, 2020

American Health Law Association: NIH COVID-19 Support/Research at Academic Medical Centers and Other Facilities (log-in required)

Blog | May 12, 2020

Bouncing Back into Healthcare in Wisconsin

Blog | May 07, 2020

COVID-19 FEMA Funds For Nonprofit Healthcare & Higher Education: Track Your Costs Carefully And Choose Your Funding Source Wisely

Blog | May 06, 2020

National Institutes of Health COVID-19 Support/Research at Academic Medical Centers and Other Facilities

Articles | April 29, 2020

Healthcare Innovation: COVID-19 Telehealth Funds Available for Academic Medical Centers

Blog | April 28, 2020

California Attorney General Opinion No. 15-301

Blog | April 24, 2020

COVID-19 Hotspot Provider Relief Fund Registration Deadline Today

Blog | April 24, 2020

CMS's New Telehealth Toolkit Arrives at Just the Right COVID-19 Time for Providers and Policy Makers

Alerts | April 23, 2020

COVID-19 Hotspot Provider Relief Fund Registration Deadline Today

Blog | April 23, 2020

Kansas Governor Issues Protections for Health Practitioners and Expands Health Workforce

Blog | April 21, 2020

How Nonprofits Can Address Development During the COVID-19 Crisis

Blog | April 17, 2020

Governor Abbott to Allow More Elective Procedures 4-22

Blog | April 16, 2020

CMS Doubles Payment for Diagnostic Lab COVID-19 Testing

Blog | April 14, 2020

Treating COVID-19 Patients: Evaluating College Dorms, Professional Arenas, Fitness Centers and Convention Centers

Articles | April 13, 2020

Healthcare Business Today: CARES Act Changes to Federal Substance Use Privacy Law

Blog | April 13, 2020

Federal District Court Upholds CMS Pre-Dispute Arbitration Rule

Blog | April 10, 2020

OCR to Waive Penalties for Community-Based COVID-19 Testing Sites

Blog | April 10, 2020

CMS Special Open Door Forum Addresses Pressing Telehealth Questions

Articles | April 09, 2020

Healthcare Innovation: CARES Act Changes to Federal Substance Use Privacy Law

Blog | April 06, 2020

CARES Act Changes to Federal Substance Use Privacy Law

Blog | April 03, 2020

COVID-19 Hospice How-To Series: Application of the FFCRA "Health Care Provider" Exemption to Hospices

Blog | April 02, 2020

The Time to Act is Now: Small Business Administration Loans to Healthcare Organizations

Blog | April 02, 2020

Wisconsin DHS Requests Authority to Seek Additional Medicaid Waivers From CMS

Blog | March 31, 2020

COVID-19 Update: Kansas 1135 Waivers and State Flexibilities

Blog | March 30, 2020

The Small Business CARES Act Guide for Those Who Provide Care (Hint: There Are Good Loan Options)

Blog | March 26, 2020

HHS Urges States to Remove Most of Remaining State Licensing Barriers During COVID-19 Pandemic

Blog | March 26, 2020

COVID-19 Update: Missouri 1135 Waivers and State Flexibilities

Blog | March 25, 2020

OCR Issues Guidance Related to Disclosures to Law Enforcement, Paramedics, Other First Responders and Public Health Authorities for COVID-19 Related Purposes

Blog | March 24, 2020

Wisconsin DHS requests additional Medicaid Waivers from CMS

Blog | March 24, 2020

Texas Comptroller Postpones Medical Billing Sales Tax Policy Until Texas Legislature Weighs in in 2021

Blog | March 23, 2020

Wisconsin Department of Health Services releases REVISED Guidance to Long Term Care Facilities and Assisted Living Facilities

Articles | February 23, 2020

Healthcare Business Today: Hospital Sued for Requiring Older Doctors to Undergo Medical Screenings

Articles | January 23, 2020

Managed Healthcare Executive: New CMS Disclosure Rule Implemented

Webinar | December 2020

Planning, Building and Operating Senior Living Facilities in the Wake of COVID-19

Webinar | August 2020

Contact Tracing and Campus Testing

News Releases | October 06, 2022

David Hilgers To Receive Distinguished Service Award From the State Bar of Texas Health Law Section

Media Mentions | September 09, 2022

The Recorder: On the Move: Tracking the Ins and Outs of California Lawyers (log-in required)

Media Mentions | September 08, 2022

Law360: Husch Blackwell Adds Health Care Pro, Corporate Pro In Calif. (log-in required)

Media Mentions | September 07, 2022

The Recorder: 'Willing to Meet Me Where I Am': Husch Blackwell Draws More Talent in California (log-in required)

Media Mentions | August 01, 2022

ED Management: Admissibility of ED Recordings Depends on Multiple Factors

News Releases | June 29, 2022

Eleven Husch Blackwell Practices Net Rankings in 2022 Edition of The Legal 500

News Releases | May 11, 2022

Julian Rivera Receives ABA Health Law Section Champion of Diversity & Inclusion Award

News Releases | May 10, 2022

Laura Greene Honored as Litigation Practitioner at Missouri Lawyers Media Women's Justice Awards

News Releases | May 10, 2022

Husch Blackwell Expands Los Angeles Office and Welcomes Kevin Khachatryan to Healthcare Litigation Team

Media Mentions | May 09, 2022

Missouri Lawyers Media WJA 2022: Laura Greene | Litigation Practitioner Award

Media Mentions | April 18, 2022

Missouri Lawyers Media: Husch Blackwell hires former district court clerk as associate (log-in required)

Media Mentions | April 07, 2022

Charleston Regional Business Journal: Husch Blackwell Adds Two Healthcare Partners to Virtual Office

Media Mentions | April 01, 2022

Bloomberg Law: Husch Blackwell Recruits Two Virtual Office Healthcare Partners (log-in required)

News Releases | April 01, 2022

Husch Blackwell Adds Two Healthcare Partners to Virtual Office

Husch Blackwell is pleased to announce that Lisa T. Thomas and Bryan Stewart have joined the firm’s Healthcare, Life Sciences & Education industry group as partners.

Media Mentions | March 30, 2022

Bloomberg Law: Doctors Asked to Repay $100 Million in Covid Aid Absent Reports

Media Mentions | March 28, 2022

Missouri Lawyers Media: The POWER List: Curt J. Chase (log-in required)

Media Mentions | March 28, 2022

Missouri Lawyers Media: The POWER List: Gregory J. Minana (log-in required)

Media Mentions | January 16, 2022

Providence Business News: Five Questions With: Morgan Goulet

News Releases | December 07, 2021

Lowell Pearson Honored as a 2022 Lawyer of the Year by Missouri Lawyers Media

News Releases | November 22, 2021

Morgan Goulet Joins Husch Blackwell's Providence Office

Husch Blackwell is pleased to announce that Morgan Goulet has joined the firm as Senior Counsel in its Providence office.

News Releases | December 11, 2020

Husch Blackwell's Geraci Named to 2020 BTI Client Service All-Stars

Media Mentions | December 04, 2020

Missouri Lawyers Media: Weiss, Snodgrass and Potts named Lawyers of the Year

News Releases | August 12, 2020

Hal Katz Becomes Chair of ABA Health Law Section Council

Media Mentions | April 28, 2020

Law Week Colorado: Polis Loosens Provider Restrictions to Expand Health Care Workforce

News Releases | April 10, 2020

Wakaba Tessier Named to Law360 2020 Health Editorial Advisory Board

Tessier will serve as one of 10 subject-matter experts who will offer feedback and insight on Law360's health coverage.

Related areas of focus:

340B Drug Pricing Program Academic Medicine Digital Health Healthcare Healthcare Insolvency & Bankruptcy Healthcare Labor & Employment and Immigration Healthcare Litigation Healthcare M&A, Joint Ventures and Other Transactions Healthcare Operations Healthcare Real Estate Healthcare Regulatory & Compliance Counseling Hospice & Palliative Care Hospice Medicare & Medicaid Audits Medicaid Reimbursement Strategies Medical Staff & Governance No Surprises Act Pharmacy