With a background as general counsel of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), Rebecca helps healthcare providers navigate a complex regulatory system to deliver high-quality patient care.
Aware of the impact individual attorneys could have on their state through government work, Rebecca planned from the beginning of her legal career to work for Massachusetts state agencies. She quickly came to focus on health law: despite the essential nature of healthcare, Rebecca knew the system could be challenging for patients to navigate, and she wanted to play a part in expanding and improving access.
Rebecca’s more than 20-year career with healthcare-related agencies culminated in her role as general counsel of DPH, where she served as the agency’s lead attorney and provided guidance and legal oversight for a staff of nearly 50 legal professionals, the Commissioner’s office, 10 bureaus, 21 boards of professional registration, and the four public health hospitals. In 2023, she joined Husch Blackwell’s Boston office, impressed by the strength of the firm’s Healthcare Regulatory team. Rebecca is excited to find herself representing clients to resolve challenges in the healthcare system.
In addition to assistance with Determination of Need applications and regulatory licensure matters, Rebecca helps healthcare clients develop plans and projects that work within the regulatory boundaries while allowing them to grow their systems and services.
After more than two decades at state health agencies and nine years at DPH, Rebecca is fluent in state government terminology. She has an in-depth understanding of how these agencies think, what they look for in proposals, and where their concerns are likely to lie. Her knowledge of problems that must be addressed before a project goes before state regulators helps prevent delays, and her ease in communicating with government officials helps clients get to yes faster.