Healthcare
Law
Melendres law currently represents clients throughout the healthcare industry, including: hospital systems, large university hospitals, stand alone hospitals, clinics, employer health programs, laboratories, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, physicians and physician practice groups. In particular, our attorneys have years of experience advising clients regarding the complex regulatory schemes that govern the healthcare industry, structuring compliant transactions and agreements, defending clients during government investigations, and litigating claims.
Regulatory and Transactional Matters
Melendres law provides its healthcare clients with regulatory advice regarding many of the complex statutes and regulations facing healthcare providers including HIPAA, Stark, Anti-kickback, EMTALA, Licensing and other state and federal laws. Melendres law assists healthcare providers in their compliance with relevant laws by reviewing, drafting and negotiating various types of agreements including agreements between hospitals and physicians, 3rd party payors and other healthcare vendors. Melendres law also advises clients on corporate structures, formations and transactions, including joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions. In addition, our attorneys have represented a variety of entities in their various roles in healthcare financings and transactions, including issuers, underwriters, hospitals and other tax-exempt organizations.
Government Investigations and Audits
Melendres law realizes that being the subject of a government investigation or litigation can be a stressful time for any healthcare provider. Our attorneys have a wealth of experience representing healthcare providers in all types of adverse actions, and have represented healthcare clients in some of the country’s largest fraud and abuse litigations. Melendres law has specific expertise in representing clients in False Claims Act cases and qui tam actions. Melendres law manages and coordinates investigations of healthcare corporations in response to government subpoenas, False Claims Act qui tam actions and other government inquiries involving healthcare fraud and abuse allegations. Melendres law has defended major civil and criminal government healthcare fraud litigations and investigations. In the post-investigation landscape, our attorneys have overseen compliance with, and the drafting of reporting documentation related to Corporate Integrity Agreements.
Melendres law has conducted internal audits and advised healthcare companies, including hospital systems, physicians, laboratories, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers and diagnostic medical imaging centers on compliance with federal and state fraud and abuse laws. Melendres law also designs and helps clients implement comprehensive compliance programs.
Medical Staff Affairs and Litigation
Melendres law advises clients concerning medical staff credentialing, peer review, quality improvement and medical staff governance issues. Our attorneys prepare medical staff bylaws, rules and regulations, as well as risk management plans and policies. Melendres law also assists hospitals in the defense of medical staff disputes, and advises clients on National Practitioner Data Bank and state reporting requirements. Melendres law also provides medical malpractice defense for hospitals and individual doctors.
Our Attorneys are Martindale Hubble Peer review rated and our Firm is a proud member of the Better Business Bureau.
Our healthcare law specialties include:
• Regulatory Compliance
▪ Stark Laws
▪ Federal and state Anti-kickback laws
▪ EMTALA
▪ HIPAA
▪ HiTech
▪ Reimbursement
▪ Cost Report Issues
▪ Anti-Markup laws
▪ Licensing
▪ DSH
▪ Sole Community Provider funding
▪ Relevant State Laws
• Medical Staff Issues
• Informed Consent and Advanced Directives
• Government Investigations
• False Claims Act Litigation
• Internal Compliance Audits
• Implementation of Compliance Programs
• Advisory Opinion Requests
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating physician and vendor agreements, including:
▪ Physician Recruitment Agreements
▪ Medical Office Lease Agreements
▪ Employment Agreements
▪ Professional Services Agreements
▪ Joint Ventures
• Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement
• Corporate transactions
• Corporate compliance
• Clinical Trials
• Litigation
• Labor and Employment
• Medical Malpractice defense
