Health Care
Health care is a highly regulated industry that promises more and more government involvement. Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer understands the practices and procedures of the government agencies that oversee the industry and represents a broad array of clients in the health care field including hospitals, nursing homes, community mental health agencies, pharmacies, physician practices and other provider groups. The firm also represents the Vermont Health Care Association and the Vermont Council of Development and Mental Health Services.
- Regulatory. The firm represents clients in obtaining the necessary permits, certificates of need, licenses, and financing for health care facilities. It assists clients in responding to survey deficiencies and licensure investigations and defends against state enforcement actions and rate setting proceedings. The firm also provides counsel relating to EMTALA and Stark law compliance.
- Corporate Issues. The firm assists clients in negotiating and drafting contracts for the purchase of physician practices, joint ventures with other providers, third party payer agreements, physician employment, and setting rates for nursing homes. It advises clients on drafting medical staff bylaws, fair hearing procedures and related policies, patient information privacy considerations, antitrust issues pertaining to provider networking and integration, employment policy and personnel issues, and governmental and third-party reimbursement. The firm also provides services necessary for private or public financing.
- Compliance Issues. Corporate compliance programs are essential to avoiding exposure to charges of false or fraudulent billing practices. The firm frequently assists providers in drafting and implementing compliance plans and in responding to contractor and government investigations or other fraud and abuse enforcement activity. It regularly provides training sessions for providers regarding compliance programs and implementing the HIPAA privacy regulations. The firm also provides counsel regarding the requirements of Section 501(c)(3) tax exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code.
- HIPAA Compliance. The regulations implementing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act as it pertains to the privacy and security of identifiable health information require health care providers and health plans to develop comprehensive compliance strategies. The firm provides training, assistance, and counseling to meet these requirements, including the development of notices and forms, the revision of policies and procedures, and employee training. The firm also works with providers responding to inquiries or allegations of noncompliance.
Primary Contacts:
Anne E. Cramer
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