"The health care industry is one of our nation’s fastest growing, most rapidly changing and most heavily regulated industries. Surviving in this dynamic environment requires physicians, hospitals and other health care providers to continually adjust to new technologies, new economic realities and ever emerging opportunities.”
Kathleen Quiroz
Health Care Practice Group Leader
and Shareholder
Health care is estimated to be one of the largest industries in South Texas and is perhaps the one industry that affects the lives of all people. As participants in this industry, health care providers and suppliers not only are faced with the business challenges common to all industries but also must contend with an extraordinarily complex system of state and federal laws and regulations unique to the health care industry. While some firms may offer the expertise of business lawyers, and others the expertise of regulatory lawyers, the attorneys of our Health Care Group possess the expertise of both business and health care regulatory lawyers. This enables us to provide our clients with a unique depth of experience in an efficient and effective manner. As a result, whether our client is a physician group, hospital, surgery center, imaging facility, durable medical equipment manufacturer or supplier or other participant in the health care industry, our attorneys possess the expertise to become a valuable member of our client’s team.
Our Expertise
Health Care Transactions Our Health Care Group represents a wide range of health care providers, including physicians and physician groups, hospitals and hospital systems, diagnostic imaging facilities, ambulatory surgery centers and other free-standing centers, durable medical equipment manufacturers and retailers and others. What these diverse clients have in common is the desire to develop and grow successful business enterprises. With deep roots in corporate and transaction law, the attorneys of our Health Care Group advise and guide our clients through all aspects of organizing a new practice or business venture, of raising the capital and obtaining financing, and of growing their practices and businesses through internal growth and through mergers and acquisitions. We also advise and assist our clients with strategic business and legal planning, with discreet transactions and highly specialized legal issues as well as with routine matters such as contract drafting, review and negotiation. Ultimately, whatever the need, whatever the challenge and whatever the opportunity, our Health Care attorneys provide our clients with the expertise and creative solutions that empower them to achieve success.
Regulatory Compliance Health care providers and suppliers are governed by a myriad of state and federal statutes and related regulations. The members of our Health Care Group advise clients on a wide variety of issues arising under those statutes and regulations, including issues relating to compliance with, and investigations initiated under, the antitrust laws; the anti-kickback and anti-solicitation statutes; civil monetary penalties law; EmTALA; the False Claims Act and other civil and criminal false claims statutes; HIPAA and the HIPAA Privacy and security Rules; stark law; and the Texas medical Practice Act.
Third Party Reimbursement Our Health Care Group represents clients in connection with Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement issues, including issues related to Medicare Advantage plans and Medicaid managed care programs; state and federal regulation of HMOs, PPOs, and other insurance companies; and the analysis and negotiation of managed care contracts. We also represent our clients in a wide range of reimbursement-related issues such as assignment of benefits, balance billing, coinsurance obligations, recoupment of overpayments, and utilization review and quality assurance.
Licensure, Certification, and Peer Review Our Health Care Group represents clients in matters involving complaints filed with, and investigations conducted by, state licensing boards such as the Texas Medical Board and the Board of Nurse Examiners. We also have significant experience assisting clients with the formation of nonprofit health corporations and the certification of nonprofit corporations by the Texas Medical Board. The members of our Health Care Group also advise both hospitals and physicians on medical staff credentialing and peer review matters.
Contact Us
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