Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer counsels a broad array of clients in the healthcare field on regulatory, corporate and compliance issues. As government involvement in the healthcare field steadily increases, our clients rely on our deep understanding of the ever-changing practices and procedures of government agencies that oversee the industry.   Our healthcare clients include hospitals, home health agencies, nursing and residential care homes, community mental health agencies, pharmacies, Federally Qualified Health Centers, laboratories, physician practices, provider groups, employer health clinics and medical software businesses, as well as the Vermont Association of Hospitals & Health Systems, the Vermont Health Care Association, and the Vermont Care Partners/Vermont Council of Development and Mental Health Services.

Services Provided

Regulatory

• Healthcare facility permitting, certificates of need, licenses and financing
• Response to survey deficiencies and licensure investigations
• Defense against state enforcement actions and rate setting proceedings
• EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act)
• Anti-kickback and Stark law compliance
• Antitrust issues pertaining to provider networking and collaboration
• Representation before professional licensing boards

Corporate

• Counseling boards on role and responsibility of governance
• Mergers, acquisitions, affiliations, and joint ventures with other providers
• Private and public financing
• Governmental and third-party reimbursement agreements
• Employment policies and personnel issues
• Professional contracting
• Medical staff bylaws policies and procedures
• Fair hearing procedures and related policies
• Patient information privacy considerations
• Health information technology contracting
• Accountable Care Organization contracting

Compliance

• Drafting and implementing compliance plans, and related policies and procedures
• Assisting providers with billing and claims reviews, including self-disclosure communications
• Responding to contractor and government investigations or other fraud and abuse enforcement activity
• Provider training for compliance programs and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) privacy regulation implementation
• Counsel regarding the requirements of Section 501(c)(3) tax exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code
• Counsel regarding federal and state grant agreement compliance

Health Information Privacy and Security Compliance

• Assistance drafting, establishing and updating health information privacy and securities policies and related compliance policies under state law
• Work force training
• Counsel and assistance with breach notification
• Response to inquiries or allegations of noncompliance with HIPAA
• Counsel related to agreements for electronic health record development and electronic exchange of health information
• Advice on patient portal related policies and procedures