Experience

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  AltaMed Health Services

  • Corporate Legal Counsel

    • Aug 2022 - Present

• 

  DaVita Inc.

  • United States
  • Hospitals and Health Care
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Assistant General Counsel

    • Mar 2018 - Aug 2022

  • Corporate Counsel - Operations

    • Dec 2014 - Mar 2018

    • Provide legal and regulatory support for over 500 free‐standing dialysis clinics and over 75 hospital based dialysis programs in 7 western states, while operating pursuant to a government‐mandated Corporate Integrity Agreement.• Draft and negotiate physician and ancillary agreements and assist operations in managing physician relationships.• Collaborate frequently with compliance team to identify and remediate potential compliance issues.• Provide legal counsel to field operators regarding potential physician joint venture partnerships and strategize to identify appropriate partner selection and business rationale.• Provide transactional, real estate and risk management counsel to the field operators, as needed.• Engage in training and educating the field operators regarding legal and regulatory issues.• Report to Group General Counsel and provide support for several Associate General Counsels.

• 

  Avanti Hospitals, LLC

  • El Segundo, CA

  • Associate Legal Counsel

    • Apr 2013 - Dec 2014
    • El Segundo, CA

    • Coordinate with the General Counsel to provide legal and regulatory support for Avanti Hospitals including risk management, compliance, education, insurance matters, HIPAA and HITECH requirements, anti-kickback regulations, policies and procedures, and medical staff. Draft and negotiate provider, vendor, health care plan and affiliation agreements.• Actively participate in all aspects of survey preparation at an operations level. Efforts resulted in restoring Joint Commission accreditation for one hospital and re-instating CMS deemed status to another hospital.• Effectively manage investigations including employee, patient and patient family complaints, patient care and physician issues, Joint Commission and CMS complaints and compliance hotline matters. Maintain commitment to excellence in patient care and employee relations.• Engage with outside counsel on litigation, administrative proceedings and other regulatory proceedings.• Collaborate with members of the Avanti Executive Team on various projects, both system-wide and at individual facilities.

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  Ensign Services, Inc.

  • Associate General Counsel

    • Jan 2011 - Oct 2012

    • Drafted and negotiated contracts with vendors, health plans and providers across 8 states for over 50 skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and home health and hospice agencies• Coordinated Medicare, Medicaid and state license applications and provided regulatory licensing support for multiple healthcare providers including skilled nursing facilities and home health and hospice agencies• Fielded risk management issues including resident and family complaints, insurance claims and compliance matters • Assisted in drafting relevant documents several transactional deals including over 15 acquisitions, several joint ventures and a $150 million credit facility• Researched and analyzed several regulatory healthcare issues for appeal and/or plans of corrections for California Department of Public Health surveys, Office of the Attorney General inquiries and Department of Justice inquiries

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  McCarthy & Holthus LLP

  • Associate Attorney

    • Apr 2009 - Dec 2010

    • Drafted pleadings including Motions for Relief from Stay, Proofs of Claim and Objections to Chapter 13 Plans in Bankruptcy on behalf of Secured Creditors including lenders, mortgage companies and banks• Represented Secured Creditors in both Federal and state court in California and Idaho • Developed and implemented department-wide policy and procedure to respond to inquiries from the United States Trustee’s office

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  Law Offices of Michael Pines

  • Associate Attorney

    • Jun 2007 - Feb 2009

    • Managed personal injury cases from initial client meeting to conclusion, including communication with insurance companies, litigation, discovery and mediation. Caseload consisted primarily of Spanish-speaking clients.• Prepared for and defended depositions of plaintiffs, defendants, police officers and doctors.• Filed all complaints and completed service on defendants for litigated cases.• Assisted in development and implementation of internet marketing campaign.