Our health care clients have taught us that it is better to be cared for by a team of specialists working together than by a generalist who may not recognize or appreciate the significance of all the symptoms presented. Just as health care has become more specialized, the law regulating health care has become more complex. A single lawyer cannot possibly master all the cases and regulations related to the delivery of health care.

For that reason, we have assembled a group of lawyers in our health care practice group.   These attorneys have served health care professionals in Western Michigan for years.  Each member works diligently to stay current in various aspects of the health care delivery system and the myriad regulations which affect it. Sharing our knowledge and experience, we meet regularly to provide strategies and solutions that are effective and efficient. If one of us has previously encountered the same or a similar problem, you benefit from that experience.

As in medicine, the team approach works best when there is a “gate-keeper” — one lawyer for you who knows your particular practice and business affairs.  We identify issues of special concern and direct those matters to the appropriate specialist. You always know who is ultimately managing your legal matters, but the team approach means that another member is knowledgeable and available to help at any time. Better counsel. Cost effectively delivered.

In addition to our coordinated approach, we offer billing arrangements that are appropriate for the kind of services you request. We work with you to offer creative billing arrangements accommodating your needs on a given project or within your budget parameters.

While the members of the Rhoades McKee Health Care section serve as the first responders, we have the benefit of access to other attorneys in the firm with expertise in all of the “business” aspects of health care, such as real estate, estate planning/asset protection, income tax, criminal defense, professional liability defense, and financing. We also assist in connecting you with other respected consultants with special experience and expertise in assisting health care clients design, develop and evaluate practical solutions to their practice concerns.

The members of our Health Care section are ready to assist you in any of the following areas:

• Providers’ “Business” Needs—business formation and organization; owners’ compensation; human resource management and disputes; employee benefits; practice growth; employment by hospital or health provider organizations; real estate/environmental
• Physician Compensation—financial planning and tax services, estate planning, asset protection, employment agreements
• Transactional Regulation—Stark; Anti-Kickback; Intermediate Sanctions; ownership/referral relationships between providers
• Joint Venture Arrangements—tax exempt status; antitrust; compensation; real estate
• Third-Party Payer Relationships—insurance contracting; payment appeals; Medicare; BCBSM; Medicaid
• Criminal Defense—fraud and abuse; false claims; compliance
• Tax and Tax Exemption—property tax; 501(c)(3) applications; provider relationships; intermediate sanctions/private inurement
• Certificate of Need
• Liability Insurance—professional liability defense; property and casualty; business risk; employee benefits
• Elder Care—nursing home regulation; patient protection; owners’ liability for nursing home residents
• Mental Health Code—privilege and permitted disclosures; substance abuse disclosure rules; recipient rights; DCH and CMH relationships
• Medical Records—HIPAA privacy and disclosure; privacy policies and agreements; medical records retention; medical records transcription and storage agreements; electronic records; Health Information Exchange
• Licensing Defense