For over 20 years, our team has advised clients on forming and operating integrated delivery systems, including accountable care organizations (ACOs), physician hospital organizations (PHOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs) and independent practice associations (IPAs). We also provide analysis and advice with respect to antitrust laws, helping newly formed entities negotiate payer contracts on behalf of their constituencies.

Because such delivery systems often involve sophisticated acquisition transactions, joint ventures and joint operating agreements, the work we do requires not only creativity and experienced judgement — it requires the ability to appropriately balance the legitimate business interests, rights and risk structure of all parties to a transaction. Our health care attorneys bring these very skills to bear to help clients successfully establish and operate vertically integrated care continuums.

Employees now place a premium on retirement health and other benefits, which are some of the most highly regulated aspects of the employment relationship. Our team offers practical legal advice to taxable and tax-exempt health care organizations regarding executive compensation, enabling clients to reward and retain top performing executives. We have helped clients design and implement a wide array of short-term and long-term executive compensation plans, as well as amendments to deferred compensation plans and agreements to ensure continued compliance with applicable laws. We strive to achieve our clients’ business and employment objectives while minimizing legal risk and tax burdens.

Our team is well-versed in the health care regulatory and state/federal income tax implications of a wide variety of agreements between hospitals and physicians; in particular, recruitment agreements, medical director agreements and direct employment agreements. We draft and negotiate physician contracts and help hospital administrators create compensation and profit-sharing arrangements. We also work with health care entities to recruit and retain physicians by developing appropriate and cost-effective incentives, from income guarantees and sign-on bonuses to marketing and relocation allowances.

Our team is deeply experienced in the licensure and accreditation process for a variety of health care facilities and providers, from hospitals and laboratories to outpatient opioid treatment centers. In addition, we have an accomplished record helping individual practitioners successfully interact with their local licensing boards and agencies. Our broad litigation experience and studied understanding of health care compliance matters give clients an uncommon advantage when dealing with various regulatory bodies, whether during the licensure/accreditation process or when faced with an audit, investigation, or litigation.