I have been practicing law since 1975. In 1996, I was Certified by the Florida Bar as a specialist in Health Law. Board certified health lawyers are required by the Bar to demonstrate a solid grounding in all areas of regulatory and transactional health care law. Of the over 75,000 attorneys admitted to practice in Florida, less than 200 Florida attorneys are board certified in this field. 

From 1998 to 2005, I was associated with the MAXIMUS Center for Health Dispute Resolution, a national firm that resolves disputes between healthcare payors, providers and consumers.

As the holder of a Masters Degree in Public Health (University of South Florida, Tampa, 2000) and a Certified Mediator, I understand the political, economic and business environment within which health care is delivered. As an experienced dispute resolver, I take a results-oriented approach to meeting a client's needs. 

My practice includes:

Regulatory Compliance: helping assure compliance with federal and state regulations regarding fraud and abuse, self-referral of medical services (Stark), false claims, Medicare, Medicaid, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and Department of Health (DOH) rules and other compliance matters.

Health Care Business Matters: formation and dissolution of professional practices, employment agreements, managed care contracting, leases, joint ventures, etc.

Provider Reimbursement: helping medical professionals obtain fair compensation from insurance companies, managed care organizations and government health insurance programs.

Professional Regulation: representing physicians and other medical professionals concerning licensure, discipline and medical staff privileges.

Assistance to Ancillary Providers: Assisting Durable Medical Equipment (DME) providers, Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF), Home Health agencies and Allied Health Professionals.

Dispute Resolution: Mediation and Arbitration of health care disputes.

Civil and Administrative Litigation: in all federal and state venues. 

Areas of Practice

• Health Law - Regulatory
• Health Law - Transactional
• Health Insurance Claims Reimbursement
• Professional Licensure and Discipline
• Administrative Law
• Medicare Denials and Overpayment Appeals
• Mediation and Arbitration

Certification/Specialties

• Health Law, The Florida Bar, 1996
• Circuit Court Mediation, 2006

Bar Admissions

• Florida, 1975
• New York, 1995

Education

• Syracuse University College of Law, Syracuse, New York, May, 1974
  Juris Doctor
  
  
• University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, Florida, USA, December, 2000
  Master of Public Health
  Major: Health Policy and Management
  
  
• St. John's University, New York, New York, USA, May, 1969
  Bachelor of Arts
  Major: Political Science
  
  

Published Works

• Medicare Part D, The Florida Bar, Certification Exam Review, 2006
• Medicare, Florida Practitioner's Health Law Handbook, published by the Florida Bar Health Law Section., (Co-authored with Christine Whitney,Esq), 2007

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Emergency Public Health Legal Preparedness (Program Chair), Health Law Section of the Florida Bar, September 15, 2006
• Medicare Coverage, 2007 Medicaid Conference, St. Petersburg College
• External Review of Medicare Managed Care Denials, American Health Lawyers Association/America's Health Insurance Plans, April 10, 1998

Honors and Awards

• Board Certified Health Lawyer, August 1, 1996 - Present
• \Who's Who in American Law, 30th Edition
• Masters Degree in Public Health (Health Policy and Management), December 15, 2000
• Circuit Court Mediator, April 1, 2006 - Present
• American Health Lawyers Association Alternate Dispute Resolution Panel, July 15, 2005 - Present

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Health Lawyers Association
  
  
• St. Petersburg Bar Association
  
  
• American Bar Association
  
  
• Florida Academy of Healthcare Attorneys
  
  
• Health Care Compliance Association
  
  

Pro Bono Activities

• Gulfcoast Legal Services, Inc.
• Lawyers for Literacy

Ancillary Businesses

• Alternative Dispute Resolution (arbitration and mediation)

Birth Information

• 1947, New York City, New York, United States of America