The Washington healthcare industry is constantly evolving. With many complex laws and regulations, it is challenging for healthcare facilities to adapt, stay compliant, and remain operational.
Whether you operate a skilled nursing facility, Federally Qualified Healthcare Center (FQHC), assisted living facility, or private practice, a Washington healthcare law attorney can help your facility stay compliant and ahead of potential risks.
What Roles Can a Washington Healthcare Law Attorney Offer?
Compliance
Compliance is a core component of healthcare law. The healthcare industry has a complex latticework of state and federal laws and regulations that providers must comply with. Some key laws that apply to healthcare facilities include:
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)—sets standards for the protection of sensitive health information like medical records;
- Anti-Kickback Statute—prohibits healthcare providers from offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving money or anything of value in exchange for referrals to their services or products reimbursed by federal healthcare programs;
- Healthcare Quality Improvement Act (HCQIA)—aims to improve healthcare quality and patient safety;
- Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH)—mandates provider audits to ensure compliance with HIPAA, sets standards for providing financial and health information security, and has penalties for non-compliance; and
- Fraud and abuse laws—providers are subject to various laws that prohibit fraud and abuse, including the prohibition of issuing fraudulent bills to insurance providers, prescribing or recommending unnecessary procedures or medications, and laundering money.
Under these regulations, healthcare facilities are responsible for reporting information and are subject to inspection, review, and enforcement actions. If your FQHC, skilled nursing facility, or private practice is out of compliance, there can be serious consequences like:
- Financial penalties,
- Loss of funding,
- Legal penalties (lawsuits, criminal charges, exclusion from government programs),
- Loss of accreditation,
- Damaged reputation, and
- Poor patient care.
A Washington healthcare compliance attorney can help providers adhere to the relevant laws and regulations and aim to ensure quality patient care and your facility’s success.
Our team can help you understand what laws and regulations apply to your facility. We can create and implement policies, procedures, and processes specific to your facility and practice to ensure continued compliance while enhancing operational efficiency. Our lawyers can prepare your staff for site visits and audits through mock audits, training, and documentation reviews.
Risk Management
A healthcare compliance attorney can also guide healthcare facilities in implementing risk management strategies to reduce potential liability. Medical risk management is a collection of procedures and best practices designed to keep healthcare facilities operating safely and in compliance with regulations. Risk managers proactively identify potential risks and estimate potential consequences. They also develop response plans if the identified risk becomes a reality.
Common risks that healthcare risk managers should watch for and track include:
- Talent acquisition,
- Cybersecurity threats,
- Quality of patient care,
- Liability, and
- Regulatory.
Risk management can reduce medical errors, enhance the quality of patient services, prevent mistakes, and avoid litigation. By developing risk management solutions, an organization can get to the root of the errors and prevent future occurrences.
Bringing a healthcare regulatory compliance law firm like Smith + Malek on board allows the provider to focus on delivering excellent health services. Our attorneys will develop risk management plans for your facility’s specific needs.
General Counsel
A healthcare facility general counsel (GC) is a company’s primary attorney and legal advisor. A GC is responsible for providing legal advice to the organization’s leadership, employees, and board of directors. Their responsibilities may include:
- Employment law matters;
- Judicial and administrative proceedings;
- Financing and mergers;
- Healthcare operations;
- Contract drafting, review, and negotiation;
- Compliance and risk management;
- Developing organizational strategy;
- Policy analysis, review, drafting, and advocacy;
- Litigation and dispute resolution;
- Licensing matters;
- Physician attorney; and
- Business transactions.
The general counsel is a member of the management team who advises and guides them in everyday business and legal decisions. The Washington healthcare attorneys at Smith + Malek can serve as your general counsel, providing you with legal guidance and support for your practice.
Partner with Smith + Malek for Your Healthcare Law Needs
Whether you are managing an FQHC, skilled nursing facility, or private practice, your healthcare organization must comply with the complex laws and regulations governing the industry. Give yourself the space to focus on providing quality patient care by allowing an experienced Washington healthcare compliance attorney to act as your general counsel, compliance, or risk manager.
We have been providing legal services to healthcare facilities since 2015. Our team has in-depth knowledge of healthcare laws and regulations and dedicates time to staying abreast of rapid industry changes. Our team is committed to your success, offering legal solutions to help you excel in providing quality care. Contact Smith + Malek today to learn how we can support your goals and ensure compliance across all aspects of your Washington healthcare operations.