Physician Practices and Professional Organizations

Ober|Kaler represents physicians and physician groups in a wide range of matters that include:

• Practice structure, formation and operation
• Regulatory compliance
• Third-party payor contracting
• Licensing
• Professional conduct
• Medical research participation
• Hospital relationships
• Joint ventures

We assist groups in exploring the advantages and disadvantages of the entire continuum of integrated relationships – from loose networks to the merger of practices. Our experience includes buying physician practices from other medical groups, hospitals, and practice management companies as well as the sale of practices to such entities.

Our Health Law Group develops and revises recruitment and compensation arrangements for hospitals and physicians that satisfy federal and state health laws. We draft medical staff bylaws for hospitals and surgery centers, and we draft, review and revise contracts between physicians and all types of health care entities. We often work with both in-house and local counsel to structure a variety of business arrangements – from alternative compensation models to complex ventures – and ensure that such arrangements satisfy health law requirements.

In the area of credentialing matters, we represent both institutions and physicians at hospital peer review hearings and assist clients in reporting issues to state licensing boards, to the Federation of State Licensing Boards, the National Practitioner Data Bank, the Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank and third-party payors. We have represented physicians under investigation by the state attorney general, the Office of the Inspector General and the Justice Department. We even serve as general counsel to a number of large medical practices, handling all of their legal issues as they arise.

Ober|Kaler's thorough knowledge of how the health care system works assures our clients of a sound outcome that is both practical and legal.