Health Care Law
Underwood’s Health Care Law Practice Group services the legal needs of health care professionals, covering a large spectrum of issues on a regional, state, and national basis. The uniquely qualified attorneys of our firm focus primarily in three areas: (1) hospital and hospital district representation; (2) long-term care; and (3) professional practice groups. Attorneys in this section of the firm have an in-depth knowledge of the regulatory nuances and legal ramifications associated with the rapidly changing arena of health care law.
Long-Term Care
The firm’s long-term care practice encompasses every aspect of federal and state regulation. The firm routinely advises and represents clients before federal regulatory agencies regardless of the state in which the need for representation arises. Underwood attorneys represent long-term care providers including appearances before the Texas Department of Human Services, State Office of Administrative Hearings, professional licensure boards, and the Texas Attorney General’s Office. In addition to experience in all State Courts, the firm has experience in the myriad of issues related to Medicare, including counseling, litigation, and representation before Federal Courts, the U.S. HHS Departmental Appeals Board, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Provider Reimbursement Review Board, Medicare carriers, and fiscal intermediaries. Gavin Gadberry has a vast amount of experience with facility transactions and coordinating the change of ownership within Texas.
Gavin J. Gadberry is general counsel to the Texas Health Care Association, a non-profit corporation made up of long-term care providers. Mr. Gadberry advises nursing facilities and multi-facility organizations on operations, management, and governmental issues.
Hospitals
The firm represents public hospitals and Texas hospital districts. While our attorneys work in virtually all areas, liability defense and medical staff credentialing are our largest practice areas. Mike H. Loftin and Alan Rhodes are the primary contacts for hospital matters.
Professional Practice Groups
Underwood attorneys assist physician, dental, and other health care groups. In the business area, our attorneys assist medical professionals as they deal with federal tax, state tax, asset protection, and buy-sell agreements in connection with their groups. Our Health Care Law practice includes such areas as:
- Antitrust counseling and litigation
- Business organizations and contractual agreements
- Contracts
- Corporate compliance programs
- Corporate practice of medicine
- Environmental law
- Fraud, illegal remunerations, Stark law, false claims, and civil sanctions
- Home health agencies
- Health care confidentiality requirements
- Insurance and risk management
- Integrated health care delivery systems and networks
- Joint ventures, labor, and employment
- Legislative and administrative health care lobbying
- Long-term care and managed care
- Medical staff credentialing
- Professional licensure
- Physician practice group issues
- Real estate and construction matters
- Reimbursement
- Survey, licensure, certification, and grant requirements
- White collar criminal law
The three attorneys primarily responsible for the firm’s Health Law section are Alan Rhodes, Gavin J. Gadberry and Charles A. Mallard. Mr. Rhodes advises public hospitals and hospital districts. Mr. Gadberry represents long-term care professionals and their ancillary businesses. He is a frequent speaker at the American Health Lawyers Association, Long-Term Care and Law Seminars, was published in the Long-Term Care Handbook, 2nd Edition and serves as a member of the American Health Care Association Legal Advisory Committee, having chaired the Committee from 2002 to 2003.
