Foley Hoag Launches New Blog to Examine the Legal Dimensions of the Medicaid Program

BOSTON, Feb. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Foley Hoag LLP has launched a new blog to highlight and explain current legal and policy issues in the Medicaid program and how they will play out in the public policy arena. The Medicaid program is the single largest source of health insurance for children and adults in the United States. 

The blog, "Medicaid & The Law," will be co-authored by Foley Hoag partner Thomas Barker and associate Ross Margulies. Barker inaugurated the blog with an entry examining the ability of Medicaid beneficiaries and providers to enforce a legal entitlement to Medicaid, an issue which is squarely presented in the case Armstrong vs. Exceptional Child Center Inc. currently pending before the Supreme Court of the United States.

"Medicaid was enacted in 1965 and was, at the time, viewed as the forgotten stepchild of the then much larger Medicare program. Today, Medicaid serves almost 69 million low-income Americans, is far larger than Medicare, and is the largest and most complex health insurance program in the United States. Yet Medicaid remains a mystery to many. Any changes to the program and legal challenges to its provisions have an enormous impact on the delivery of healthcare generally and the legal framework around it," Barker said.

"Our goal with this blog is to provide helpful, up-to-date insight for lawyers, policymakers, industry leaders, and public health specialists whose practices are affected by Medicaid but can't focus on the constant flow of changes and challenges. Future posts to the blog will address the many current issues that arise in today's Medicaid program."

Barker, co-chair of Foley Hoag's healthcare practice, served as acting general counsel for the Department of Health and Human Services in the Bush Administration in 2008, and was general counsel of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from 2003 - 2007.  He also served as health policy advisor to HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt from 2005-2008. During his tenure at HHS, Barker was responsible for reviewing and assessing the legal sufficiency of every major regulation affecting the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Barker speaks frequently on Medicaid and healthcare issues at public forums and in the news media.

Prior to joining Foley Hoag in 2010, Margulies served  as a senior research associate at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Human Services  where his research focused almost exclusively on complex legal issues impacting the Medicaid program. Margulies holds a master's degree in public health in health policy from GWU.

At Foley Hoag, Margulies' practice focuses on statutory and regulatory issues involving the Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) and general health policy matters. His expertise includes Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement issues for innovative pharmaceutical products; and legal, regulatory and strategic advice for Medicare and Medicaid providers.

About Foley Hoag LLP

Foley Hoag provides innovative, strategic legal services to public, private and government clients across the globe. We have premier capabilities in the life sciences, healthcare, technology, energy, professional services, investment management fields, and in cross-border disputes. Our professionals possess the skills and experience to provide exceptional senior level service to clients ranging from startups to multinational companies to sovereign states. For more information, visit www.foleyhoag.com or follow @FoleyHoag on Twitter.

Contact:
Jasmine Trillos-Decarie
Foley Hoag LLP
617 832 7010
[email protected]

SOURCE Foley Hoag LLP

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