Litigator an Expert on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Healthcare Regulatory Disputes

ATLANTA, July 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Arnall Golden Gregory LLP (AGG) today announced that Alan C. Horowitz, formerly Assistant Regional Counsel at U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS), has joined AGG as Of Counsel in the firm's Healthcare and Litigation practice groups.

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As a senior member of the HHS Office of the General Counsel, Mr. Horowitz worked closely with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).  He focused on and litigated matters involving all nursing home enforcement actions, as well as CMS's terminations of Medicare provider agreements of end-stage renal disease facilities (ESRDs), home health agencies (HHAs), clinical laboratories pursuant to CLIA, and medical center-based transplant centers.   

Mr. Horowitz also worked with the U.S. Attorneys' Offices defending significant cases involving Medicare coverage determinations and on Federal Tort Claims Act litigation and civil False Claims Act investigations.  Mr. Horowitz was appointed by the Department of Justice to serve as Special Attorney in cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.  He has provided ongoing guidance and presentations to CMS and state survey agencies regarding how to document and defend nursing home deficiency citations.  He has been a frequent and sought-after presenter at healthcare organizations on a state and national level and has authored numerous articles on a variety of healthcare law topics. 

At Arnall Golden Gregory, Mr. Horowitz will be joining one of the largest Healthcare practices in the country.  The group represents healthcare providers, such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, ancillary service providers, and physicians in litigation, transactional, regulatory and operational matters.

Mr. Horowitz will be involved with all aspects of nursing home enforcement actions, including litigation, and will be advising on survey, certification, quality of care and Medicare enrollment issues for AGG's nationwide client base.  In addition, Mr. Horowitz will be a member of the Medicare/Medicaid Reimbursement Practice Team, which specializes in Medicare and Medicaid audits and appeals.  

Mr. Horowitz is a licensed registered nurse and licensed registered respiratory therapist.  Before joining HHS, he held a number of clinical, teaching, and administrative positions at major university-based medical centers.  He served as the Acting Director of ECRI Institute's National Center for Independent Medical Review and as the Director of Clinical and Legal Affairs for the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP).  Mr. Horowitz also served as in-house counsel and program director for a long-term care facility with a pilot ventilator-dependent unit in New Jersey.

"I have been across the table from AGG attorneys for many years and always have been impressed with their knowledge and advocacy for their clients," Mr. Horowitz said.  "AGG was a natural choice for me to continue my career when presented with this unique opportunity."

Glenn Hendrix, AGG's managing partner, said, "Alan's legal skills, government regulatory experience and work as a nurse and respiratory therapist give him a unique perspective on issues arising from the intersection of law, regulation and quality of care.  He has been one of HHS's most visible attorneys on long-term care issues, having handled or overseen literally hundreds of enforcement actions involving skilled nursing facilities.  He will be a tremendous resource for our clients."

Hedy Rubinger, chair of the Healthcare and Life Sciences Practice, said, "We are excited to have Alan join the AGG healthcare team.  Alan's expertise as a leading government attorney will provide our clients with critical insights into the complicated statutes and regulations that govern them."

Mr. Horowitz is the second key addition to the Firm's Healthcare and Litigation practices in recent weeks.  Sara M. Lord, who had been an award-winning federal prosecutor and the Healthcare Fraud Coordinator for the Northern District of New York, brings a wealth of experience in handling healthcare fraud matters.

About Arnall Golden Gregory
Arnall Golden Gregory LLP is a law firm with offices in Atlanta, Miami and Washington, D.C., that serves the business needs of growing public and private companies.  Its areas of focus include real estate, healthcare, corporate, litigation, international, employment, life sciences, global logistics, privacy and intellectual property law.  With the help of Arnall Golden Gregory's experienced attorneys, clients across a broad range of industries and around the globe turn legal challenges into business opportunities.

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SOURCE Arnall Golden Gregory LLP