The head of the health industry advisory practice group at the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery, Stephen Bernstein, said that the firm has been increasing its practice over the past two months. The firm has added eight lawyers, according to Reuters.
Clare Ranalli is the latest hire at the firm. She worked as a regulatory partner at Holland & Knight. She has expertise in “certificates of need,” which is clearance required in multiple states when healthcare providers look to increase their facilities or merge with other companies.
Bernstein said that the increase of the practice to close to 90 lawyers is a result of the work the firm has added because of the Affordable Care Act. Bernstein noted that the firm is working to add lawyers with expertise in drug and food and those who focus on government programs and managed care.
Client are required to seek out legal services so they can comply with new regulations being released on a weekly basis by the government that affect the dynamics of the healthcare industry.
Bernstein noted that clients are mainly concerned about the medical loss ratio regulations. These require insurers to spend a specific amount of health insurance premiums on medical care and improving healthcare quality.