Christianna L. Finnern

• Obtained the dismissal of a complaint against a podiatry provider by a large insurer on the basis that the provider agreement between the parties required disputes to be arbitrated.
• Favorably settled an overpayment claim from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Surveillance and Integrity Review Section (SIRS) for urine drug screens on behalf of a clinical laboratory.  Successfully leveraged the weaknesses in the statistical extrapolation performed by AdvanceMed, n/k/a CoventBridge in negotiating a resolution.
• Successfully negotiated the resolution of a coding, billing and prior authorization dispute between a home health care agency and a large insurer resulting in substantial repayment to the home health care agency.
• Negotiated the successful resolution of a Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Surveillance and Integrity Review Section (SIRS) overpayment demand on behalf of a behavioral health substance use disorder treatment provider.
• Resolved a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) investigation of a provider for suspected inappropriate prescribing of opioids with the closing of the investigation and no action taken against the provider.
• Represented a large specialty provider group in connection with its acquisition of a complementary provider group.
• Served as regulatory counsel for a behavioral health care provider in connection with its acquisition by a private equity sponsor.
• Conducted internal investigations for a large specialty provider group regarding potential billing and coding issues, reviewing and revising internal policies and procedures to ensure compliance.
• Conducted internal investigations for a large specialty provider group regarding disruptive physician issues, drug diversion issues and physician fitness for duty concerns.
• Conducted more than twenty internal investigations and record-keeping audits for large behavioral health providers regarding state and federal regulatory compliance issues, including diversion.
• Represented a behavioral health provider in connection with an administrative license revocation appeal. Successfully resolved the license revocation appeal through informal resolution on favorable terms to the provider.
• Represented a health care real estate investment trust in connection with an involuntary receivership action brought by the Minnesota Department of Health against the operator of three nursing facilities. Assisted the health care real estate investment trust in marketing the facilities for sale to other nursing home operators.
• Represented many licensed professionals before boards of medicine, nursing, pharmacy and social work in several different jurisdictions.
• Negotiated with numerous health insurers to ensure that providers are receiving the statutorily and contractually correct reimbursement.
• Challenged a six figure overpayment demand from a health insurer, demonstrating that the extrapolation method used was fundamentally flawed, which resulted in the insurer withdrawing the overpayment demand in its entirety.

Whether you are buying or selling a practice, subject to government or third-party payor audits, dealing with licensing or regulatory compliance issues, or involved in litigation, our fully-integrated health care team provides comprehensive representation for our clients.

FRAUD & ABUSE AUDITS AND INVESTIGATIONS

If you are proactively auditing your billing practices or have been accused of fraud or abuse by a third-party payor or government entity, our team will work with you to respond to investigations, audits or subpoenas and provide compliance advice to minimize risk.

HEALTH CARE DATA PRIVACY

Storing and exchanging protected health information (PHI) is both highly regulated and fraught with risk. Our team of healthcare privacy attorneys work with healthcare providers, insurers, management services organizations, and entities throughout the industry to develop policies that comply with state and federal laws, reduce exposure to cyber threats, and to help you quickly respond.

HEALTH CARE MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

Our experienced M&A team counsels clients through acquisitions, dispositions and recapitalizations of their businesses and those of their targets. We focus on constructive and creative solutions and a multi-disciplinary approach, to achieve our clients’ objectives and deliver long-term value.

HEALTH LICENSING BOARD DEFENSE

Winthrop’s health care team, which comprises, among others, former Assistant Attorneys General who used to handle these cases on behalf of the State, represents clients in relation to license issues before a wide variety of Boards and regulatory agencies.  We understand the nuances of the licensing board investigative and enforcement process, and can deftly navigate the competing issues at play in defending health licensing board complaints.

STATE & FEDERAL HEALTH CARE LICENSING AND CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP (CHOW) TRANSACTIONS

We provide strategic support in navigating and expediting the often complex and bureaucratic licensing and permitting process at both the state and federal level.

Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A., is a full-service, entrepreneurial, commercial law firm dedicated to advancing the best interests of its clients and community through the timely delivery of legal services of exceptional quality, innovative character and unsurpassed value.

We were founded by six attorneys in 1979 with a belief that law firms are first and foremost about clients. The firm is defined by its core value, “Put clients first.”​ This philosophy is key to how the attorneys at our firm practice law.

In each practice area you’ll find this client-focused approach. It allows our attorneys to deliver aggressive legal representation with creative yet practical solutions. Give us a call, and see the difference Winthrop & Weinstine can make for your business.