Christine C. Cohn

Christine Cohn is an associate in the Century City office of Sheppard Mullin, and is a member of the firm's Corporate Practice Group and Health Care Team.  Chris has represented a wide variety of health care providers, including physicians, IPAs, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, Medicare Advantage plans and ancillary health care providers in regulatory and transactional matters. 

Chris has substantial experience in the analysis and structuring of transactions for compliance with state and federal fraud and abuse statutes, the Stark physician self-referral law, HIPAA, and state laws governing the privacy and confidentiality of medical information.  She also counsels physicians and hospitals in regard to licensing, certification, Medicare and Medi-Cal reimbursement, managed care regulations and other operational matters.  Chris has represented physicians and other providers in Medicare and Medi-Cal overpayment matters.  In addition, she regularly drafts and negotiates provider service contracts, physician recruitment and employment agreements and payor contracts.

Education

• J.D., University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, 1993
• Master of Science in Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, 1991 (University Graduate Fellow)
• B.A., Political Science, University of Southern California, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

• California

Representation of physicians, IPAs, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, home health agencies and ancillary health care providers in regulatory and transactional matters.

Structuring transactions for compliance with state and federal fraud and abuse statutes, the Stark physician self-referral law and state laws prohibiting the corporate practice of medicine. 

Counseling physicians and hospitals in regard to licensing, certification, Medicare and Medi-Cal reimbursement, HIPAA compliance, managed care regulations and other operational matters.

Representation of providers in Medicare and Medi-Cal overpayment matters and payment disputes with third-party payors.

Drafting and negotiating provider service contracts, physician recruitment agreements and payor contracts.

Memberships

• State Bar of California
• State Bar of California Business Law Section, Health Law Standing Committee (Co-Vice Chair)
• American Health Lawyers Association
• California Society of Healthcare Attorneys

Articles

• "Electronic Records Mandates May Clash With Privacy Laws", The National Law Journal, June 8, 2009

• "The Baucus Health Bill – A Mixed Bag for Drug Makers?" Corporate Compliance Insights, January 18, 2010
• “Annual Review of California Health Legislation Passed During the 2007-2008 Legislative Session,” Christine Cohn, Michael Dowell, Michael Scarano and Kenneth Yood, Business Law News, May, 2008
• “Physician Practice Mergers and the Stark In-Office Ancillary Services Exception,” American Health Lawyers Association, Physician Organizations Newsletter, February, 2008
• “Avoiding Traps for the Unwary in Deals with Health Care Providers,” Buchalter Nemer, Points & Authorities, December, 2007
• “Due Diligence Review for Compliance in Transactions with Health Care Providers,” State Bar of California Business Law Section, Business Law News, September, 2007
• “The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003,” Miller Health Law Group, Miller Health Law Group Health Law Bulletin, February, 2004 

Speeches

• "A Medical Group's Guide to Compliance with the Stark Law," presentation with Courtney Mathes, Esq. to the Medical Group Management Association, San Diego Chapter, February 10, 2010.
• "Recent Changes in Stark Regulations," Los Angeles County Medical Association Young Physicians Organization, November 19, 2009