Overview

Richard (Rick) Rifenbark is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group in the firm's Century City office. He is also a member of the firm’s Healthcare team.

Areas of Practice

Rick's practice is a blend of healthcare regulatory compliance and transactions. He regularly advises clients on healthcare fraud and abuse laws and other regulatory issues, including the federal anti-kickback statute, stark physician self-referral law, false claims act, state licensing issues, corporate practice of medicine doctrines, and state fraud and abuse laws. Rick also negotiates and drafts transactional agreements, including merger and acquisition, affiliation, professional services, and management agreements. Having practiced healthcare law in California for almost 20 years, he has significant experience with California’s healthcare regulatory landscape.  

Experience

Experience

Rick’s experience includes: 

  • Advising clients regarding California’s prohibition on the corporate practice of medicine, anti-kickback laws, and self-referral prohibitions 
  • Conducting healthcare compliance audits and internal investigations involving Stark and the anti-kickback statute
  • Drafting various types of agreements between hospitals and physicians
  • Acquisitions of hospitals and medical groups
  • Conducting healthcare regulatory due diligence
  • Preparation of OIG advisory opinions
  • Transactions and regulatory reviews involving substance abuse disorder facilities 
  • Counseling regarding telehealth practice structures and compliance with state licensing requirements, fee splitting laws, and state prohibitions on the corporate practice of medicine
  • Advising clients regarding Medicare, Medicaid, and state licensure requirements upon changes of ownership 
  • Testifying in a jury trial regarding California fraud and abuse statutes

Honors

Honors

Leading Lawyer, California Healthcare, Chambers USA, 2021-2022

Best Lawyer in America, Healthcare, Best Lawyers, 2019-2022

Healthcare, Legal 500, 2015

Healthcare Information Technology, Legal 500, 2012

Southern California Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2010, 2011

Memberships

Memberships

  • Co-Chair, Health Law Committee of the California Lawyers Association
  • American Health Law Association
  • California Society for Healthcare Attorneys
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association, Health Law Section

Education

J.D., University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, 2001, California Law Review

B.A., University of California, Berkeley, 1998, Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

  • California
Jump to Page

By scrolling this page, clicking a link or continuing to browse our website, you consent to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie and Advertising Policy. If you do not wish to accept cookies from our website, or would like to stop cookies being stored on your device in the future, you can find out more and adjust your preferences here.