Richard Rifenbark

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 consists of a blend of healthcare regulatory compliance and transactions. He regularly advises healthcare companies such as hospitals, medical groups, laboratories, and pharmacies, 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 over 20 years, he has significant experience with California’s healthcare regulatory landscape.  

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

Leading Lawyer, California Healthcare, Chambers USA, 2021-2023

Best Lawyer in America, Healthcare, Best Lawyers, 2019-2022, 2024

Healthcare, Legal 500, 2015

Healthcare Information Technology, Legal 500, 2012

Southern California Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2010, 2011

Articles

Healthcare Law Blog Posts

• "CMS Issues Interprofessional Consultation Guidance," January 25, 2023
• "Who is a Manager or Supervisor Excluded from California’s Healthcare Worker Retention Payment Program?," December 16, 2022

Memberships

• Former 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