With more than 25 years of experience in the health care industry, Mr. Azia counsels clients on health care reimbursement, regulatory compliance, Medicare and Medicaid appeals, legislative and regulatory advocacy issues. He has represented a range of clients, including health care providers, suppliers, manufacturers, and national and state trade associations before various government agencies and Congress.
His practice includes representation of health care providers and suppliers subject to various audits and investigations conducted by Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC), Unified Program Integrity Contractors (UPIC), Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC), and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG). Mr. Azia represents clients throughout the Medicare appeals process, with extensive experience before Administrative Law Judges (ALJ) and the Departmental Appeals Board.
Mr. Azia also assists clients responding to state attorney general and payor investigations, complaints, and disciplinary actions. He regularly helps pharmacies navigate relationships with pharmacy boards and pharmacy benefit managers (PBM), including assisting with enrollment and contracting, handling audits and appeals, and challenging network terminations.
Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Azia was the Associate Director of Government Relations for the Health Industry Distributors Association (HIDA), a national business trade association of medical distributors and home care companies.