Baker Donelson represents hospitals, health systems, and academic medical centers across the full spectrum of regulatory, operational, and strategic challenges facing today's health care organizations. From community hospitals to large, multistate systems and world renowned teaching institutions, we serve as trusted counsel to health care leaders navigating an increasingly complex enforcement, reimbursement, and transactional environment.
Our interdisciplinary health law team brings together deep experience in regulatory compliance, reimbursement, litigation, transactions, tax, employment, and governance. We understand that hospitals and health systems do not experience these issues in isolation. Instead, reimbursement pressures, physician alignment, compliance obligations, and strategic growth initiatives intersect daily. Our approach reflects that reality, delivering coordinated, practical advice aligned with each client's mission, structure, and risk profile.
Comprehensive Counsel Across the Health Care Enterprise
We advise hospitals and health systems on virtually every aspect of their operations, including Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, regulatory compliance, government audits and investigations, transactions and affiliations, medical staff matters, and employment issues. Our attorneys have represented providers in Medicare payment disputes since 1971 and regularly appear before the Provider Reimbursement Review Board and in federal courts on issues such as wage index, graduate medical education (GME) and indirect medical education (IME) payments, disproportionate share hospital adjustments, provider‑based status, Medicare bad debts, and related‑party costs.
Our team also represents providers in Part A and Part B claims disputes arising from Medicare administrative contractors (MACs), Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs), and other contractor audits, and defends hospitals and suppliers in administrative and judicial proceedings. We counsel clients on payment rules, conduct self‑audits, identify and report overpayments, and respond to enforcement actions and investigations.
Academic Medical Centers and Teaching Hospitals
Baker Donelson has a nationally recognized practice serving academic medical centers and teaching hospitals. We help institutions advance their tripartite mission of clinical care, education, and research while navigating complex reimbursement, regulatory, and governance requirements. Our experience includes structuring affiliations and funds‑flow arrangements, advising on graduate medical education payments and caps, establishing and expanding residency programs, and representing clients in GME‑related appeals and litigation.
We regularly advise academic medical centers, medical schools, and affiliated hospitals on faculty practice plans, physician employment and contracting, Title IX and Title VII compliance, clinical research, and technology transfer. Members of our team have held leadership roles in national health law organizations and bring deep insight into the operational realities facing teaching institutions.
Public and Tax‑Exempt Health Care Organizations
We are one of the few firms with a significant practice representing public hospitals and health systems, including health care authorities and quasi‑public entities. Public hospitals face unique constraints related to governance, procurement, financing, and political oversight, and we tailor our advice to those realities. Our experience includes bond financings, acquisitions, and divestitures of public health assets, regulatory advocacy, and day‑to‑day operational matters such as reimbursement, compliance, employment, and medical staff issues.
For non-profit and tax‑exempt health care organizations, we provide comprehensive counsel on the heightened scrutiny that accompanies tax‑exempt status. Our work includes IRS exemption matters, Form 990 compliance, community benefit and community health needs assessment (CHNA) requirements, executive and physician compensation, private inurement and intermediate sanctions, and structuring transactions and joint ventures to preserve exemption and avoid unrelated business taxable income. We regularly advise boards and compensation committees on fiduciary obligations and best practices.
Physician Alignment, Medical Staff, and Governance
Hospitals and health systems rely on Baker Donelson for guidance on physician alignment strategies and medical staff matters that are critical to quality care and financial stability. We advise on medical staff bylaws, peer review and credentialing, corrective action and fair hearing processes, physician employment and professional services arrangements, and disputes involving medical staff members.
When issues escalate, our attorneys are experienced crisis managers, representing hospitals in litigation, investigations, and high‑stakes disputes involving physician performance, discrimination claims, antitrust concerns, and False Claims Act exposure. We work seamlessly across disciplines to respond quickly and effectively when a hospital's operations, reputation, or leadership are at risk.
Strategic Transactions and Integrated Delivery Systems
We provide strategic counsel on mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and affiliations involving hospitals, health systems, physician practices, and academic institutions. Our attorneys are widely recognized for their experience with physician‑hospital integration, clinically integrated networks, antitrust counseling, and managed care contracting. We assist clients in structuring and negotiating complex transactions that support growth, alignment, and innovation while managing regulatory and enforcement risk.
A Partner to Health Care Leadership
Baker Donelson attorneys regularly advise hospital and health system boards and executive leadership teams, often participating in board meetings to provide real‑time counsel. We focus not only on legal compliance, but also on practical, business‑oriented solutions that support long‑term sustainability and mission fulfillment.
Whether addressing day‑to‑day operational challenges or guiding transformative strategic initiatives, Baker Donelson delivers the depth, coordination, and experience health care organizations need to move forward with confidence.