Laura L. Katz

Ms. Katz, a Partner in Saul Ewing's Baltimore office, brings significant experience in the healthcare industry to Saul Ewing where she balances her practice between health law and health insurance law. As a member of the Firm's Health Law Practice Group and Insurance Practice Group, Ms. Katz represents healthcare providers and suppliers, as well as health insurers including managed care organizations and preferred provider organizations. She was appointed the first patient care ombudsman in a health care bankruptcy case in Maryland.

Ms. Katz's health law practice focuses on helping her clients keep pace with increasing changes in federal and state healthcare laws and regulations. She represents physicians, and other healthcare practitioners, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, durable medical equipment companies, pharmacies, and others in handling critical issues that are defining the way healthcare is delivered today.

Some examples of Ms. Katz's legal representations include:

• Structuring clients' business arrangements to comply with the Medicare/Medicaid Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark laws;
• Representing clients in investigations by governmental agencies, including investigations by the DOJ pursuant to CRIPA;
• Representing clients with respect to Medicare/Medicaid and other third party payor reimbursement disputes;
• Representing clients in bid protests;
• Representing healthcare providers with respect to licensure and certification issues.

Ms. Katz routinely assists healthcare clients with preparation of documents, contract negotiations, compliance issues, risk management, and accomplishing their business objectives.

Ms. Katz also represents health insurers, including managed care organizations, preferred provider organizations, and indemnity plans. She has served as general counsel to a health insurer and third-party administrator. In this capacity, Ms. Katz has extensive knowledge of Maryland laws and regulations affecting insurers. She also counsels clients on a wide range of regulatory and business issues, including compliance, market conduct exams, network development, pharmacy benefit management, solvency issues, appeals and grievances processes, and mergers and acquisitions. She has successfully represented health insurers before governmental authorities. She also has drafted and negotiated provider contracts and model insurance documents. Recently, Ms. Katz served as an arbitrator of a major dispute between a national health insurer and provider of behavioral care and care management services.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Ms. Katz was a consultant to national hospital corporations. She also has worked as a psychiatric social worker for the Baltimore City courts and has been involved as a healthcare consultant in program evaluation.

Ms. Katz's experience and knowledge serves as a valuable resource for her clients. Each year, she tracks federal and state legislation. As an added value to her clients, she keeps them informed of the latest developments in healthcare and insurance law.

Ms. Katz is regularly tapped to speak on cutting-edge issues affecting the healthcare industry. She has lectured extensively on topics such as the Medicare Modernization Act, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), "Concierge Medicine," and  the Stark Law

Ms. Katz is active in the Baltimore community and sits on various boards. She is a member of the Association of America's Health Insurance Plans and the American Health Lawyers Association.