Richard (Rick) Rifenbark’s practice is a blend of health care regulatory compliance and transactions. He relies on his knowledge and experience to help clients identify, avoid, and (when necessary) resolve difficult regulatory compliance issues. He regularly advises clients on health care 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 health care law in California for almost 20 years, he has significant experience with California’s health care regulatory landscape.
Rick’s experience includes:
- Advising clients regarding California’s prohibition on the corporate practice of medicine, anti-kickback laws, and self-referral prohibitions
- Conducting health care compliance audits and internal investigations involving Stark and the anti-kickback statute
- 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
- Drafting various types of agreements between hospitals and physicians
- Acquisitions of hospitals and medical groups
- Conducting health care regulatory due diligence
- Advising clients regarding Medicare, Medicaid, and state licensure requirements upon changes of ownership
- Testifying in a jury trial regarding California fraud and abuse statutes
