UPCOMING WEBINARS

Surviving the Survey

DATE: Thursday, September 19, 2024
Noon – 1 p.m. CST

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Gain confidence to master the CMS survey and minimize potential ramifications with tips from an attorney. Learn how to develop and implement smart policies that address common survey deficiencies before they arise, and stay ahead of the curve! Plus, even with the best preparation, deficiencies can occur. Discover practical strategies to mitigate penalties, including effective response techniques.

Join this free webinar to:

  • Develop and implement smart policies that can help you avoid pitfalls.

  • Identify hot survey topics and how to prepare for surveys.

  • Learn strategies for managing the survey process and best practices to mitigate your penalties.

Sara Avakian focuses her practice in regulatory and operational compliance of health care providers, including long-term care facilities, senior housing entities, hospitals, and laboratories. Clients rely on Sara’s guidance to maintain compliance with state licensing and federal certification regulations.

From reviewing and drafting contracts to responding to surveys, Sara assists with resolving regulatory issues with government agencies. Sara assists providers on all operational and regulatory matters, including:

  • Responding to investigations and surveys;
  • Appealing survey findings and sanctions;
  • Training on policies and residency contracts;
  • Regulatory compliance, crisis management, and corrective active plans;
  • Drafting contracts, compliance plans, and policies;
  • Abuse, neglect, and incident investigations and reporting;
  • Life Safety Code compliance;
  • Fair Housing Act compliance;
  • Strategies for dealing with difficult families.

Sara is also able to capitalize on her litigation background to assist clients with the specialized disputes health care providers face, including administrative hearings before state and federal agencies and in state circuit courts. She routinely appears before regulatory agencies that oversee the health care industry, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, the Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Illinois Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, and other state and federal governmental agencies on behalf of clients.

 

Elizabeth (Ellie) Tucker is dedicated to providing effective, efficient, and innovative legal health care solutions. Her prior training and work experience as a social worker informs her practice and effective advocacy for clients when representing them and advising them on regulatory and operational issues.  Ellie is known by both clients and colleagues alike for figuring out solutions.

Ellie focuses her practice on operational and regulatory health care law. She represents an array of health care provider types, including most commonly senior housing, assisted living, skilled nursing, home care, home health, hospice and other post-acute care providers.  Ellie also has experience advising many other health care provider types such as hospitals, ambulance services, pharmacies, behavioral health providers, and physician practices.

For any type of health care client, Ellie has the experience and insight to advising on day-to-day operational matters as well as representing them in litigation matters or at state and federal levels against regulatory agencies in the administrative appeal settings. In particular, with her work in the post-acute care space, Ellie has significant experience appealing certification surveys for health care providers, taking them from informal dispute resolution through hearing and appeal. Her experience straddling operational matters and advocating for clients in regulatory enforcement and litigation matters provides a unique insight into how to structure operational matters and advise on potential enforcement risks by state and federal enforcement agencies—or private plaintiffs.

Some of the legal matters Ellie regularly advises clients on include, but are not limited to:

  • State Health Care Facility Licensure
  • Medicare and Medicaid enrollment and certification
  • Scope of practice rules for practitioners, including supervision arrangements for mid-level practitioners
  • Contract drafting, negotiation, and disputes
  • Fair Housing Act
  • Billing and reimbursement
  • Anti-kickback and Stark Laws compliance

Nursing: This program has been approved for one clock hour of continuing education credit by The Illinois Board of Nursing, an approved sponsor of continuing education by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation.

Administrators: This program has been approved for one clock hour of continuing education credit by the National Continuing Education Review Services (NCERS) of the National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB) — Approval #20250827-1-A105905-DL.

 

PLEASE NOTE: Attendees must submit their documentation directly to their respective state boards, associations, or licensing agencies. Forum Extended Care Services provides CE certificates only to attendees.

PRESENTERS:

 Sara Avakian, Polsinelli PC, Attorney
Sara Avakian, Polsinelli PC, Attorney
Elizabeth Tucker, Polsinelli PC, Attorney
Elizabeth Tucker, Polsinelli PC, Attorney

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