Thomas B. Shapira’s legal practice is focused on transactional and regulatory health care matters and is primarily devoted to representing physician and other healthcare professional groups with respect to practice sales and acquisitions, the formation and/or consolidation of medical practices and the establishment of office-based laboratories and concierge/retainer practices.  Tom has worked with health care providers to address numerous operational issues, including the creation of exclusive provider arrangements, hospital/physician joint ventures and preparation of physician employment, compensation structures and governance agreements, as well as managed care provider agreements and the establishment of ancillary services and facilities. Tom has drafted physician and dental practice management agreements and negotiated settlements and spin-offs of physician practices.  Tom has also formed new corporate and limited liability companies in various jurisdictions and drafted and re-negotiated operating and shareholder agreements for these entities.

An integral part of Tom’s practice routinely involves advising clients on the impact of, and compliance with, state and federal statutes and regulations related to self-referral, fraud and abuse, and false claims.  Tom has evaluated health care business and marketing strategies from a regulatory perspective, including state licensure issues, and has analyzed the impact of federal and state reimbursement policies, such as successor liability issues/options related to the assumption of Medicare provider agreements, as well as negotiated false claim settlements and analyzed physician recruitment arrangements.

In the context of institutional health care providers, Tom has represented numerous hospitals and health systems in connection with mergers and acquisitions, exclusive provider agreements, residency programs, and tax-exempt financing.  Specifically with respect to hospital medical staffs, Tom has assisted in physician peer review matters and prepared medical staff presenters and witnesses for medical staff hearings.  Tom has revised medical staff bylaws to ensure compliance with state and federal laws involving the fair hearing process, peer review immunity and confidentiality, and have counseled clients on matters related to physician credentialing.

Health Care Specialties and Subspecialties Represented:  Orthopaedics, Urology, Dermatology, Radiology, Cardiology, Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Concierge Medicine, Pediatrics, Urogynecology, Otorhinolaryngology, Endodontics and Periodontics, Endovascular Surgery, Podiatry, Plastic Surgery, Family Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pain Management, Ophthalmology, Pathology, Dentistry, Emergency Medicine, Mail Order Pharmacies, Psychiatry, Gynecologic Oncology, Hospitalist Medicine, Chiropractic Medicine, Psychology/Professional Counseling, Physical/Occupational Therapy, Veterinary Medicine

Tom has extensive experience representing corporate clients in connection with merger and acquisition transactions, employment agreements, and buy-sell, operating and other organizational documentation. These clients represent a wide spectrum of industries, including public relations, media and marketing, physical therapy, long-haul shipping, home furnishings, public transportation providers, insurance agencies, investment management, food brokerage, software providers, real estate development, beverage distribution, for-profit universities, not-for-profit foundations, business consulting, publishing, cannabis growth and distribution, credit card/payment processing, ice cream novelties, printing supplies, IT services, industrial/commercial packaging, hospitality and retail sales.