Kate Stern
is a senior associate in the Atlanta office of King & Spalding LLP and a member of the Healthcare Practice Group.
Her practice includes the representation of health systems, hospitals, physician organizations, academic medical centers, home health companies, retail pharmacy chains, large retailers with pharmacy operations and specialty pharmacies. Ms. Stern has experience advising clients on a wide variety of healthcare regulatory matters, specifically including fraud and abuse laws such as the Stark law and the federal anti-kickback statute, Medicare and Medicaid regulation (including audit and enforcement matters), EMTALA, HIPAA and various state laws and regulations that govern provider operations. She also has experience creating and implementing compliance programs, advising hospitals on the implementation of health information technology systems and electronic health records, including drafting agreements and policies, and drafting Medicare provider reimbursement appeals. Ms. Stern also advises providers on how to prepare for and respond to audits conducted by the vast array of new government integrity contractors, including recovery audit contractors (RACs), Medicaid integrity contractors (MICs), program safeguard contractors (PSCs) and zone program integrity contractors (ZPICs).
Ms. Stern also represents health industry clients on various transactional matters relating to mergers and acquisitions, including healthcare regulatory due diligence. She also has experience representing providers in government investigations.
Ms. Stern received her Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Duke University in 2002 and received her J.D. from William and Mary Law School in 2006. She joined King & Spalding LLP in 2006 and is an active member of the American Health Lawyers Association.
Speaking Engagements
“The Government Has Your Data and Is Using It: Current Trends in Data Mining and Perspectives on Fraud Enforcement,” King & Spalding LLP Roundtable, Co-presented with Paul B. Murphy, John Richter, Robert Khayat and Lynn Adam, King & Spalding LLP, October 11, 2013.
"Taking Charge of Contractor Chaos," King & Spalding LLP Roundtable, Co-presented with Rick Shackelford, Sara Kay Wheeler and Adam Robison, King & Spalding LLP, February 23, 2011.
"Medicaid RACs: Get Ready 'Cause Here They Come," Health Care Compliance Association webinar, Co-presented with Sara Kay Wheeeler, King & Spalding LLP, February 3, 2011.
"Healthcare Reform and Other Burning Compliance Considerations," Health Care Compliance Association South Central Regional Annual Conference, Co-presented with Sara Kay Wheeler, King & Spalding LLP, November 12, 2010.
“More Stark Changes: The 2008 Amendments to the Self-Referral Regulations,” King & Spalding LLP Roundtable, Co-presented with Rob Keenan, Seth Lundy and Tom Hawk, King & Spalding LLP, September 18, 2008.
“Fraud and Abuse Update,” King & Spalding LLP Roundtable, Co-presented with Rick Shackelford, Rob Keenan, Stevie Casteel, Tom Hawk and Kim Naegele, King & Spalding LLP, August 20, 2007.
Publications
CMS Fortifies Payment Suspension Authority; CMS, States Gain Enhanced Authority to Suspend Payments, Dennis Barry's Reimbursement Advisor, Apr. 2011.
District Courts Reject RAC Reopening Challenges Without Good Cause; Recent Decisions Not Necessarily the Final Word, Dennis Barry's Reimbursement Advisor, vol. 26, no. 3, Nov. 2010 (with Christopher Keough).
New Medicare Signature Guidelines for Medical Reviews: Provider Submissions of Signature Logs and Attestation Statements, Dennis Barry's Reimbursement Advisor, vol. 25, no. 10, June 2010.
Words Will Never Hurt Me: The Risks in Treating a Linguistically Diverse Population, Health Lawyers News, American Health Lawyers Association, October 2007 (with James W. Boswell and Joanne E. Joiner).
Memberships
American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA)
Fraud and Abuse Practice Group
Regulation, Accreditation and Payment Practice Group
American Bar Association, Health Law Section
State Bar of Georgia, Health Law Section
Georgia Academy of Healthcare Attorneys
