Mark Thomas

Mark Thomas practices exclusively in the health care area and has extensive experience in all aspects of hospital and health provider law and regulation. Mark counsels associations and individual providers on corporate compliance, fraud and abuse, and other health care regulations. He regularly provides representation in audits and investigations by the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General and other regulatory agencies. He also handles general corporate legal work for the firm's health care clients and regularly works with the lawyers in the Government Relations practice on issues before the Executive branch and the New York State Legislature. Mark is a hands-on practitioner who enjoys face-to-face interaction with his clients' health care professionals as well as with their legal staff. His approach emphasizes practical, common sense counseling and guidance to enable each of his clients to find a workable solution within the limits of the law that best meets their individual needs and goals. Prior to joining the firm, Mark served for 15 years as general counsel for the Healthcare Association of New York State and for seven years as counsel to the New York State Senate Health Committee. Areas of Focus Health Care Mark currently serves as general counsel to the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), handling HANYS' corporate legal work, assisting with its health policy agenda, and serving as a resource to its members regarding health care regulations. He serves in a similar role for the Home Care Association of New York State. On behalf of individual providers, including hospitals, home health care agencies and nursing homes, Mark provides counseling regarding regulatory compliance, overpayments and other reimbursement issues. He represents clients in matters before the New York Department of Health and in fraud and abuse audits and investigations by the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG). Mark has served on a number of OMIG advisory committees on issues including hospital compliance guidance, self disclosure protocols and enforcement policies. These committees serve as the voice of the health care industry, providing ideas and feedback to help OMIG better understand the challenges and complexities facing providers.