As one of the largest health care practices in the country, Polsinelli attorneys work as a fully integrated practice to seamlessly partner with clients on the whole gamut of issues. We consider it our business to understand the opportunities and challenges that face the health care industry and, more importantly, our clients’ businesses. The firm has built a team that is made up of health care industry experts, including a mix of former in-house counsel at national health care institutions, the FDA, CMS and the Department of Justice.

Recognized as a leader in health care law, Polsinelli Health Care rankings include:

  • National Tier One ranking in Health Care Law by Best Law Firms, 2014-2025
  • Ranked as the 2018 "Law Firm of the Year" in Health Care by U.S. News & World Report for the second time in four years
  • Nationally ranked in Healthcare Law by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, including:
    • Healthcare: The Elite – Nationwide, 2015-2024
    • Privacy & Data Security: Healthcare Nationwide
    • 9 ranked offices
    • 26 ranked attorneys
  • Nationally ranked by the American Health Law Association (AHLA) consistently since 2016, including:
    • Largest health care law firm in the nation by AHLA, 2018, 2021-2022
    • Second-largest health care law firm in the nation by AHLA, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2023
  • Ranked as the third-largest health care law firm in the nation by Modern Healthcare, 2022

Health care has experienced more change in the past five years than in the past 50 years combined. Reimbursement models are shifting from fee for service to pay for quality. The line between payors and providers has blurred and, in some cases, disappeared. Telehealth has emerged as a common modality, and data has exploded. For example, the health care industry is generating approximately 30% of the world’s data volume today. Beyond data, health care is one of the biggest forces in the economy today. Health care spending accounted for over 19.7% of US GDP in 2020.

Providers are being asked to keep pace with these changes and meet these challenges within one of the fiercest enforcement environments they have ever faced. Failure to keep up with the barrage of changing regulatory requirements can have catastrophic consequences. The pandemic disrupted FDA rules for medical devices, diagnostics and pharmaceuticals, with implications for providers, investors, and device and drug companies.

Not surprisingly, private equity has taken a keen interest in the health care industry and has invested billions of dollars into health care ventures of ever-increasing complexity and higher risk profiles. This evolution has continued despite the emergence of the most significant pandemic in a century. In 2018, the valuation of private equity deals in the U.S. health care sector surpassed $100 billion — a twentyfold increase from 2000. These acquisitions spanned all subsectors, from physician practices to retail health and mobile application companies. Further, private equity investment closely aligns with emerging health care economic drivers, including service areas like behavioral health, home care and technology solutions made available to both consumers and providers.

We represent various clients in the health care industry, including:

  • Hospitals & Health Systems
  • Academic Medical Centers
  • Behavioral Health
  • Rural Health Providers
  • Dialysis
  • Home Health & Hospice
  • Infusion Therapy
  • Laboratories
  • Pharmacies
  • Medical Devices
  • Digital Health & Health Technology Companies
  • Private Equity in Health Care
  • Long Term Care
  • Assisted Living, Memory Care, Senior Housing
Publications
All Publications
House Panel Moves to Block CMS’s AI-Driven Prior Authorization Program: What the WISeR Rider Could Mean for Providers
Key Takeaways The House Appropriations Committee approved a rider June 9 that would block FY 2027 funding for CMS’s WISeR model. Unless the rider becomes law, however, the AI-driven prior authorization program will remain active in the six states where it currently operates. The rider could halt WISeR for FY 2027, but several legislative paths remain in play. Senate negotiations, a conference agreement or a continuing resolution could allow the program to continue, meaning providers should assume WISeR requirements remain in effect for now. Providers should continue documenting WISeR non-affirmations, appeals, outcomes and operational burdens. Those records may prove valuable for compliance efforts, litigation strategy and legislative advocacy as scrutiny of the program continues. On June 9, 2026, the House Appropriations Committee approved a
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Loper Battle Looms For Medicaid Frailty Work Exemption
Jennifer Evans discusses the increasing level of CMS oversight and health care fraud enforcement, noting that providers face heightened scrutiny of billing practices, documentation, reimbursement claims and compliance controls. The article highlights how regulators are relying on more sophisticated auditing and enforcement tools to identify potential fraud, waste and abuse, creating greater operational and legal risks for health care organizations. Evans emphasizes that providers should take a proactive approach to compliance by strengthening internal monitoring, conducting regular audits and ensuring that policies, training and documentation practices can withstand regulatory review. (subscription required)
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