Jennifer Evans is a shareholder in the Health Care Department and head of the firm’s Health Care Compliance practice. Her legal practice is focused on fraud and abuse, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement and regulatory compliance. She advises large health systems, emerging companies in health care and entities focused on behavioral health serving commercial and safety net patients.

Jennifer served as Deputy Director of the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, the single state agency responsible for administering Medicaid and the CHP+ programs. At Colorado Medicaid she was responsible for Administration & Operations including audit, program integrity, provider enrollment, claims payment and information technology. Jennifer previously served as Legislative Director and Legislative Assistant for Health Care in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

She is a Member of the Board of Directors of the following: American Health Law Association (AHLA), Denver Public Schools Foundation and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Education

  • University of Colorado Law School (J.D., 1998)
    • University of Colorado Boulder (B.A., 1991)
      • Boston University, London Programme (1989)

        Bar Admission

        • Colorado

        Professional Affiliations

        • American Health Law Association (AHLA)
          • Board of Directors
          • Former Program Committee, Institute on Medicare and Medicaid Reimbursement

        Civic Involvement

        • Denver Public Schools Foundation, Board member
        • Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
          • Board of Directors 
          • Health Care Committee, Former Co-Chair
        • Member of Transition Subcommittee on Health and Human Services for Governor Elect Jared Polis and the Polis-Primavera Administration
        • Member of Transition Subcommittee on Health and Human Services for Governor Elect John Hickenlooper

        Recognition

        • 2023 University of Colorado Law School Alumni Award - Distinguished Achievement—Private Practice
        • Named a Colorado Women’s Bar Association 2022 Raising the Bar Honoree
        • Named to 5280 Magazine’s “Denver’s Top Lawyers” list for Health Law, 2022-2026
        • Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America® for Health Care Law, 2021-2026
        • Named Top 25 Most Powerful Women by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, 2020 
        • Named Barrister's Best "Best Health Care Lawyer" by Law Week Colorado, 2016, 2018, 2019
        • Selected as a 2018 Lawyer of the Year by Law Week Colorado
        • Named in "Denver’s Outstanding Woman in Business" by Denver Business Journal, 2016
        • Named in the Pro Bono Champions Class of 2012 by American Health Law Association (AHLA)
        Publications
        All Publications
        Medicaid work requirement lawsuit targets CMS exemption rules
        Jennifer Evans discusses the legal and operational challenges surrounding new Medicaid work requirements, particularly the evolving standards for medical frailty exemptions and their impact on health care providers and beneficiaries. She highlights that uncertainty around CMS guidance and the potential for litigation could complicate implementation for states while increasing administrative burdens for providers serving Medicaid populations. Evans emphasizes that health care organizations should closely monitor regulatory developments and prepare for evolving compliance obligations as states work to implement the new requirements. 
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        Loper Battle Looms For Medicaid Frailty Work Exemption
        Jennifer Evans discusses the legal uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration's new Medicaid work requirements, particularly its narrow interpretation of the "medically frail" exemption for individuals who are unable to work. She notes that the policy is likely to face significant legal challenges over whether CMS has the authority to adopt such a restrictive standard and how courts will evaluate the agency's interpretation. Evans also warns that requiring Medicaid beneficiaries to verify their work status or exemption every six months, rather than through the traditional annual eligibility review, significantly increases the risk of administrative errors that could result in eligible individuals losing coverage. (subscription required)
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