Sara Avakian focuses her practice in regulatory and operational compliance of health care providers, including long-term care facilities, senior housing entities, hospitals, and laboratories. Clients rely on Sara’s guidance to maintain compliance with state licensing and federal certification regulations.

From reviewing and drafting contracts to responding to surveys, Sara assists with resolving regulatory issues with government agencies. Sara assists providers on all operational and regulatory matters, including:

  • Responding to investigations and surveys;
  • Appealing survey findings and sanctions;
  • Training on policies and residency contracts;
  • Regulatory compliance, crisis management, and corrective active plans;
  • Drafting contracts, compliance plans, and policies;
  • Abuse, neglect, and incident investigations and reporting;
  • Life Safety Code compliance;
  • Fair Housing Act compliance;
  • Strategies for dealing with difficult families.

Sara is also able to capitalize on her litigation background to assist clients with the specialized disputes health care providers face, including administrative hearings before state and federal agencies and in state circuit courts. She routinely appears before regulatory agencies that oversee the health care industry, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, the Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Illinois Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, and other state and federal governmental agencies on behalf of clients. 

Education

  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2015)
    • Deans List; CALI Award in Illinois Litigation
  • Grand Valley State University (B.A., 2011)
    • Criminal Justice, Psychology; Dean's List; Order of Omega

Bar Admission

  • Illinois, 2015

Professional Affiliations

  • Chicago Bar Association 
  • Illinois Association of Healthcare Attorneys
  • Illinois State Bar Association 

Recognition

  • Named one of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America in Health Care Law, 2024-2026
Publications
2026 Health Care Reimbursement Newsletter
2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for health care reimbursement. From major CMS payment rules to evolving disclosure requirements, AI scrutiny, and mounting pressure on providers across the care continuum, the 2026 Health Care Reimbursement Newsletter highlights the developments you need to understand now to stay ahead. In this issue: 2025 Wrap-Up: Key CMS Enrollment Changes and Disclosure Developments What Hospitals & ASCs Need to Know About the 2026 Outpatient Prospective Payment and ASC Final Rule Durable Medical Equipment Update 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule Highlights Forecasting Medicaid Challenges for Providers in 2026 Rural Health Providers Face a Tough Financial Road in 2026 – Will the Rural Health Transformation Program Save Them? Medicare Advantage Reimbursement Implications from the 2027 Proposed Rule Looking Ahead to 2026: CMS
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CMS Indefinitely Suspends SNF Ownership Disclosure Deadline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued updated sub-regulatory guidance announcing that the previously established January 1, 2026 deadline for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) to submit the new SNF Attachment to the Form CMS-855A has been indefinitely suspended and as such, there is no submission deadline until further notice. This deadline suspension applies to all SNFs, including those that: Received a revalidation notice in October, November or December 2024; and Had an initial, revalidation, reactivation or change-of-ownership (CHOW) application pending as of October 1, 2024, and were instructed to complete the new SNF Attachment. Although the mandatory deadline has been paused, CMS emphasizes that for SNFs that had initial, reactivation, revalidation or CHOW applications pending as of October 1, 2024, the applications will continue
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