Tessa Lancaster is an investigations lawyer with extensive knowledge in health care, financial services, environmental, and tax government enforcement actions and litigation. Tessa advises on matters involving fraud and abuse enforcement, including in investigations and litigation predicated on the False Claims Act (“FCA”), federal and state Anti-Kickback and Stark laws and Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement and coverage criteria. Tessa provides comprehensive representation and strategic counsel for regulatory considerations to a variety of health care providers, including hospitals and health systems, physician groups, individual health care professionals, home health agencies and long-term care providers. Tessa helps clients with a variety of matters including Medicare and Medicaid compliance, state licensure requirements, and compliance with federal and state fraud and abuse laws.

Tessa’s government investigation practice includes representing professional firms and investors in civil and criminal tax investigations involving syndicated conservation easements. She works closely with Polsinelli tax, environmental litigation, and business insurance attorneys utilizing her investigation skills and experience working with the government with substantive legal knowledge to comprehensively address the increased IRS, Department of Justice and Congressional scrutiny of these deals in recent years. Working with boards of directors and corporate management, Tessa also helps clients address internal compliance matters through developing compliance programs, conducting internal investigations and determining appropriate corrective action.

Prior to joining Polsinelli, Tessa worked at a law firm representing hospitals, health care facilities, physician practices and other health care providers in regulatory, transactional and reimbursement matters. During law school, she interned at the American Medical Association, City of Chicago Law Department, Carle Foundation Hospital and Department of Health and Human Services Office of Counsel to the Inspector General with a Pathways fraud and abuse fellowship.