
Rebekah N. Plowman
Partner
Suite 2100
Biography
Rebekah is a partner in the Healthcare practice and member of the Hospitals & Health Systems and Post-Acute & Long Term Care industry teams. In addition to her particular focus on government investigations, she is an essential resource for healthcare regulatory legal issues to hospitals and health systems, hospice, home health and other post-acute care providers, diagnostic imaging, ambulance and other suppliers, device manufactures, private investors, and other institutions that invest in or support the healthcare industry. Her practice encompasses fraud and abuse analysis, compliance program development and implementation, and corporate governance, including corporate integrity agreements (CIAs). She also conducts due diligence reviews associated with health care company acquisitions.
Rebekah has a particular focus handling extensive civil False Claims Act litigation brought by federal and state governmental agencies and whistleblowers. She navigates government enforcement actions involving Officer of Inspector General (OIG) civil monetary penalties, exclusion actions and State Attorney General (AG) and Medical Fraud Control Units (MFCU). Her False Claims Act and qui tam experience includes all types of billing, coding and medical necessity cases, as well as kickbacks and quality of care. She also defends providers in government audits and appeals, including program integrity contractor investigations (ZPIC/UPIC), Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC), and state fraud units, as well as before The Joint Commission.
Prior to practicing law, Rebekah was a registered nurse in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Indiana University Medical Center. Her experience as a provider to patients and a healthcare lawyer gives Rebekah a unique perspective that clients value. Harnessing her varied experience, Rebekah is an active writer and speaker on healthcare industry litigation, and fraud and abuse issues.
Experience
Assisted pain management practice obtain favorable resolution to 4 year investigation.
In a landmark decision, successfully obtained a permanent injunction preventing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services from recouping a $7.5 million overpayment during the 5 year backlog in which Family Rehabilitation’s ALJ request remains pending. See Family Rehab., Inc. v. Azar, No. 3:17-CV-3008K, 2018 WL 2670730 (N.D. Tex. June 4, 2008). The decision has been used favorably throughout the Country on behalf of providers.
Obtained favorable decisions for laboratory providers and home health providers appealing MAC and ZPIC/UPIC overpayment decisions, many at the second level of appeal.
Credentials
- Indiana University, Juris Doctor,cum laude
- Indiana University, Bachelor of Science,cum laude
- State of Georgia – 1996
- State of Indiana – 1992
- United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
- American Health Lawyers Association
- Dispute Resolution Service Council, member
- Health Care Liability and Litigation Practice Group, Chair 2012 – 2015
- American Health Lawyers Association
Recognition
- Georgia Super Lawyers, 2017-2020
- Best Lawyers in America (Healthcare Law), 2016-2021
- Chambers USA (Healthcare), 2010-2020
- Guide to the Leading U.S. Healthcare Lawyers, 2010
- Georgia Trend’s “Legal Elite”, 2012
- Nightingale’s Healthcare News “Outstanding Fraud and Compliance Lawyers”, 2008
News & Insights
- PublicationsPharmaceutical Companies Beware: New Final Rule Changes Existing Anti-Kickback Statute Discount Safe Harbor ProvisionsJanuary 12, 2021 | Articles | Arnall Golden Gregory LLP
- PublicationsRelator Readies for Trial After Court Adopts Broad Definition of Remuneration and FCA CausationDecember 8, 2020 | Articles | Arnall Golden Gregory LLP
- PublicationsPredicting White Collar Enforcement Priorities in the Biden AdministrationNovember 18, 2020 | Articles | Arnall Golden Gregory LLP
COVID-19 Updates
- FAQs Continue to Provide Additional Guidance for Providers Evaluating the Retention of CARES Act Provider Relief Funds: The Question of Materiality and the Importance of Recordkeeping and Corporate Documentation
- Should You Keep the Medicare Provider Relief Funds and If So, What are the Compliance Risks?
- HHS Issues New Guidance on PREP Act Immunity When Prescribing, Administering, or Dispensing Drugs and Devices for COVID-19
- Updated COVID-19 EMTALA Guidance for Hospitals with Dedicated Emergency Departments
- Secretary Azar Issues Guidance for Hospitals on COVID-19 Test Reporting
- CMS Issues Updated COVID-19 Infection Control Guidance for Various Inpatient and Outpatient Settings
- OIG Announces Anti-Kickback Enforcement Discretion in Response to Certain Stark Waivers Issued in Response to COVID-19 and Not Others
- CMS Waives Certain Medicare Physician Supervision Requirements to Afford Practitioners Greater Flexibility During COVID-19
- COVID-19 Spurs Government Action Through Multiple Temporary Regulatory Waivers for Health Care Providers