Assisting clients that provide behavioral health services.
For two decades, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney's Behavioral Health Practice Group represented the statewide association of free-standing private psychiatric hospitals and health systems in Pennsylvania as well as numerous individual psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment facilities, drug and alcohol treatment facilities and other licensed community behavioral health services providers as to regulatory, licensure, compliance and reimbursement concerns involving a variety of state and federal agencies to include the Departments of Insurance, Health and Public Welfare.
One of our senior lawyers served as chief counsel for the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare and has broad knowledge of and reliable contacts with the key officials in the state's Offices of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Medical Assistance, Developmental Programs and Children, Youth and Families. He also has served under four governors on the Governor's Advisory Committee for Mental Health and Mental Retardation and chaired the blue-ribbon committee as to the closing of Philadelphia State Hospital. He was president of the Pennsylvania Mental Health Association and represents NAMI-PA, the family and consumer advocacy group.
We represent behavioral health managed care organizations and county mental health and mental retardation programs as to the Pennsylvania HealthChoices Program arrangements for Medical Assistance managed care including one that covers more than half of the eligible members in Pennsylvania.
Another of our Health Care attorneys has been a member of the Board of Directors of SERV Behavioral Health System, Inc., for 18 years, twice serving as its chair. SERV is the largest provider of residential services to mentally ill people in New Jersey and also a provider of outpatient and residential services to the developmentally disabled individuals. He is currently chair of the board of SERV Properties and Management, Inc., an organization charged with acquiring, managing and developing residential and office facilities for people with special needs.
In addition to providing counsel regarding transactional matters, members of Buchanan's Behavioral Health Practice Group have:
- Defended the attempt to close admissions at a state psychiatric hospital due to allegations of overcrowding as well as the first termination proceeding brought against a New Jersey ICF/MR by the federal government.
- On behalf of the attorney general, participated in a Supreme Court subcommittee reviewing the rules and procedures to address the issue of psychiatric patients classified as "discharged pending placement."
- Represented private psychiatric hospitals in planning, licensing and reimbursement matters.
- Represented non-profit community behavioral health organizations with regard to corporate structure, governance, reimbursement, licensure and fraud and abuse issues.