Introduction

Heather is an officer in Fredrikson & Byron’s Health Care and Corporate Groups. Her practice focuses on providing comprehensive transactional advice to clients in the health care field, including issues relating to regulatory compliance, complex transactions involving physician-hospital relationships, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and negotiating of contracts with health care payors.

Prior to joining Fredrikson & Byron, Heather was the assistant general counsel for Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, providing advice and support for regulatory compliance, contracting, and appeal processes. Previously, she was in private practice with a large national law firm. Heather is also a registered nurse. She practices out of Fredrikson & Byron’s Des Moines, Iowa office.

Education

• Drake University Law School, J.D., with honors, 2001
• Grand View College, B.S., 1996

Bar Admissions

• Iowa

Practice Areas

• Health Law
• Corporate

Representative Experience

• Acquisition of metropolitan hospital for health system client
• Acquisition of large, single-specialty physician practice group for hospital client
• Acquisition and disposition of several long-term care facilities, including transactions involving like-kind exchanges
• Conducted and coordinated internal investigations relating to alleged regulatory violations
• Development of hospital compliance programs
• Regulatory advice and counseling concerning establishment of physician-hospital relationships, including joint ventures, co-management agreements and clinic integrations
• Development of HIPAA compliance programs
• Birchansky Real Estate, L.C. v. Iowa Department of Public Health, State Facilities Council, 737 N.W.2d 134 (Iowa 2007) (case interpreting Iowa Certificate of Need Statute)

Selected Publications & Presentations

• “Health Care Reform,” Iowa Hospital Association Annual Meeting, October 2010
• “Meaningful Use Overview,” Prairie Health Ventures Executive Leadership Retreat, July 2010
• “Meaningful Use,” Iowa Medical Group Manager Association Meeting, April 2010
• “Anti-Mark-Up and Stark: Is Your Facility in Compliance?” Iowa Hospital Association Annual Meeting, October 2009
• “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Changes to HIPPA, Incentives for the Adoption of Electronic Health Records and Whistleblower Provisions,” Iowa Hospital Association Audio Conference, March 2009
• “Stark Law Update,” Iowa Hospital Association Annual Meeting, October 2008
• “Legal Issues in Behavioral Health,” Lorhman Seminar, September, 2004
• “Fact and Fallacy About HIPPA,” Des Moines Orthopedic Surgeons, P.C. Workers’ Compensation Symposium, January 2003

Professional Activities

• President-Elect, Iowa Society of Healthcare Attorneys (May 2011 – present)
• Chair, Iowa State Bar Association (ISBA) Health Law Section (June 2007 – 2009)
• Member, Board of Directors of the House of Mercy (July 2010 – present)
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Polk County Bar Association
• Member, Iowa Society of Healthcare Attorneys Executive Committee
• Member, American Health Lawyers Association

Honors & Distinctions

• Graduate, Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute Class of 2006 – 2007

Community Involvement

• Member, Board of Directors, House of Mercy