McDonald Hopkins welcomes seasoned healthcare attorney Rachel Carey
McDonald Hopkins is proud to announce that Rachel Carey has joined the firm as Counsel in the growing healthcare practice group. She brings a wealth of knowledge and extensive experience on a wide range of regulatory, transactional, and reimbursement issues.
Rachel said McDonald Hopkins was the right destination firm for her career trajectory, both in support and service.
“What drew me to McDonald Hopkins was everything the firm offers, from seasoned corporate and business litigation attorneys to a strong, collaborative healthcare team. I felt confident that I could expand my client relationships and enhance the services I provide with the backing of such a comprehensive team. Most importantly, the healthcare group saw how my experience could complement their operations and help grow the practice. The firm understood my vision and, more importantly, believed in it,” she said.
Her practice is focused on the development and operation of ambulatory surgery centers, certificate of need applications, and value-based care arrangements. She also advises clients in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence in healthcare, palliative care, and the creation of new physician residency and anesthesia assistant programs.
Rachel’s deep knowledge of the corporate practice of medicine, Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, EMTALA, HIPAA, and state-specific fee-splitting laws enables her to structure transactions that are both compliant and commercially strategic. She also regularly counsels on Friendly PC model transactions and provides ongoing regulatory support for private equity investments in the healthcare sector. Her transactional work is informed by a nuanced understanding of payer-provider dynamics, sharpened by her previous roles at Anthem and other managed care organizations.
She notes that helping clients better understand the ever-evolving nature of healthcare compliance is personal to her.
“My parents are both providers, and my youngest brother, Sean, who I am also the legal guardian of, was born with severe cerebral palsy prior to the ACA. We had many insurance claims denied for him and he was eventually dropped because of how immense his medical needs were. We have come a long way since then, but the experience profoundly affected me and made me want to explore the legal side of healthcare. As I grew older, I realized I had more of an entrepreneurial spirit and like addressing corporate, compliance, and operational needs that deal with running a business in healthcare,” she said.
Elizabeth Sullivan, the Chair of McDonald Hopkins’ Healthcare Practice Group, said Rachel adds a valuable depth to the team.
“Rachel’s experience with ambulatory surgery centers, value-based care, and navigating healthcare’s complex regulations makes her a great asset to our team. Her insight will enhance the services that we provide to clients navigating today’s healthcare challenges,” said Elizabeth.
Rachel earned a J.D. from Barry University’s Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Virginia.
