Why healthcare contracts are different
A healthcare contract is not just a business agreement. The same document that sets pay and duties can also create a financial relationship that the self-referral and anti-kickback rules care about. A contract that ignores those rules can turn a routine arrangement into a compliance problem.
Jeffrey L. Cohen drafts and reviews healthcare agreements so they protect the client and respect the regulations at the same time.
Agreements Jeffrey handles
Common contracts include:
- Physician employment agreements
- Independent contractor agreements
- Managed care and payer contracts
- Space and equipment leases
- Medical director agreements
- Non-compete and restrictive covenants
- Vendor and service agreements
Fair market value and commercial reasonableness
Many healthcare arrangements have to be at fair market value and commercially reasonable to fit a regulatory exception or safe harbor. A lease, a medical director stipend, or a compensation term that drifts away from fair market value can put the whole arrangement at risk.
Physician employment and non-competes
Physician employment agreements deserve close attention on compensation, term, termination, and restrictive covenants. Non-compete terms in particular can affect where a physician can work later, so the language matters on both sides of the deal.
Who this is for
Physicians signing or offering an agreement, practices building their contract templates, and healthcare businesses entering leases or service arrangements can have Jeffrey review the terms before signing.
Common questions
Should a physician have an employment contract reviewed before signing?
Yes. Compensation, term, termination, and non-compete terms all have long-term consequences. A review before signing is far cheaper than discovering a problem after you are bound.
Are physician non-competes enforceable in Florida?
Florida generally enforces reasonable restrictive covenants, but the specifics of scope, time, and geography matter, and healthcare adds its own considerations. The wording decides how far a non-compete reaches, so it should be drafted and reviewed carefully.