Legal counsel for the life of a practice
A medical practice faces legal questions at every stage, from the day it forms to the day an owner exits. Jeffrey L. Cohen counsels individual physicians and group practices on the decisions that shape how a practice is owned, governed, and paid.
Because the same arrangements touch referral and compensation rules, the structure has to be both practical and compliant.
Where physicians and groups need counsel
Common areas include:
- Practice formation and startup
- Group governance and ownership structure
- Physician compensation and bonus models
- Partnership, shareholder, and buy-in arrangements
- Adding or separating partners
- MD/DC (medical and chiropractic) business arrangements
- Employment and independent contractor questions
Compensation that respects the rules
How a group pays its physicians can run straight into the self-referral and anti-kickback rules, especially when compensation is tied to volume or value of referrals. Jeffrey helps groups design compensation that rewards productivity while staying inside the law.
MD/DC and multidisciplinary arrangements
Arrangements that combine medical and chiropractic services, or otherwise bring different providers under one roof, can be valuable but legally sensitive. Jeffrey structures these so the ownership, billing, and supervision lines are clear and defensible.
Who this is for
Solo physicians, forming groups, established practices adding partners, and multidisciplinary practices can reach Jeffrey to structure the practice the right way.
Common questions
How should a new medical practice be structured?
The right structure depends on ownership, the services offered, and Florida law on practice ownership and fee splitting. Many practices use a professional entity, sometimes paired with a management company. It is worth deciding this before you open rather than fixing it later.
Can physicians be paid based on referrals?
Compensation tied to the volume or value of referrals raises serious Stark and Anti-Kickback concerns. There are compliant ways to reward productivity, but they have to be designed carefully. This is one of the most common areas where groups need counsel.