Medical Practice Formation & Ownership

With offices in Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia, our health law firm helps physicians properly form and set up medical practices. The focus of our  health law firm is medical practices, healthcare-related businesses and physician represenstation.

Medical Practice Formation Law Firm

We advise and represent physicians regarding:

• Medical Practice Formation
• Physician Employment Agreements
• Affordable Care Act Issues
• Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute
• Concierge Medicine
• Medical Practice Sales and Acquisitions
• Medicare reimbursement and Appeals
• Medical Practice Breakups/ Business Divorce Litigation
• General Counsel Services

We help physicians generate revenue -- protect revenue -- sleep better

We represent medical practices, other healthcare businesses and physicians throughout the United States. Hamil Little holds Martindale Hubbell's AV rating, its highest rating. To schedule a consultation, contact us today.

Getting Started The Right Way

Our health law firm represents owners in the formation and operation of medical practices and businesses. Although legal, tax and practical factors impact entity formation options for any business, owners face very unique legal and business considerations in setting up a medical practice. The continuous evolution of the healthcare industry’s third-party-payer system and changing regulatory environment cause a continuous stream of unique legal issues that necessitate careful evaluation.

A first step in setting up a medical practice is choosing the type of entity to form. What form of entity is “right” requires analysis of a variety of factors that impact legal, tax and other considerations. While sole proprietorship and general partnership remain available, most medical professionals determine that an S Corporation or Limited Liability Company provide the best tax and no-tax advantages.

A primary benefit of incorporating a medical practice is the ability to limit personal liability for certain corporate debts of the business. Generally speaking, while a solo practitioner may have personal liability for the debts of the medical practice, a shareholder of a corporation or a limited liability company member does not. Where a group of physicians set up a medical practice, incorporation can also avoid (or minimize) personal liability for the acts of other physicians in the group. Incorporating an entity will not, however, insulate a physician from professional acts of negligence or malpractice. With respect to tax considerations, physicians should also consult with a certified public accountant with expertise in taxation issues and, preferably, specific experience with medical practices.

In addition to entity formation considerations common to any business, medical practice owners may face many legal issues and practical considerations unique to the healthcare industry. For example, in forming and operating a medical practice today’s owner may be called upon to decide issues that did not exist just a few years ago, such as: whether to form a “concierge” medical practice as an alternative to a conventional, high volume practice based upon third-party payer steerage; whether to join an “independent physician association,” “physician-hospital organization,” or other practice group; whether and how to participate in an “accountable care organization”; how to establish protocol to ensure compliance with and to obtain financial benefits of HIPAA and HITECH; how to set up electronic medical records; and whether to sign a PPO’s “network agreement” and what it will actually mean.

An Accessible, Responsive Health Law Firm

Our exclusive focus is on representing medical practices, physicians and other healthcare providers. To schedule a confidential consultation, contact us today.