Partner
Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
Los Angeles, CA
(310) 909-8090
Email
Education
J.D., Indiana University Bloomington School of Law, 1983
B.S., Pharmacy, Purdue University, 1980
Bar Admissions
1987, California
1983, Indiana
1983, District of Columbia
Practice Focus
Michael Dowell is a health care law attorney who counsels hospitals, health plans, physician organizations, ancillary service providers and other health care entities on regulatory, transactional and operational issues.
He advises clients on physician organization and medical group development and operations, management services organization compliance with applicable laws, the development and implementation of health care compliance programs, hospital and health system licensure, certification and operational matters, and HIPAA Privacy and Security compliance.
Mr. Dowell has significant expertise in managed care plan licensure, contracting and regulatory compliance matters, and the regulation and operation of Medicaid Managed Care Plans, Medicare Advantage Plans and Discount Health Plans.
He counsels health care entities on structuring contracts, joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions and other business arrangements to comply with the anti-kickback and Stark fraud and abuse laws, corporate practice of medicine and fee-splitting prohibitions, as well as other regulatory requirements. He defends clients subject to state or federal anti-kickback, false claims, or whistleblower allegations, and provides advice and counsel regarding internal investigations, governmental investigations and voluntary disclosures.
In addition, Mr. Dowell represents numerous non-profit health care organizations, including affiliations and joint ventures, in matters involving governance, fiduciary duty and liability, conflicts of interest, for-profit conversions, mergers and acquisitions, lobbying and political activities, and grant management. He works closely with non-profit hospitals, federally qualified health centers, look-alikes, and other licensed community clinics.
Prior to practicing law, Mr. Dowell graduated from one of the top Pharmacy Schools in the United States, and worked as a licensed pharmacist at both retail and hospital pharmacies. Today, he counsels and represents pharmacists, pharmacy owners, pharmacy benefit management companies, managed care plans, and Medicare Part D Plans regarding licensure, pharmacy regulatory matters, contracts, acquisitions and sales, federal and state compliance issues, audits by third-party payers, matters before the Board of Pharmacy and Drug Enforcement Administration, and HIPAA privacy and security compliance.
Professional Background
Mr. Dowell joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in December 2009. Previously he was a co-chair of the Health Care Industry Group at Theodora Oringher Miller & Richman PC in Los Angeles.
Mr. Dowell began his legal career in 1983 as a staff attorney with the National Health Law Program in both Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. In 1989, he became corporate counsel to CIGNA Healthcare of California. From 1991 to 2006, he was Chair of the Health Care Practice Group at Miller & Holguin in Los Angeles.
Mr. Dowell is a member of the American Bar Association (Health Law Section), State Bar of California (Business Law Section), and the Los Angeles County Bar Association, where he is a past chair of the Health Law Section. In addition, he belongs to the American Health Lawyers Association, California Society for Health Care Attorneys and the American Society for Pharmacy Law.
He has been named annually since 2005 to the Super Lawyers list published in Southern California Super Lawyer magazine and Los Angeles magazine.