Ellen Sue Block, Esq.

Education and Awards

1998-Present	Florida Bar Board Certified Health Law Attorney
1992 J.D.	Stetson University College of Law
Law Review	Stetson University College of Law
1988 M.F.A	The Iowa Writers’ Workshop, The University of Iowa
1986 B.A.	Vanderbilt University Major: English, Minor: Molecular Biology

Law Firm Experience

2003-Present	Ellen Sue Block, Esq., P.A., Aventura, Florida
2000-2002	Partner, Duane Morris, LLP, Miami, Florida
1996-1999	McDermott, Will & Emery, Miami, Florida
1992-1995	Humphrey & Knott, P.A., Ft. Myers, Florida

Completed Client Projects

Medical Group Practices

• Advised clients regarding the detailed application of the federal and Florida self-referral and anti-kickback laws
• Analyzed compensation of medical group practices
• Created Stark compliant formulas for the division of ancillary medical services profits
• Represented sellers of medical practices to private equity firms
• Represented sellers of medical practices to publicly traded companies
• Represented sellers of Medicare Advantage business
• Advised healthcare providers regarding fraud and abuse pandemic waivers
• Instructed businesses regarding Covid testing
• Advised Covid testing sites about specimen referrals
• Structured redemptions of stock in medical practices
• Crafted contracts for remote patient monitoring
• Drafted contracts for chronic care management
• Represented buyer of behavioral analysis business
• Developed comprehensive corporate compliance programs for medical group practices
• Advised clients regarding the day-to-day operation of medical group practices
• Prepared leases for medical office space and medical equipment
• Drafted managed care agreements for hospitals, physicians, and ancillary services
• Prepared provider agreements for IPAs and PHOs
• Negotiated employment contracts for physicians in connection with hospital sale
• Drafted agreements for clinical trial investigators
• Structured relationships between physician and medical device company
• Formed arrangements between physician and private entity advisory boards
• Assisted healthcare providers with accountable care organization (ACO) contracts
• Prepared medical records custodial agreements
• Advised healthcare providers regarding retirement and practice closure obligations
• Created physician contracts for medical staffing agency
• Advised physicians regarding Medicare reassignment rules
• Advised physicians regarding Medicare incident to rules
• Advised clients regarding the Florida Patient Brokering Act
• Instructed physicians regarding the Florida fee-splitting laws
• Advised physicians regarding telemedicine laws

Physician Practice Management Companies

• Served as counsel to physician practice management companies purchasing stock and assets of physician medical practices
• Advised physician practice management companies regarding operational issues

Ambulatory Surgery Centers

• Established ambulatory surgery centers selling equity to physician investors
• Advised ambulatory surgery centers regarding federal anti-kickback statute safe harbors
• Represented sellers of controlling interests in ambulatory surgery centers to national ambulatory surgery center management company

Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Diagnostic Centers

• Structured block-leases of MRI and diagnostic centers to physicians
• Advised healthcare providers regarding application of Florida’s Health Care Clinic Act
• Created a physician-owned diagnostic center in a rural area

Hospitals and Public Hospital Entities

• Assisted general counsel to a public hospital board of directors
• Participated in the representation of a public health care district
• Assisted hospital general counsel and provided advice at hospital board meetings
• Advised public healthcare entities on the Public Records Act and Sunshine Law
• Represented hospital in practice acquisitions and physician employment arrangements

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

• Designed HIPAA privacy practices programs for rehabilitative hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, medical group practices, and a pediatric mental health facility
• Presented seminars on the HIPAA privacy rules for the Florida Hospital Association
• Advised publishing company regarding the application of the HIPAA privacy rules to the publication of physician profiles and advertisements
• Devised interoperability and information blocking policies and procedures

Miscellaneous Healthcare Businesses

• Established medical director arrangements for medical spas
• Established new aesthetics medical clinics
• Obtained operating licenses for assisted living facilities and skilled nursing facilities foreclosed on by lender and secured management arrangements to operate facilities
• Formed holding company for medical malpractice insurance company
• Set up laser vision correction centers
• Coordinated the formation of optical shops
• Drafted provider contracts for behavioral health network