ANDREW B. WACHLER is the principal of WACHLER & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Mr. Wachler has been practicing healthcare law for over 25 years. He counsels healthcare providers and organizations nationwide in a variety of healthcare legal matters. In addition, he writes and speaks nationally to professional organizations and other entities on healthcare law topics such as Medicare appeals, Stark and fraud and abuse, HIPAA, and other topics.
Mr. Wachler graduated Cum Laude from the University of Michigan and was the recipient of the William J. Brandstorm Award. He graduated Cum Laude from Wayne State University Law School.
Mr. Wachler is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association and American Bar Association (Health Law Section). He sits on the Editorial Board of the ABA Health Law Section publication The Health Lawyer, Fraud and Abuse Section, and is the Vice Chair of the ABA Health Law Section Payment and Reimbursement Interest Group. Mr. Wachler is a member of the Michigan Bar Association and the Oakland County Bar Association.
Professional & Bar Association Memberships
- Michigan Bar Association
- Oakland County Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- American Health Lawyers Association
- Medical Group Management Association
Honors and Awards
- Michigan Super Lawyers 2006-2012
- The Best Lawyers in America
- DBusiness Magazine's Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit 2014
- DBusiness Magazine's Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit 2013
- Dbusiness Magazine's Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit 2010
- Dbusiness Magazine's Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit 2009
Speaking Engagements
- "Medicare Audits: Audit Risks, Successful Appeal Strategies and Compliance," presented by Andrew Wachler to the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) Annual Conference in San Diego, CA (October 6-9, 2013).
- "Affordable Care Act 101: Everything you Needed to Know Before October 1st" presented by Andrew Wachler on a panel with Congressman Sander Levin, Steven Grant, M.C., F.A.C.P., and Thomas L. Simmer, M.D. and hosted by The Maimonides Society and Professional Advisory Committee of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit (September 23, 2013).
- "RAC & Technology Security Audits" presented by Andrew Wachler at the HBMA Fall Conference in Las Vegas, NV (September 19, 2013).
- "Recent Developments Affecting Up Front Compliance and Legal Strategies for Physician-Owned Hospitals" presented by Andrew Wachler at the Physician Hospitals of America 13th Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA (September 18, 2013).
- "The New HIPAA Landscape and How to Navigate through a Privacy Breach - General Session" presented by Amy K. Fehn, with Victoria Fabbo of Voss Insurance Services, to LeadingAge Michigan's 2013 Leadership Institute in Traverse City, MI (August 21, 2013).
- Amy Fehn moderated the "Medical Records Law in Michigan" seminar in Troy, Michigan. Ms. Fehn also presented a "HIPAA Overview" that addressed privacy and access, exceptions, the Michigan Medical Records Protection Act, and the HITECH Act (June 6, 2013).
- "Accountable Care Act's Impact on Physicians," will be presented together with Stephen Gaus, to the Saginaw County Medical Society in Saginaw, MI (May 21, 2013).
- Obtaining Part B Payment When Part A is Denied: Understanding the Impact on Reimbursement, RAC University Live Webcast (April 25, 2013).
- "What Have We Learned? Synthesizing Experience in the Audit Appeals Process to Strategically Prepare for the Future," was presented by Andrew Wachler, together with Susan Emanuel and Dawn Crump, to the 2013 HCCA Compliance Institute in National Harbor, MD (April 22, 2013).
- "Healthcare Reform's Impact on Physicians," was presented to the National Arab American Medical Association (April 17, 2013).
- "Medicare Claims Appeals: The Adjudicator's Perspective," was presented to the 2013 Medicare & Medicaid Institute in Baltimore, MD (March 21, 2013).
- Participants included Andrew B. Wachler and representatives from each level of review:
-- Leslie Sussan, Deputy Chair, Departmental Appeals Board, HHS (Medicare Appeals Council)
-- ALJ Nancy Griswold, Chief Administrative Law Judge, Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals, HHS
-- Barbara Yakimowicz, Vice President, Maximus (Qualified Independent Contractor - QIC), and
-- Lawson Blanton, Legal Counsel, Q2 Administrators (Administrative Qualified Independent Contractor - AdQIC).
- On March 8, 2013, Wachler attorney Reesa Handelsman was a speaker at the New Health Care Lawyer Round Table at the 19th Annual Health Law Institute, hosted by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education.
- "Implementing Compliance Programs for Accountable Care Organizations," Amy K. Fehn, 2012 AHLA/HCCA Fraud & Compliance Forum, Baltimore, MD (October 2, 2012).
- "Compliance Plans for Healthcare Providers," Andrew B. Wachler, Michigan Association of CPAs (MACPA), Novi, MI (April 26, 2012).
- "Accountable Care Organizations: A Physician Perspective," Amy K. Fehn with David W. Hilgers, American Bar Association's Live Webinar (March 8, 2012).
- "HIPAA Requirements for ASCs," Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASC) Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida (May 14, 2011)
- "Full Steam Ahead: Latest Developments in Medicare and Medicaid," with James G. Sheehan, Office of the New York State Medicaid Inspector General at the American Bar Association's Emerging Issues Conference (February 23-25, 2011).
- "How to Never Report Any Accidental Disclosures of Private Health Information (Legally) and Other Tales of HIPAA Compliance," at the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association's Annual Meeting (May 21, 2010).
- "Diagnostic Imaging - A Comprehensive Approach: Anti-Markup Payment Limitations, IDTF Rules and their Interplay with Stark and Fraud and Abuse Laws," with Lisa Ohrin, former Stark Regulator, at the Radiology Business Management Association's (RBMA) Radiology Summit (2010).
- "Diagnostic Imaging - Stark and Fraud and Abuse Laws Affecting Diagnostic Imaging Facilities," with Lisa Ohrin, former Stark Regulator, at the Radiology Business Management Association's (RBMA) Radiology Summit (2010).
- "HIPAA: Case Notes and Documentation," Oakland County Private Practice Network & Support (December 14, 2009).
- "A Comprehensive Approach: The Interplay of Stark Law and the Anti-Markup and IDTF Provisions on Diagnostic Imaging Facilities," co-speaker with Lisa Ohrin, Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA) (October 28, 2009).
- "HIPAA Changes Resulting from the Stimulus Bill," Webinar through the Center for Business Intelligence (May 22, 2009).
- "Latest Developments in Stark and Anti-Markup for Billing Companies," Healthcare Billing and Management Association (May 8, 2009).
- "ASC Billing Compliance: Advanced Beneficiary Notices, Policies on Reducing Fees & Waiver of Copays & Deductibles," Ambulatory Surgery Centers Association (ASCA) (April 22, 2009 - April 24, 2009).
- "What's a Doc to Do? Stark II Phaw III and Anti-markup Rules: The Impact on Physician Relationships and Ventures," American Bar Association Health Law Section (February 6, 2008).
- "Stark Primer - Part II, Physician's Perspective," Michigan Bar Association, Health Care Law Section (January 31, 2008).
Articles
- "Court: HIPAA Doesn't Bar Ex Parte Interviews of Treating Physicians," Terese Farhat, Esq., Michigan Medical Law Report, Vol. 9, No. 4, Winter 2013
- "OIG Guidance on Expectations for Screening for Excluded Individuals," Amy K. Fehn, Esq., Michigan Medical Law Report, Summer 2013.
- "The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) Merger and Its Impact on Health Care Providers" , by Jesse A. Markos, Wachler & Associates Summer 2013 Newsletter
- "Final Omnibus Rule Requires Updates to HIPAA Privacy Policies, Notices of Privacy Practices and Business Associate Agreements" , by Amy K. Fehn, Wachler & Associates Summer 2013 Newsletter
- "AHLA Fraud and Abuse Member Briefing 2013 OIG Work Plan Summary," Amy K. Fehn as a contributing author, December 2012.
- "Options are Limited for Avoiding a Reportable Licensure Action" Jesse Adam Markos, Esq. and Christopher J. Laney, Esq., Michigan Medical Law Report, Winter 2012.
- "One Man's Treasure - Another Man's Penalty?" Amy Fehn, Esq. and Rebecca Robichaud, Esq., Michigan Medical Law Report, Spring 2012.
- "The Role of Technology in the Formation of Accountable Care Organizations," Amy K. Fehn, Esq., Michigan Medical Law Report, Summer 2011.
- "The Importance of Health Information Technology for Accountable Care Organizations," Amy K. Fehn, Esq., The ABA Health eSource, June 2011.
- " The New Consumer Appeals Process ," Andrew B. Wachler, Esq. and Jesse Adam Markos, Esq. The Health Lawyer, ABA Health Law Section, June 2011.
- "The 'Physician Payment Sunshine' Act: What Do the New Reporting Requirements Mean for Physicians?" Laura C. Range, Esq., Wachler & Associates, P.C., The Michigan Medical Law Report, Spring 2011.
- "Understanding Health Care Reform's New Delivery Models," Amy K. Fehn, Esq., Health Care Weekly Review, Michigan Edition, April 4, 2011.
- "Space-Sharing and Leasing for IDTFs: A Clarification of the Rules and Standards," Christopher J. Laney, Esq., Wachler & Associates, P.C., The Michigan Medical Law Report, Spring 2011.
