John J. Rivas provides legal representation to clients in the areas of health care, criminal and administrative law litigation, as well as Medicaid and Medicare fraud, Stark, Anti-Kickback, health care compliance and related white-collar crime matters. John's practice includes the representation of pharmacies, diagnostic and reference labs, home health and hospice agencies, physicians, nurses, dentists, nursing homes, and other licensed health professionals and entities in practice and business matters, as well as their representation and defense before their respective state licensure, enforcement and peer review boards such as the New York Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, New York Department of Education, New York Office of Professional Discipline, New York Department of Health Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program, Safeguard Services, Health Integrity, New Jersey Board of Nursing, New Jersey Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, Texas Medical Board, Texas Nursing Board, Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services, Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Texas Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Prior to co-founding Rivas Goldstein, LLP., Mr. Rivas was an associate of Garlo Ward, L.L.P where he represented health care facilities and providers in regulatory matters. Mr. Rivas also practiced at the Texas Attorney General's office in the Elder Law and Public Health Division, where he engaged in nursing home and home health agency litigation as well as handled Medicaid fraud and Qui Tam actions. John's background also includes oil and gas litigation and representing the interests of defendants in personal injury cases while employed as an associate with Stubbeman, McRae, Sealy, Laughlin & Browder. He has also served as counsel for the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners and served as a prosecutor in Midland County, Texas where he tried over 30 jury trials to verdict. John is licensed to practice in the states of Texas, New York and New Jersey and he is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western and Southern District of Texas.
John is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association and the Texas Association of Home Care. He has participated in such activities as the People's Law School, National Mock Trial Competition and various Pro Bono clinics. In 1995, he received a Legal Services Outstanding Volunteer Award.
John holds the following degrees: Juris Doctor, 1993, Texas Tech University School of Law. Bachelor of Arts in English, 1989, University of Texas at Austin.
