(Washington, D.C. / June 4, 2013) Stephen M. Azia has joined Baker Donelson as of counsel and a member of the Firm's Health Law Department.
"Steve brings more than 20 years of experience in health law to the Firm. He is a recognized leading professional in reimbursement litigation and related issues, and I am confident that he will be an asset to our clients and our group," said Richard G. Cowart, Chair of the Firm's Health and Public Policy Department.
Mr. Azia joins Baker Donelson's Washington, D.C. office and focuses his practice on Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, coverage, compliance, appeals, and legislative and regulatory advocacy.
Mr. Azia's practice includes representation of clients subject to various audits and investigations conducted by Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs), Zone Program Integrity Contractors (ZPICs), Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs), and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG). He has extensive experience representing providers and suppliers before Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) and the Medicare Appeals Council of the Departmental Appeals Board.
Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Azia served as the Associate Director of Government Relations for the Health Industry Distributors Association (HIDA), a national business trade association of medical distributors and home care companies.
Baker Donelson's Health Law Department is widely recognized as a premier national practice. It is ranked by Chambers USA as one of the nation's leading health law practices and is consistently ranked as one of the largest health law practices in the country. Attorneys in the Baker Donelson Health Law Department deliver a wide array of corporate, regulatory and financial services, representing leading hospitals and health systems, academic medical centers, medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, physician organizations and specialty care providers. The department also provides a full spectrum of litigation services in commercial and contract matters, antitrust disputes, regulatory and governmental issues and defense of tort cases.