Robert D. Stone

• Advising clients on compliance with reporting and attestation requirements for the federal Provider Relief Fund enacted in response to COVID-19.
• Assisting clients with preparing and submitting requests for Section 1135 waivers issued during the coronavirus pandemic.
• Advising health system clients on the application and implementation of Stark Law blanket waivers in the wake of COVID-19.
• Representing hospitals, health systems, physician groups, and other health care providers in operational and regulatory matters, including arrangements that implicate the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute.
• Assisted in drafting legislation in Georgia, including legislation related to Medicaid care management organizations.
• Representing device manufacturers and suppliers in the preparation and implementation of discounting and supply agreements.
• Conducting internal compliance investigations for a variety of health care providers.
• Participating in government investigations with a focus on billing issues and physician relationships.
• Representing clinical research sponsors, sites, physician-investigators, and contract research organizations in drafting and negotiating clinical trial agreements and related fraud and abuse analyses.

Robert Stone is the chair of the firm’s Health Care Group. He focuses on health care compliance and regulatory matters, primarily counseling national health care systems and hospital and physician groups. His skills include assisting with the broad range of federal and state fraud and abuse issues facing health care providers, from compliance program development and review to internal and government investigations. Rob has extensive experience preparing, negotiating, and resolving provider self-disclosures under both the OIG and CMS protocols.

On the corporate side, Rob counsels clients on clinical trial contracting and regulatory compliance for clients that are entering or exiting joint ventures, facing complex reimbursement issues, or engaging in physician recruitment. In addition to providers, he has also worked with medical device manufacturers and medical supply companies.

Rob has presented at national and regional seminars on issues such as Medicare pilot programs, the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute, regulatory issues related to clinical trials, and ethical issues faced by mental health practitioners. Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business has recognized Rob as Band 1 for excellence in the area of Healthcare, and he was also named to The Best Lawyers in America^® for 2018–2025 in the area of Health Care Law.

Bar Admissions

• Georgia

Education

• Vanderbilt University (J.D., 2004)
• Florida State University (M.S., 1994)
• University of Florida (B.S., 1992)

Memberships