The Health Law Offices of Anthony C. Vitale has been assisting clients navigate the highly complex and ever-changing legal landscape for more than 30 years. Our team of highly skilled attorneys and consultants are well versed in all aspects of healthcare law – from Medicare fraud and Medicaid fraud defense, overpayment defense to enrollment and all other aspects of defense and compliance.
The Health Law Offices of Anthony C. Vitale can help you to develop effective strategies to identify and correct non-compliance before it affects your business model.
Our attorneys and consultants draw on their years of experience to help clients manage risk and achieve their desired results. We have long-standing working relationships with federal and state regulatory agencies, allowing us to take a collaborative and strategic approach to resolving your case.
Our proactive approach is designed to mitigate the risk of a federal or state criminal, civil, administrative or professional licensure investigation. Should you become the target of an investigation we can help reduce your exposure and in many instances resolve the issues surrounding the investigation before a case is filed.
LEGAL SERVICES
Our Team
Anthony C. Vitale
Phone: (305) 358-4500
Email: psuarez@vitalehealthlaw.com
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President
The Health Law Offices of Anthony C. Vitale, P.A.
Anthony C. Vitale is the president of the law firm bearing his name. The firm was established in 1982 and is recognized as a leader in healthcare law and consultation. The firm is located in Miami, Florida. The firm concentrates on Medicare defense litigation, criminal, civil, regulatory, Qui Tam/Whistleblower, administrative and licensure representation of healthcare providers, including physicians, other licensees, pharmacies, clinics, home health agencies, laboratories, durable medical equipment suppliers, CORF, CMHC/PHP, billing agents, wholesalers and other healthcare providers and suppliers.
Mr. Vitale has represented clients under investigation by the Department of Justice, FBI, Office of the Inspector General (DHHS), DEA, Office of the Attorney General Statewide Prosecutor and Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Florida Department of Insurance Division of Insurance Fraud and other investigatory bodies.
The firms representation also includes defense services to clients facing allegations of fraud and abuse, compliance counseling and the defense of civil, administrative, regulatory and criminal healthcare fraud, including internal/defense investigations; False Claims Act litigation; settlement negotiations; withholding of Medicaid/Medicare payments; Overpayments; exclusion from participation in Medicare/Medicaid programs; licensure and certification; DEA registration, anti-kickback violations; medical necessity issues; Qui Tam investigations (whistleblower), prosecutions and defense; health care contracts, and physician self-referral (Stark).
PARTNERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
GERSTEIN, VITALE & STECKEL
(1981 – 1985)
A law firm with emphasis on criminal defense, post conviction relief and appeals.
ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY
OFFICE OF THE STATE ATTORNEY,
Miami-Dade County, Florida
(1978 – 1981)
Formerly, Chief Prosecutor with the Office of the State Attorney, Miami-Dade County.
(1981 – 1982)
Appointed by State Attorney Janet Reno
Special Prosecutor,
Office of the State Attorney,
Miami-Dade County, Florida
EDUCATION
Legal
The Center for the Study of Law
Nova University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
J.D. 1977
Founding Editor of Law School Newspaper “The Perspective”
Undergraduate
Pace University
New York, New York
Bachelor of Business Administration,
1974, Cum Laude
Highest Peer Rating
For professional ability and ethical standards by Martindale-Hubbell
BAR ADMISSIONS/LICENSURE
- The Florida Bar, 1978
- United States Supreme Court
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
TEACHING POSITIONS
Former Adjunct Professor, St. Thomas University, Miami, Florida, Master’s Program Health Care Law.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND ASSOCIATIONS
- Member the Florida Bar
- Member the American Bar Association (ABA)
- ABA Subcommittee for Medicare and Medicaid Fraud and Abuse
- ABA Health Law Section
- ABA White Collar Crime Committee
- Member Florida Academy of Health Care attorneys
- Member Agency for Health Care Administration Workgroup on Fraud and Abuse Member American Health Lawyers Association
- Member National Health Lawyers Association
- Member the American Compliance Institute
- Member National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Member Florida Academy of Healthcare Attorneys
- Member Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
NOTABLE CASES – FLORIDA STATUTES DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL STATE V. GABRIEL HARDEN
Florida Statute 409.920, Medicaid Provider Fraud Statute declared unconstitutional: State of Florida v. Gabriel Harden, et al., Case No. F00-38785 (11th Jud. Cir. February 5, 2003) and State of Florida v. Gabriel Harden, Case No. 3D03-521 (Fla. 3rd DCA Jan. 28, 2004), 2004 Fla. App. LEXIS 623, 29 Fla. L. Weekly D 593. Argued by Anthony C. Vitale and Richard Strafer on January 28, 2003.
On May 18, 2006, the Supreme Court of Florida affirmed the Third District Court of Appeal decision in State v. Harden, 873 So. 2d 352 (Fla. 3d DCA 2004) declaring unconstitutional the Anti-kickback section of the Florida Medicaid Provider Fraud Statute, 409.920(e). The Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of all charges against all defendants in the case of State of Florida vs. Gabriel R. Harden, (Case No. S00-38785) as well as 3 dentists -Edward Polsky, D.D.S., Maria Rodriguez, D.D.S., Elsa Cottoreal, D.D.S., and others.
On April 23rd 2007, the United States Supreme Court denied certiorari and the decision of the Florida Supreme Court became final.
NOTABLE CASES STATE V. GUZMAN
Florida Statute 817.505, Patient brokering statute declared unconstitutional: State of Florida vs. Sonia Bonilla Guzman, DDS, Ana Maria Bonilla Mendez, DDS, and John Anthony Rubio, Case No. 48-2003-CF-13501-0 (911 Jud. Cir. February 1, 2005)
Florida Statute 409.920, Medicaid Provider Fraud Statute declared unconstitutional: State of Florida v. Gabriel Harden, et al., Case No. F00-38785 (11 1h Jud. Cir. February 5, 2003) and State of Florida v. Gabriel Harden, Case No. 3D03-521 (Fla. 3 DCA Jan. 28, 2004), 2004 Fla. App. LEXIS 623, 29 Fla. L. Weekly D 593
PUBLICATIONS
- Author – Anthony C. Vitale, the Florida Healthcare Law Compendium
- Author – Anthony C. Vitale, the Florida Medical Center Legal Compliance Guide
- Author – Anthony C. Vitale, Compliance Guide – Non Physician Owned Medical Clinics
- Author – Anthony C. Vitale, State Enforcement and Medicaid Fraud, American Bar Association, continuing Legal Education Course Materials, Healthcare Fraud – 2001
- Author – Anthony C. Vitale, Insurers Begin Denying Claims for Non-Registered Clinics, Florida Medical Business Journal,
February, 2002 - Author – Anthony C. Vitale, New Board Rule Prohibits Docs From Practicing at Non-Physician Owned Clinics, Florida Medical Business Journal, April 6, 2001
- Co-Author with William Gompers, Florida Toughens, Broadens Law on Medicaid Fraud and Abuse. Medical Business South Florida Edition
- Author – Anthony C. Vitale, P.A. Provider Alerts published monthly and provided to the healthcare community. Provider Alerts identify current trends in healthcare, as well as changes in laws, rules and codes
Representative titles include:
- Providers Question Fairness of Medicare Hearing System, June, 1997
- Medicaid Targets Pediatric Providers for Overpayments, January, 1998
- False Homebound Certification by Physicians Invoke Civil Money Penalty, April, 1997
- Feds Investigating Billing Agent Contractors, August, 1997
- Home Health Compliance Review Essential in Preparing for a Joint Task Force Audit, May, 1997
- Federal and State Investigators Target Medical labs, August, 1997
- Leased Employees May Now Perform Incident-To Services,
February, 1997 - Payments to DME’s from Pharmacies under Marketing Arrangements Can Violate Anti-kickback Statutes, January, 1997
- New Medicaid Statute Bans All Patient Brokering, August, 1996
- Board of Medicine Declares Mere Allegation of Fraud as Basis for Emergency Suspension of Physician’s License, January, 1996
- Physician Assistant False Claims Advisory, August, 1995
- Anthony C. Vitale is widely quoted on health law matters in leading publications including the Wall Street Journal, Miami Herald, Tampa Tribune, Florida Daily Business Review, St. Petersburg Times, and U.S. News and World Report
Anthony C. Vitale
President
Daniel Ferrante
Daniel R. Ferrante joined The Health Law Offices of Anthony C. Vitale in January 2019 as a litigation associate. Daniel works on a variety of matters, including criminal and civil litigation, administrative and disciplinary matters, and federal and state defense investigations
Daniel has represented clients indicted by the federal government for federal healthcare related crimes, as well as civil suits initiated by the government, based on alleged violations of the False Claims Act. Daniel has initiated lawsuits on behalf of healthcare owners and providers, related to breach of contract claims and has represented clients facing disciplinary action by Florida’s Agency for HealthCare Administration. Specifically, Daniel has represented numerous assisted living facilities that have faced license revocation or fines.
Daniel also assists with healthcare compliance, overpayment disputes, and licensure issues. His compliance efforts focus on federal and state Anti-Kickback statutes, as well as the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act (“EKRA”). Daniel also represented clients in overpayment actions initiated by both public and private payors. Daniel has also represented clients facing Medicare license revocations, as well as those clients seeking an application for exemption by Florida’s Medicaid program.
Prior to working at the firm, Daniel worked as a prosecutor at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office where he prosecuted thousands of criminal cases, including attempted murders, sexual batteries, armed robberies, grand theft, and domestic violence cases. As a prosecutor, Daniel gained valuable litigation experience with both jury and bench trials, and has handled every aspect of trial from voir direto closing argument.
Daniel graduated cum laudefrom the University of Miami School of Law, where he was a member of the Charles C. Papy Jr. Moot Court Board. During his time on Moot Court, Daniel won the 2014 Robert Orseck Memorial State Moot Court Competition at the Florida Bar Conference, with the final round before the Florida Supreme Court. While on Moot Court, Daniel gained valuable insights by working with well renown judges, professors, and practitioners. Daniel earned his BS from Florida State University College of Business in Business Management & Marketing, with a minor in Philosophy.
Daniel is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association, Florida Bar Young Lawyer’s Division, the Miami-Dade County Bar Association, and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Daniel Ferrante
Attorney
Christopher A. Parrella
Consultant
Phone: (305) 358-4500
Email: cparrella@vitalehealthlaw.com
Christopher A. Parella is the head of the consulting division of the Health Law Offices of Anthony C. Vitale.
Chris works extensively with clients to develop compliant business strategies to address the complexities of the current healthcare environment. He assists in developing compliance policies in accordance with various state/federal settlements following government investigations. He advises clients on some of today's most pressing healthcare concerns relating to billing and coding, healthcare audits, payment disputes, HIPAA, facility license disputes, corporate integrity agreements, and fraud and abuse.
Chris is a Certified Professional Coder (CPC). In his role, he helps healthcare clients make sure that the medical coding their organization uses is in compliance. CPCs are recognized as holding the "Gold Standard" for medical billing and coding.
Chris also is a Certified Professional Compliance Officer designated by the AAPC, and is certified in Healthcare Compliance by the Health Care Compliance Association of America (HCCA). He participated in developing the national certification examinations for the American Society of Health Informatics Managers (AHIM) and the AAPC's Certified Professional Compliance Officer designation.
He is a much sought after speaker and has written numerous articles on matters relating to corporate integrity agreements, the False Claims Act, billing and coding, managed care contracting, and surviving a healthcare fraud investigation.
Christopher A. Parrella
Consultant
Peter Suarez
Paralegal / Office Administrator/Legal Assistant
Florida Registered Paralegal
Direct line: (786) 228-3994
Email: psuarez@vitalehealthlaw.com
Peter Suarez has spent the last 36 years working as a paralegal and office administrator for the Health Law Offices of Anthony C. Vitale. In his role, Peter has worked side-by-side with the firm’s president and attorneys conducting legal research, preparing and filing motions, scheduling depositions, meeting and interviewing clients and coordinating hearings.
Peter also is responsible for overseeing the firm’s day-to-day operations and activities including financial planning, budgeting, marketing, and hiring. He also handles the firm’s relationships with outside vendors.
While working at the firm, Peter became a Florida Registered Paralegal, earned his AA in Pre-Law at Miami Dade College and a BA in Business Administration with a double degree in Management and International Business from Florida International University.
He is a member of several organizations including the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), National Organization of Legal Assistants – The Paralegal Association, South Florida Paralegal Association and Dade County Bar Association.
Peteris experienced withMS Word, Power Point, Excel, Outlook, Timeslips, Bill4Time, West Law research, Lexis Nexus research, Quick Books andfluent in English and Spanish. He is married to Suzette Marie Suarez and is the father of three girls.
Peter Suarez
Senior Paralegal
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HEALTHCARE LAW BLOG
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FIRM NEWS
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Former Assistant State Attorney Joins The Health Law Offices of Anthony C. Vitale
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