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“I trust Cori and the Husch Blackwell team to deliver timely, accurate, pragmatic legal advice at a reasonable cost.”

Daniel Bailey, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, HGS North America, HGS, Inc.

Overview

Cori’s experience as a hospital and hospice volunteer inspired her to pursue a legal career that also serves patients. Husch Blackwell, with one of the largest U.S. healthcare practices, was a natural fit.

One of Cori’s early clients was Children’s Mercy Hospital of Kansas City. The staff’s passion for their mission was infectious, and Cori developed a special interest in children’s healthcare. Cori also has become intimately acquainted with patient and parent perspectives through her daughter’s health challenges. This perspective further personalizes her work with clients.

Cori advises healthcare clients, such as academic medical centers and CLIA-certified laboratories, on complex regulatory compliance and reimbursement-repayment matters, as well as contractual issues, strategic affiliations and leadership transitions. She also represents healthcare providers in civil and criminal fraud investigations and self-disclosures. She is known for excellent client service and personalized support.

“I trust Cori and the Husch Blackwell team to deliver timely, accurate, pragmatic legal advice at a reasonable cost.”

Daniel Bailey, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, HGS North America, HGS, Inc.

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Health Care Law, 2019-2025
  • Chambers USA, Healthcare, 2022-2024
  • Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, Health Care, Rising Star, 2009-2016
  • Missouri Lawyers Weekly, "Up & Coming Lawyer," 2014

Education

  • J.D., University of Iowa College of Law
    • with distinction
    • Merit Scholar
    • Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems - Volume XI, Writer and Editor-in-Chief
  • B.A., University of Notre Dame
    • magna cum laude
    • Psychology/Sociology

Admissions

  • Missouri
  • Illinois
  • Iowa
  • Kansas

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • American College of Healthcare Executives
  • American Health Law Association, 2002-present
    • Women's Leadership Council, 2017-present
    • Young Professionals Council, 2012-2015; Chair, 2013-2014; Ex-Officio Member, Past Chair, 2014-2015
    • Children’s Hospital Affinity Group, Vice Chair for Publications, 2013-2016
    • Fundamentals of Health Law, Program Planning Committee, 2014 and 2015
    • Board of Directors, Young Professionals Delegate, 2014-2015
  • Greater Kansas City Society of Healthcare Attorneys, 2002-present; Secretary/Treasurer, 2008-2009; President, 2009-2010
  • Health Care Compliance Association, 2002-present; Midwest Region Conference Program Chair, 2010-2012
  • Signature Healthcare Foundation, Board of Directors


*Contact Cori to set up an in-person consultation by appointment in the Kansas City office.
Experience

Regulatory Compliance

  • Assisted preeminent research facility with the development of COVID testing innovation and research strategy, including analysis of FDA, EUA, LDT and PREP Act implications and community outreach contracts.
  • Navigated complex federal and state licensing and credentialing laws related to development of integrative medicine clinic with medical, fitness, cosmetic and spa services. Assisted with project from ground up and provided structural and strategic guidance based on federal and state licensing considerations.
  • Developed comprehensive compliance plan effectiveness audit tool used by healthcare providers across Midwest.
  • Helped evaluate compliance with federal research regulations (informed consent/IRB issues), NIH Grants Policy Statement, and related federal regulations and investigations in area of pediatric and adult research.
  • Advised compensation committee of healthcare system on compliance with Internal Revenue Service and healthcare regulatory requirements, including presentation of educational sessions for committee members and hospital's executive leadership team.
  • Developed a multi-state guardianship and consent matrix and decision tool for client currently being utilized by providers in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Utah and Wyoming to help front line personnel navigate sensitive and oftentimes highly controversial situations related to the terminally ill and end of life decisions, durable power of attorney and healthcare proxies, minor consent issues and guardianship.

Medicare and Medicaid

  • Assisted with complex change of ownership (CHOW) applications for numerous facilities related to large acquisition of mental health facilities. Successfully worked with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) representatives to navigate online and paper documents required for timely and smooth transition.

Contracting

  • Assumed role of interim in-house counsel for international pharmaceutical service provider. Reviewed and negotiated contracts for contract research organization (CRO) services, pharmacovigilance services, HUB/commercial services, nursing services and patient assistance program services.
  • Advised multihospital health system on all aspects of physician contracting, including contract development and negotiation, regulatory analysis and operational considerations.

Staffing

  • Represented large health system in development of new systemwide physician employment agreement model and compensation methodology and facilitated transition of more than 100 employed physicians to new model.
  • Evaluated quality bonus programs for employed and contracted physicians in adult and pediatric context, including facilitating valuation efforts and development of quality initiatives, benchmarks and bonus methodology.
  • Collaborated with valuation experts to apply fair market value principles to pediatric employment, professional services and other affiliation arrangements.
  • Assisted with operational practice/staffing review and development of comprehensive compensation model for exclusive anesthesia provider of large hospital.
  • Led a lengthy and complex negotiation between anesthesiology group and hospital to facilitate the transition of 11 anesthesiologists and select clinical and operations staff to the hospital.

Investigations and Self-Disclosures

  • Directed comprehensive audit and regulatory analysis of physician contracts at children's hospital and submitted Stark Law disclosure to CMS under self-referral disclosure protocol. Provided operational and corrective action recommendations related to audit findings.
  • Helped settle Stark Law violation with Department of Justice (DOJ) and Office of Inspector General (OIG) for Department of Health and Human Services after four-year internal investigation, self-disclosure and extensive negotiations. Matter was resolved with no criminal charges, no admissions of False Claims Act violations, and no imposition of corporate integrity agreement or government oversight.

Other

  • Assisted with development and structuring of primary care medicine concierge practice to address federal and state healthcare, reimbursement, insurance and privacy/data security issues.
  • Represented healthcare businesses in evaluating and developing medical franchise strategy and associated disclosure documents/ancillary agreements.
  • Advised on evaluation of multisite cloud-based patient information access portal proposed by concierge medicine franchise.
Outside the Office

Cori is dedicated to physical exercise and believes it is an important part of having a clear mind.

Cori regularly works out at Body Lab and HotWorx and feels that physical exercise helps her balance all that is on her plate. She encourages her kids to stay active by supporting her daughter in competitive softball, weight-lifting and tumbling, and by cheering her stepsons on in tennis and football. Cori loves to attend her kids’ sporting events and regularly travels to out of town competitions.

To get away from it all, Cori, her husband, Patrick, and their kids enjoy relaxing at their farm in rural Kansas – about an hour away from Kansas City. Fishing, hiking and 4-wheeling are frequent activities, along with ziplining and visiting their neighbor’s ever-growing collection of animals. Cori also loves her lake time and enjoys boating and paddle boarding whenever she can.

Community Leadership

Cori enjoys her role as a member of the Board of Directors for the Signature Healthcare Foundation, which aims to improve the quality, efficiency and affordability of healthcare through education, advocacy and providing assistance to families in crisis.

Cori also has worked extensively with the American Health Lawyers Association to support no-cost public interest resources on topics such as free medical clinics. She has participated in the production of several public interest publications, and she takes pride in providing guidance through her work.