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Overview

Crystal helps healthcare clients navigate regulatory requirements and implement their objectives.

Crystal’s goal is to help clients meet their business objectives within a highly regulated environment. Crystal focuses her practice on Massachusetts and federal healthcare regulatory work, providing strategic regulatory advice to academic medical centers, community hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, nursing facilities, assisted living residences, imaging providers, ambulance services, and hospice and home health agencies, among others.

In addition to developing full regulatory strategies to meet client objectives, she helps providers navigate regulations and obtain approvals from agencies, including the Department of Public Health, Department of Mental Health, Health Policy Commission, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and MassHealth. A major focus of Crystal’s practice includes helping clients secure Determination of Need approval for construction, new or expanded services, and changes of ownership. In addition, she advises clients regarding state licensure, architectural plan review, essential service closures, federal and state drug registrations, CLIA, Medicare and MassHealth enrollment and certification, as well as state and federal agency quality of care enforcement actions.

Healthcare has long been a central interest for Crystal: before pursuing a legal career, she served in various medical research positions at a psychiatric hospital, an academic medical center and skilled nursing facilities. Her background means that she understands the services clients provide to patients, as well as the daily experience of working at a healthcare facility. Most of all, though, her experience gives her an invaluable understanding of client needs and perspectives.

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers In America®, Healthcare Law, 2021, 2023 and 2024; Administrative / Regulatory Law, 2023 and 2024; Corporate Law, 2023 and 2024

Education

  • J.D., Suffolk University Law School
    • cum laude
  • B.A., Northeastern University
    • magna cum laude

Admissions

  • Massachusetts

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • Massachusetts Bar Association
  • Women’s Bar Association
  • American Health Lawyers Association
  • LeadingAge Massachusetts, Inc.
  • Massachusetts Assisted Living Facilities Association
  • Massachusetts Association of Residential Care Homes
  • Massachusetts Senior Care Association
2023 Pro Bono Contributor
Experience
  • Successfully assisted major Boston rehabilitation hospital in obtaining Department of Public Health approvals needed for the design, construction and opening/licensure of new state-of-the-art hospital on the Boston waterfront.
  • Successfully guided major healthcare system in obtaining Department of Public Health transfer of ownership approval for the acquisition of key community hospital.
  • Obtained Determination of Need approval for major cancer hospital expansion.
  • Assisted Canadian EMS provider in the acquisition of Boston-based ambulance service.
  • Managed and obtained required state regulatory approvals to permit a major Worcester nursing home provider in the expansion and development of a state-of-the-art medical and elder care complex.
  • Obtained approval to establish the first mobile substance use disorder service in Boston that served as a model for the state.
  • Guided community hospital in the closure of inpatient campus.
  • Provided hospital with guidance in successful implementation of plan of correction in response to CMS survey findings.
Outside the Office

Crystal spends most of her free time with her husband and two elementary-aged children. The family loves the outdoors and ice cream.

Community Leadership
  • Community Day Center of Waltham, former Board Member