Partners Gabe Imperato, Knicole Emanuel, Adam Morris, and Bob Wade are set to participate in the Nelson Mullins-sponsored event, the Health Care Compliance Association’s (HCCA) 30th Annual Compliance Institute from April 27-30 in Orlando.

Serving as a program planner and a speaker, Imperato will present, “Federal Administrative Sanctions; Suspension, Exclusion, and Civil Money Penalties,” alongside his co-panelists, Susan Gillin with the Office of Counsel to the Inspector General and Lisa Re with Arnold and Porter. The trio will discuss the key differences among suspension, exclusion, debarment, and preclusion, and how these sanctions impact participation in federal health care programs, contracts, and grants. Attendees will gain insight into the grounds and process for exclusion, as well as provider responsibilities to avoid working with excluded individuals and strategies for maintaining compliance and addressing violations.

Leading the conversation, “Code Breakers: Navigating Key Changes in CMS Evaluation and Management Services and Coding,” Emanuel will clarify key CMS E/M coding and documentation changes from 2021 through the anticipated 2025 updates, including new telemedicine codes. The discussion will also address common legal arguments used to defend against alleged overpayments and provide practical guidance and strategies to help ensure compliance, optimize reimbursement, and reduce the risk of overpayments.

“Compliance and Retaliation: Liability and Risk,” will be presented by Morris and his co-panelist, David Jochnowitz with Outen and Golden, where the pair will explore the legal frameworks that protect employees from workplace retaliation, while examining how retaliation claims can create significant liability for organizations. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of the risks involved and learn practical compliance strategies to foster a culture that encourages reporting and actively prevents retaliation.

Independently, Wade will present, “Ask the Stark Professionals,” where he will take an interactive approach driven by attendee-selected Stark Law topics, with questions submitted either verbally or anonymously. Wade will respond to each question based on his experience and the facts presented by the audience.

Imperato serves as the office managing partner for the Fort Lauderdale office and leads an attorney team that focuses their practice on healthcare enforcement, compliance, and litigation matters. His personal practice involves representing individuals and organizations accused of healthcare fraud, and assisting and advising healthcare organizations on corporate governance and compliance matters.

Emanuel has devoted more than 25 years to a healthcare litigation practice, with a focus on defending healthcare providers with Medicare and Medicaid issues, including alleged overpayments, reimbursement suspensions due to prepayment review and credible allegations of fraud, False Claims Act accusations, Civil Investigative Demands, Anti-Kickback, terminations of contracts, and Board complaints.

Morris focuses his practice on complex litigation and investigations. He has extensive experience handling United States and global government investigations and litigation, internal investigations, and appeals in the healthcare-technology industry. These investigations include FCPA, Anti-Kickback Statute, and False Claims Act matters and appearances before DOJ, HHS-OIG, and the SEC.

Wade advises healthcare organizations nationwide on Stark Law compliance, physician compensation structuring, fair market value analysis, commercial reasonableness assessments, self-disclosure strategy, and enforcement defense under the federal physician self-referral statute.

Now celebrating 30 years, HCCA’s Compliance Institute convenes healthcare compliance professionals for timely education, expert insights, and meaningful networking. This year’s event at the Loews Meeting Complex at Universal Orlando will feature top speakers, updates on regulatory and enforcement trends, exhibitor solutions, and engaging learning experiences. Designed for all experience levels, the event also offers live CEUs and optional certification exams on the final day (separate application and fee required). Attendees will experience an event that will inform, inspire, and connect.