W. Jerad Rissler

Partner

Direct: 404.873.8780
Fax: 404.873.8781
Atlanta
171 17th Street NW
Suite 2100
Atlanta, Georgia 30363

Biography

Jerad is a partner in the Healthcare and Litigation & Dispute Resolution practices and a member of the Post-Acute & Long-Term Care industry team. Jerad’s work involves representing healthcare clients in payment disputes, with a particular focus on government investigations, False Claims Act cases, and reimbursement disputes with public and private payors. Additionally, Jerad counsels his clients on issues involving government payments, defense of professional liability claims, and regulatory compliance. These disputes typically involve allegations relating to medical necessity, “worthless services,” and violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute. Jerad also represents providers in disputes relating to payment determinations, including litigation challenging payment determinations and the regulations under which payment determinations are made.

He is the editor of the AGG Healthcare Authority, a weekly e-newsletter distributed by the Healthcare practice that includes current news briefs, articles, and announcements relevant to the healthcare industry.

Jerad is licensed to practice in the trial and appellate courts of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Related Services

Related Industries

Experience

  • Successfully defended public and private companies in actions under the federal False Claims Act.
  • Achieved a favorable settlement (a fraction of the alleged single damages) of False Claims Act case involving the medical necessity of hospice services after forcing the government to correct and clarify allegations in its Complaint in Intervention regarding physician certifications because the allegations were contradicted by the government’s own interview notes of the witness to whom the allegations were attributed. S. ex rel. Smith v. Serenity Hospice Care, LLC, 3:13-cv-00001-DHB-BKE (S.D. Ga. Oct. 6, 2014) (Notice of Correction and Clarification).
  • Favorably resolved a high-profile federal False Claims Act case brought by the Department of Justice alleging that two national nursing home chains and their principals conspired to solicit a $50 million kickback from a large national pharmaceutical supply company in exchange for continuing to provide pharmacy services to the homes.
  • Obtained favorable resolution of disputes on behalf of hospice and home health providers against Medicare Advantage insurer for unpaid and underpaid claims.
  • Successfully negotiated the resolution of claims for reimbursement of Medicare bad debts on behalf of a group of skilled nursing providers following an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
    Client Successes

    Credentials

    Education
    • Washington University School of Law, Juris Doctor
      • Washington University Law Quarterly
      • Order of the Coif
      • CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Complex Civil Litigation, Conflict of Laws, Commercial Law, Labor Law and Real Estate Transactions, 2002
      • Charles Wendell Carnahan Award, Conflict of Laws, 2002
      • Philip Gallop Award, Real Estate Transactions, 2002
      • Joseph Kutten Prize in Insurance, 2002
    • Marshall University, Bachelor of Business Administration - Finance and Business Law,
      magna cum laude
    Admissions
    • State of Georgia – 2005
    • State of South Carolina – 2003
    • State of North Carolina – 2002
    Court Admissions
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit – 2010
    • Georgia Court of Appeals – 2009
    • Supreme Court of Georgia – 2009
    • United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia – 2006
    • United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia – 2005
    • United States District Court for the District of South Carolina – 2004
    • South Carolina Court of Appeals – 2003
    • Supreme Court of South Carolina – 2003
    • Supreme Court of North Carolina – 2002
    • North Carolina Court of Appeals – 2002
    Associations
      • American Health Lawyers Association

    Recognition

    • “Rising Star,” Georgia Super Lawyers, 2012-16

    News & Insights

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