Foley announced today that Elizabeth S. Elson has rejoined the firm’s Health Care Industry Team in the Los Angeles office. Elson returns to Foley as of counsel following a tenure as in-house counsel at Amgen, a major international biotechnology company based in California.

Elson’s practice will focus on counseling clients regarding federal and state health care legislation and payment issues arising under government programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. Her experience includes advising clients on the development and operation of Medicaid demonstration projects as well as drafting and analyzing Medicaid legislation. She has also assisted clients with internal and government investigations and False Claims Act litigation involving issues such as Medicare and Medicaid billing practices and alleged Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law violations. She has advised clients including durable medical equipment suppliers, dialysis companies, health systems, hospitals, county health departments and hospital associations on a variety of reimbursement, compliance, contractual and operational issues.

“Elizabeth’s experience handling compliance issues as both inside and outside counsel gives her a unique level of insight into clients’ complex challenges,” said Larry Vernaglia, chair of the firm’s Health Care Industry Team. “We look forward to leveraging her expanded perspective on behalf of our clients both regionally and nationally.”

While at Amgen, Elson advised its compliance department on issues such as state law reporting requirements, internal investigations and development of compliance policies. Elson also counseled her clients on regulatory, operational and contractual health care issues related to the marketing and promotion of products; including fraud and abuse issues, Food and Drug Administration advertising and promotional labeling issues and anti-trust issues. Additionally, she provided legal guidance to commercial and research and development clients on Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program issues.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Elizabeth back to our L.A. team,” said Richard W. Lasater II, managing partner of the firm’s Los Angeles office. “Her addition further reinforces our already strong health care team on the West Coast.”

The Health Care Industry Team of Foley is consistently ranked a top health care practice by Chambers USA. Foley’s Health Care attorneys assist a broad range of clients, including national provider associations, national health care systems, and regional and local providers with creative legal thinking and practical industry experience. Many of our attorneys are former health care practitioners or have served in key government agencies, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and other federal and state agencies.

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