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Karl A. Thallner

Thallner, KA_web image

Partner

Philadelphia

T:
+1 215 851 8171 (Philadelphia)
F:
+1 215 851 1420 (Philadelphia)
E:
kthallner@reedsmith.com
Vcard

Karl is a member of the Life Sciences Health Industry Group, practicing in the area of health care regulatory law.  Karl heads the Health Care Law practice in the Philadelphia office.  Karl's practice is focused on providing business and regulatory advice to diverse clients in the health care industry, with particular emphasis on hospitals, health systems and academic medical centers.  His clients include proprietary, religiously affiliated, and nonprofit organizations operating general acute care hospitals and specialty hospitals (long-term acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, psychiatric and children’s hospitals).  He has substantial experience in structuring, negotiating and documenting a variety of complex business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, financings, securities offerings, joint ventures, management agreements, and contractual relationships, among providers and with third-party payors.

Karl has particular experience assisting hospitals on arrangements with physicians, such as joint ventures, physician recruitment, practice acquisitions, employment arrangements, and exclusive provider agreements and is a recognized authority on compliance with federal and state laws governing referrals among health care providers, such as the "Anti-Kickback Law" and "Stark II."  He has also advised clients in the health care industry on business and nonprofit corporate law issues and regulatory issues, such as physician and facility licensing, the corporate practice of medicine, health information privacy, medical staff credentialing, professional liability insurance, patient care and informed consent.

Publications

  • “New Stark Restrictions Go Into Effect October 1st,” published in August 2009 issue of Hospital News - Atlanta, Chicago and Western Pennsylvania editions
  • Quoted, "AHLA Stark Reform Proposals Welcome, Have Little Chance of Success, Attorneys Say," published in the August 20, 2009 issue of BNA's Health Law Reporter
  • “Health Information Privacy and Incentives, Medicaid Funding, and Other Health Care Provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,” Reed Smith’s Life Sciences Legal Update Blog, March 4, 2009
  • “Hospital Agrees to Pay $700,000 To Texas AG For Allegedly Orchestrating an Insurer Boycott of Competitor,” Reed Smith’s Life Sciences Legal Update Blog, January 28, 2009
  • "Health Care Reform During the Obama Presidency: The Impact on Hospitals,” published in the August 20, 2009 issue of BNA's Health Care Policy Report, Vol. 16, No. 47, December 8, 2008
  • “Significant Stark Law Changes Adopted in the 2009 IPPS Final Rule,” Reed Smith’s Life Sciences Legal Update Blog, August 25, 2008
  • “Pennsylvania Proposes Regulations for a New Provider Type: Assisted Living Facilities,” Reed Smith’s Life Sciences Legal Update Blog, August 15, 2008
  • “Proposed Stark Law Changes in CMS's 2009 IPPS Proposed Rule, Reed Smith’s Life Sciences Legal Update Blog, May 30, 2008
  • "Recent Developments Regarding Hospital-Physician 'Gainsharing'," Reed Smith Health Care Client Memorandum, March 17, 2005
  • "CMS Stark II (Phase II) Final Rule," Reed Smith Health Care Client Memorandum, April 27, 2004
  • "The Top 10 Best and Worst of the Stark II, Phase II Regulations," published in the April 22, 2004 issue of BNA's Health Law Reporter
  • "HHS Agencies Issue Industry Guidance on Hospital Discounts," Reed Smith Health Care Client Memorandum, April 6, 2004
  • A contributing Editor of Physician’s News Digest, Delaware Valley Edition

Speeches / Presentations

  • He has written and spoken on numerous topics related principally to business, reimbursement and regulatory issues of concern to health care providers

Experience

1995 Reed Smith
Heads the health care law practice in the Philadelphia office
1992 Senior Associate in Health Law Department of major Philadelphia law firm
1986 Associate in Corporate and Securities Department of major Philadelphia law firm

Legal Education

1986 J.D., cum laude, Dickinson School of Law
Served on the Editorial Board of the Dickinson Law Review
Woolsack Honor Society

Graduate Education

1982 M.S., Carnegie Mellon University
Chemical Engineering

Undergraduate Education

1980 B.A., cum laude, Gettysburg College

Professional Admissions / Qualifications

  • Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey

Professional Affiliations

  • American Health Lawyers Association - Member, Healthcare Financial Management Association, Healthcare Compliance Association and other health industry professional associations
  • Pennsylvania Society of Healthcare Attorneys - Board of Directors
  • Selected as one of the top ten "Outstanding Healthcare Transaction Lawyers" in the United States in 2009 by Nightingale’s Healthcare News
  • Selected for listing among "Best Lawyers: Healthcare" by Corporate Counsel magazine
  • Listed by Law & Politics magazine as a "Pennsylvania Super Lawyer" in healthcare for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in “Health Care Law”
  • Awarded the highest "AV®" rating by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
  • Appointed to the Pennsylvania Department of Health QA ‘97 Work Group developing regulations for licensure of MRI and PET services in Pennsylvania in the wake of the sunset of the state’s CON program