Kate McDonald represents clients across the healthcare industry on complex regulatory matters and high-stakes mergers and acquisitions, affiliations and other investments. She has particular expertise in federal and state laws applicable to health insurers and HMOs, including the downstream implications of these rules for the provider organizations and vendors that work with them, as well as the reimbursement landscape of federal healthcare programs.
With extensive experience navigating the Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Medicaid managed care programs, Kate is regularly called on by health plans, provider organizations, technology start-ups, private equity funds, retailers and other clients to benchmark risks, solve regulatory challenges and structure transactions, particularly those that involve federal and state healthcare programs. As payors and providers continue to realign in today’s market, Kate has a nuanced understanding of the unique obstacles and opportunities facing companies at the intersection of these two worlds. She helps innovative companies navigate state risk-bearing regulations, drafts and negotiates agreements with complex reimbursement structures and regulatory implications, and advises healthcare companies and private equity funds on investments in highly-regulated segments of the healthcare market.
Kate is a contributing author to Regulation of Medicare Part D Plans (Thomson Reuters, 2019 edition) and Thomson Reuters Health Law Handbook (2017 edition). She speaks regularly at healthcare industry events, including the Wall Street Journal Health Forum, American Health Lawyers Association Institute for Health Plan Counsel, Blue Cross Blue Shield National Summit, Health Care Compliance Association Managed Care Compliance Conference, and Medicaid Managed Care Congress. Kate has been recognized in the Legal 500 United States (2019) and was the first recipient of the McDermott Will & Emery Client Service Award (2019).