Joel C. Porter

Joel is Chair of Maynard Nexsen’s Physician/Hospital Integration team and a member of the Firm's Health Care, Corporate Governance & Compliance, and Mergers & Acquisitions practice groups.

He represents and advises physician practice groups and hospitals/health systems across the United States in integration transactions and related ventures and combinations designed to improve the quality and delivery of health care services to patients in their local communities. Such representation includes the negotiation of long-term physician employment agreements, practice group purchase agreements, service line management agreements, and governance documents for the integrated practices. Joel also counsels hospitals and physician groups regarding health care regulatory, compliance, and other matters.

Joel's health care practice focuses primarily on the following:

• Health care fraud and abuse (including the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute)
• Medicare reimbursement issues
• Professional services, management and employment agreements with health care providers
• Regulatory and compliance matters
• Medical staff bylaws and credentialing matters
• HIPAA Privacy/Security
• Joint ventures, asset purchases and other significant transactions
• Representation of sleep labs and durable medical equipment providers
• Concierge medical practices
• Corporate structure and governance issues
• State licensure
• The Joint Commission
• Hospital and physician group management and organization
• Development and maintenance of corporate compliance programs

Joel is a frequent speaker at physician and medical association industry meetings. His talents have earned him recognition as a leading Heath Care attorney by The Best Lawyers in America© and Super Lawyers.

He received his J.D. summa cum laude from the University of Alabama School of Law. He holds an M.B.A. summa cum laude from the Manderson Graduate School of Business and a B.S. magna cum laude from Auburn University.

Community & Professional

• Advisory Council for the American College of Cardiology Cardiovascular Summit (2019-present)
• American Health Lawyers Association
• American Bar Association, Health Law Section
• Alabama State Bar Association, Health Law Section
• Birmingham Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section

Representative Transactions

• Represented Ross Family Dental Clinic (Oxford, MS) in connection with the sale of the practice to Oak Dental Partners, a private equity backed platform
• Represented Birmingham Orthodontics (Birmingham, AL) in connection with the sale of the practice to Rock Dental, a private equity backed platform
• Represented Brookwood Endodontics (Birmingham, AL) in connection with the sale of the practice to HighFive Dental, a private equity backed platform
• Represented Florence Ophthalmology (Florence, AL) in connection with the sale of the practice to EyeCare Partners, a private equity backed platform
• Represented Tuscaloosa Ophthalmology (Tuscaloosa, AL) in connection with the sale of the practice to EyeCare Partners, a private equity backed platform
• Represented Alabama Vision Center (Birmingham, AL) in connection with the sale of the practice to EyeCare Partners, a private equity backed platform
• Represented Southeast Cardiovascular Associates (Houston, TX) in connection with the sale of the practice to Chicago Pacific Founders, a private equity backed platform
• Represented Bay Area Heart (Houston, TX) in connection with the sale of the practice to Chicago Pacific Founders, a private equity backed platform
• Represented Associates in Gastroenterology (Woodbridge, VA) in connection with the sale of the practice to Gastro Health, a private equity backed platform
• Represented Gastroenterology & Hepatology Associates (Alexandria, VA) in connection with the sale of the practice to Gastro Health, a private equity backed platform
• Represented Gastroenterology Associates of Northern Virginia (Fairfax, VA) in connection with the sale of the practice to Gastro Health, a private equity backed platform
• Represented Southeast Gastro (Birmingham, AL) in connection with the sale of the practice to Gastro Health, a private equity backed platform
• Represented Gastroenterology Consultants (Houston, TX) in connection with the sale of the practice to GI Alliance, a private equity backed platform
• Represented Gastroenterology Associates of Northern Virginia, Ltd., a leading gastroenterology practice located in Northern Virginia, and its physician-shareholders in the sale of equity to (and rollover equity transaction with) Gastro Health, LLC, a large gastroenterology services provider backed by Audax Group
• Represented Surgical Care Affiliates, a part of Optum and UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), in its acquisition of Fresenius Medical Care’s majority ownership interest in a joint venture that manages and operates Pacific Cardiovascular Associates Medical Group, a large cardiology group in the greater Los Angeles area
• Represented Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in connection with its renewal of its affiliation transaction with South Jersey Heart Group, a large cardiology practice located in greater Camden, New Jersey
• Represented Southeast Gastro, a leading gastroenterology practice located in greater Birmingham, Alabama, and its physician-shareholders in the sale of equity to (and rollover equity transaction with) Gastro Health, LLC.
• Represented Brookwood Endodontics, P.C. and its shareholders in their sale to, and rollover equity transaction with, HighFive Dental, LLC, an investor-backed full-service dental provider
• Represented Florence Ophthalmology, P.C. and its physician shareholders in the sale of equity to, and rollover equity transaction with, Eye Care Partners, LLC, a leading eyecare services provider sponsored by FFL Partners that operates in 11 states
• Represented Albany Associates in Cardiology, a division of Prime Care Physicians, located in Albany, New York, in connection with the integration of its practice with and into an affiliate of St. Peter's Health Partners (an affiliate of Trinity Health)
• Represented Florida Heart Group and its physicians, located in Orlando, Florida, in connection with the integration of its practice with and into Florida Hospital Medical Group (an affiliate of Adventist Health System)
• Represented Cardiovascular Associates of North Alabama, P.C. of Birmingham, Alabama and its physicians in the integration of their practice with and into an affiliate of Brookwood Medical Center (a Tenet Hospital)
• Represented Cardiovascular Associates, S.C. of suburban Chicago, Illinois and its physicians in the integration of their practice with and into Alexian Brothers Health Network and its affiliates
• Represented Hickory Cardiology Associates, PLLC d/b/a Western Piedmont Heart Centers of Hickory, North Carolina and its physicians in the integration of their practice with and into Frye Regional Medical Center, Inc. (a Tenet Hospital)
• Represented Piedmont Cardiology Associates of Hickory, North Carolina and its physicians in the integration of their practice with and into Frye Regional Medical Center, Inc. (a Tenet Hospital)
• Represented Heart and Vascular Clinic of Northern Colorado d/b/a Heart Center of the Rockies of Fort Collins, Colorado and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into Poudre Valley Health System
• Represented HeartCare of Southern Arizona, P.C. d/b/a Desert Cardiology of Tucson of Tucson, Arizona and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into an affiliate of CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.
• Represented West Suburban Cardiologists, Ltd. d/b/a Illinois Heart & Vascular of the greater Chicago area and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into an affiliate of Adventist Health System
• Represented Midwest Pediatric Cardiology, P.C. of the greater Chicago area and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into an affiliate of Advocate Health and Hospitals Corporation
• Represented Cardiology Associates of Waterbury, P.C. of Waterbury, Connecticut and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into an affiliate of The Waterbury Hospital
• Represented Consultants in Cardiology, P.A. of Fort Worth, Texas and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into an affiliate of Texas Health Resources
• Represented Appleton Cardiology Associates, P.C. of Appleton, Wisconsin and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into ThedaCare, Inc.
• Represented Cardiovascular Associates, P.S.C. of Louisville, Kentucky and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into an affiliate of Norton Healthcare, Inc.
• Represented Eastside Cardiology Associates, P.C. of Kirkland Washington and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into King County Public Hospital District No. 2 d/b/a Evergreen Healthcare
• Represented Louisiana Cardiology Associates, L.L.C. of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into an affiliate of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
• Represented Heartcare, Inc. of central Ohio and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into Grant/Riverside Medical Care Foundation, Inc., an affiliate of OhioHealth Corporation
• Represented Cardiovascular Consultants of Georgia, P.C. of Atlanta, Georgia and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into Piedmont Heart Institute Physicians, Inc., an affiliate of Piedmont Healthcare, Inc.
• Represented Northampton Cardiology Associates, P.C. of Northampton, Massachusetts and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into Baystate Medical Practices, Inc., an affiliate of Baystate Health, Inc.
• Represented Inland Cardiology Associates, P.S. of Spokane, Washington and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into an affiliate of CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.
• Represented GTHI, P.L.L.C. and Great Lakes Cardiology, P.C. of Traverse City, Michigan and their physicians in connection with the integration of their practices with and into Munson Medical Group, an affiliate of Munson Medical Center
• Represented Grand Rapids, Michigan based West Michigan Heart, P.C. in connection with the separation of six physicians and associated sale of assets to Metro Health Hospital
• Represented Cardiovascular Specialists, P.C. of Atlanta, Georgia and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into Emory Specialty Associates, an affiliate of Emory Healthcare, Inc.
• Represented Cardiovascular Associates of Marin and San Francisco Medical Group, Inc. of the greater San Francisco area and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into Marin General Hospital, an affiliate of Marin Healthcare District
• Represented Cardiovascular Consultants of Maine and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into Maine Medical Center, an affiliate of Maine Health
• Represented Maine Cardiology Associates and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into Maine Medical Center, an affiliate of Maine Health
• Represented Cardiology Associates, P.C. and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into William Beaumont Hospital
• Represented Michigan Heart Group, P.C. and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into William Beaumont Hospital
• Represented Rocky Mountain Cardiology, P.C. and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into Boulder Community Hospital
• Represented Taconic Orthopaedics, P.C. and its physicians in connection with the integration of their practice with and into Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
• Represented Regional Medical Center in Anniston, Alabama in connection with its acquisition of and integration with Anniston Urologic Associates, P.C. and its physicians
• Represented W.A. Foote Memorial Hospital d/b/a Allegiance Health in connection with its acquisition of and integration with Trinity Health-Michigan d/b/a Saint Joseph Mercy Health System and the employed physicians formerly associated with Michigan Heart, P.C. and practicing in Jackson, Michigan
• Represented Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center and its affiliates in Camden, New Jersey in connection with its acquisition of and integration with Associated Cardiovascular Associates, P.A.. and its physicians
• Representation of The Stern Cardiovascular Center, P.A. of Memphis, Tennessee, and its cardiologists in connection with the integration of their practice with and into an affiliate of Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation
• Representation of Springfield, Illinois based Cardiovascular Consultants, Ltd. and its physicians in connection with the integration of Prairie Cardiovascular with and into Hospital Sisters Health System
• Representation of Grand Rapids, Michigan based West Michigan Heart, P.C. and its physicians in connection with the integration of West Michigan Heart with and into Spectrum Health System
• Representation of Des Moines, Iowa based Iowa Heart Center, P.C. and its physicians in connection with the integration of Iowa Heart with and into Mercy Medical Center, an affiliate of Catholic Health Initiatives
• Representation of Lansing, Michigan based Thoracic and Cardiovascular Institute, P.C. and its physicians in connection with the integration of TCI with and into Edward W. Sparrow Hospital Association
• Representation of Kingsport, Tennessee based Cardiovascular Associates, P.C. and its physicians in connection with the integration of CVA with and into Wellmont Health System
• Represented Louisiana Medical Center and Heart Hospital and its wholly owned physician clinic in connection with the acquisition and integration of various primary care and specialist physicians.
• Represented Capital Region Urology and its physicians, located in Albany, New York, in connection with the integration of its practice with and into an affiliate of St. Peter's Health Partners
• Represented Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in connection with the development of an orthopedic service line management agreement
• Represented McLaren Hospital in connection with the development of a cardiology and orthopedic service line co-management agreement
• Represented orthopedic specialists in Appleton, Wisconsin, in connection with the integration of its practice with and into ThedaCare, Inc.

Recognition

• Chambers USA, Leading Practitioner in Health Care Law (2020-present)
• The Best Lawyers in America© for Health Care Law (2018-present) and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2020-present)
• Mid-South Super Lawyers in the area of Health Care Law (2011-present)
• Birmingham Magazine Top Attorneys (2014)

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