Heidi Kocher, M.B.A., J.D.

Heidi Kocher - Practice Concentration and Experience

Heidi Kocher has more than 20 years of experience in health care legal and compliance related issues. Her experience includes positions at a large hospital corporation, serving as a compliance officer for a sleep lab / Durable Medical Equipment (DME) company and a compliance director, chief privacy officer and interim chief compliance officer at a medical device manufacturer. In addition, Ms. Kocher has represented and advised critical access and long-term care hospitals, physician groups, home health agencies, DME companies, pharmacies (including compounding pharmacies), non-profit organizations, and licensed individuals. As a result, she understands the complexities and challenges that providers large and small face in complying with increasingly varied and complex laws.

Ms. Kocher is an expert in all aspects of compliance and privacy programs, including developing and deploying policies, procedures and training. Her experience includes implementing the various requirements and aspects of a Corporate Integrity Agreement, responding to and defending audits from Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers up through the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) level, guiding clients through voluntary self-disclosures, seeking advisory opinions from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG), and defending Food and Drug Administration (FDA) audits. Ms. Kocher developed criteria for and implemented an aggregate spend system, permitting a medical device manufacturer to timely report correct information under the Physician Open Payments Acts (also known as the Physician Payments Sunshine Act). In addition, she is experienced in developing and implementing a compliance program to address Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) requirements, including Eucomed guidelines. Ms. Kocher also has significant reimbursement experience, addressing coverage policy issues, challenging denials, recoupments, and loss of billing privileges, obtaining HCPCS codes, and other reimbursement related issues.

In an acknowledgement of her experience, Ms. Kocher was recently appointed a lecturer in the University of Texas at Dallas’ Bioengineering Department graduate program. Her course helps bioengineering and medical device entrepreneurs identify and navigate risks in commercializing and marketing new and innovative products. Additionally, Ms. Kocher is a highly-sought national speaker on compliance and regulatory issues.

Ms. Kocher speaks fluent Spanish and German, and conversational French.