Professional Experience
Ms. Pfister is a partner in the healthcare practice group of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. She specializes in advising health care providers and non-profit organizations on legislative, regulatory and transactional matters. Her clients include hospitals, community health centers, mental health facilities, substance abuse providers, nursing homes, home care agencies, health information exchange organizations and social service agencies. She has particular expertise in representing federally qualified health centers and other organizations that serve medically underserved communities.
Ms. Pfister has extensive experience in representing clients before state and federal regulatory agencies, including the New York State Department of Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and in helping clients navigate the legal and political challenges of Medicare, Medicaid and other public health insurance programs. Her areas of expertise include licensure, reimbursement, fraud and abuse, and other regulatory issues. She also has a strong transactional background, and frequently advises clients on acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate governance, corporate finance and related matters. Ms. Pfister has been heavily involved in advising clients on the federal 340B prescription drug discount program.
Finally, Ms. Pfister is involved in a range of projects involving use of health information technology to facilitate the secure and timely exchange of health information to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery. She represents several of New York’s regional health information organizations (RHIOs), and is also working with the New York eHealth Collaborative on the effort to develop a nationwide health information network that will provide an interoperable, standards-based architecture for the secure exchange of healthcare information across the country. She is also working on several projects to increase participation of community health centers and other safety net providers in health information technology initiatives.
Ms. Pfister received her B.A. from Cornell University and her J.D., magna cum laude, from the Boston University School of Law, where she was an Edward J. Hennessey Scholar and a G. Joseph Tauro Distinguished Scholar, and served as Articles Editor on the Law Review. Prior to joining Manatt, Ms. Pfister was an attorney in the mergers and acquisitions practice at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP.
Publications
Co-Author, "Q4 2011 Saw Surge of Federal Health IT Activity," iHealth Beat, January 20, 2012.
Co-Author, "New ONC Initiative Tackles Data Segmenting in HIE," iHealthBeat, November 28, 2011.
Co-Author, "Spotlight on New PHR Model Privacy Notice," iHealthBeat, November 10, 2011.
Co-Author, "Federal Health IT Activity Heats Up in Q3 2011," iHealth Beat, October 24, 2011.
Co-Author, "The Next Five Years in Health IT: ONC's Plan for the Future," iHealthBeat, October 2011.
Co-Author, "Building Public Trust in Electronic Health Information Exchange," California HealthLine, August 2011.
Co-Author, "New Trend in Sustainable HIEs: Fair Share Financial Support," California HealthLine, August 2011.
Co-Author, "Stimulus Money Still Flowing to Health IT Projects," California HealthLine, July 2011.
Co-Author, "HIPAA Changes Seek Balance of Compliance, Right to Know," California HealthLine, June 13, 2011.
Co-Author, "Milestones Mark ARRA, HITECH First Quarter," California HealthLine, May 23, 2011.
Co-Author, "Balance of Better Care, Privacy in Federal ACO Proposal," iHealthBeat, May 9, 2011.
Co-Author, "Cal eConnect, Beacon Communities Set IT Pace in California," California HealthLine, November 15, 2010.
Co-Author, "HITECH's Health IT Investments in California," California HealthLine, November 12, 2010.
Co-Author, "Nationwide Health Information Network and NHIN Direct," iHealthBeat, November 4, 2010.
Co-Author, "Health IT Moves Forward With Privacy, Consent," HealthLine, September 13, 2010.
Co-Author, "HHS Moves Forward With HITECH Privacy, Security Provisions," iHealthBeat, August 2, 2010.
Co-Author, "Progress Made on Stimulus Package Provisions, Funding," HealthLine, July 22, 2010.
Co-Author, "Stage 1 Meaningful Use Requirements Finalized Under HITECH EHR Incentive Program," BNA, Inc., July 2010.
Co-Author, "HITECH Revisited," California Healthcare Foundation, Colorado Health Foundation, and United Hospital Fund, June 2010.
Co-Author, "Stimulus Programs Aim at Health IT Problems," iHealthBeat, March 09, 2010.
Co-Author, "ARRA Money Continues To Flow for Health, Other Projects," California HealthLine, February 01, 2010.
Co-Author, "'Meaningful Use' Rules Cap Year-End Health IT Activity," California HealthLine, January 25, 2010.
Co-Author, "Clearer Picture Emerges on Stimulus' IT Funding," California HealthLine, December 15, 2009.
Co-Author, "HHS Issues Rule Aligning HITECH Privacy Language With HIPAA," California HealthLine, November 16, 2009.
Co-Author, "HITECH's State Health Information Exchange and Health IT Extension Programs: Providing Infrastructure and Support for Meaningful Use of EHRs," BNA, Inc., November 2009.
Co-Author, "The Impact of Federal Stimulus Funds on Oral Health Services in California," California Healthcare Foundation, August 2009.
Co-Author, "Health Care Provisions in Federal Stimulus Come Into Focus," California HealthLine, August 2009.
Co-Author, "Health Care Stimulus Funding Process Picking Up Speed," California HealthLine, July 2009.
Author, "U.S. Seeks Input for Establishing Regional IT Extension Centers," iHealthBeat, June 2009.
Contributor, "Recommendations for Standardized Consumer Consent Policies and Procedures for RHIOs in New York to Advance Interoperable Health Information Exchange to Improve Care," New York State Department of Health, November 2008.
Co-Author, "HEALTH IT: Supporting Health-Center IT Investments Through Medicare And Medicaid," Health Affairs Blog, December 2007.
Co-Author, "The Federal 340B Drug Discount Program: Eligible Sites and Eligible Patients," Healthcare Law Newsletter, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, June 2005.
Co-Author, "The Federal 340B Drug Discount Program: Patient Eligibility," Healthcare Law Newsletter, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, January 2005.
Co-Author, "The Federal 340B Drug Discount Program: Untapped Opportunities for Savings," Healthcare Law Newsletter, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, October 2004.
Co-Author with Deborah Bachrach, "Access to Mental Health: The State’s Role in Licensure and Reimbursement of Outpatient Mental Health Services in New York," New York State Bar Association Health Law Section Annual Meeting, 2003.
Speaking Engagements
Speaker, "Managing Health Information Privacy & Security in the Digital Age," New York eHealth Collaborative Summit, Fall 2010.
Speaker, "Privacy, Security and Breach: Three Critical Words in HIE, " RelayHealth Health Information Exchange Education Forum, March and April 2010.
Presenter, "Medicaid Managed Care Supplemental Payment Program - 2008 Update," Community Health Care Association of New York State Webinar, May 28, 2008.
Speaker, "What To Do When the OMIG Investigates Your Health Center," Community Health Care Association of New York State Annual Conference, October 26, 2008.
Presentation to Child Health Forum on the New York State Budget and the Health Care Reform Act (2003).