April Schweitzer

Practice Areas

April Schweitzer partners with provider clients to address corporate and regulatory issues affecting hospitals, health systems, physician groups, and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). April also provides counsel regarding value-based contracting, clinical integration networks, and accountable care organizations.

As a former public health project manager, I enjoy the opportunity to work with a variety of healthcare clients to implement strategies that will ultimately impact patients. I am particularly interested in helping clients think strategically about the practical realities of functioning in an ever evolving healthcare environment. Currently, my practice consists of the following:

• HEALTHCARE TRANSACTIONS – April works on transactional matters including mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures, as well as corporate governance, licensure, tax exemption, and formation issues.

• FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS – April represents FQHCs in connection with various affiliation agreements, services agreements, Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) issues, managed care contracting, and grant applications as well as serving as outside general counsel.

• HOSPITAL/PHYSICIAN ALIGNMENT – As part of the transition to value-based care, April provides counsel regarding the regulatory and operational requirements of hospital/physician alignment strategies such as clinical integration networks and accountable care organizations.

• REGULATORY COMPLIANCE – April regularly provides counsel to clients regarding EMTALA, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the federal Stark law, and state law equivalents. She also addresses Medicare and Medicaid regulatory compliance, including voluntary self-disclosures.

• NONPROFIT CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD DISPUTES – April assists nonprofit organizations to ensure their governance and operations comply with legal requirements as well as best practices. With respect to tax-exempt hospitals, she provides legal assistance regarding Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and state law requirements governing financial assistance and community benefit activities.

In this time of transformation in healthcare, consolidation is likely to continue as providers join forces to harness the power of big data and leverage new technologies to fundamentally alter how healthcare is delivered and paid for in the United States.

Career

April obtained her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, cum laude, with a health law certificate. She completed her B.A. at Marquette University, cum laude.

Professional Memberships

- Board of Directors, Pillars Community Health

- American Health Lawyers Association

- Chicago Bar Association

- Illinois Association of Healthcare Attorneys

- Women’s Bar Association of Illinois