Heather M. Arrington

Heather Arrington joined the Lafayette office of Sullivan Stolier Schulze, LLC in 2019 and practices healthcare law on an exclusive basis.  She regularly represents acute care, rural, psychiatric, rehabilitation and long-term care hospitals, home health agencies, hospice and other post-acute providers and clinical laboratories in regulatory compliance matters involving fraud and abuse (Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, civil False Claims Act), EMTALA, HIPAA and other regulatory matters.  Heather counsels clients on various Medicare, Medicaid and managed care payment matters including defending and appealing RAC, ZPIC, TPE, and other provider audits, and COVID-19 provider relief payments.  Heather assists providers with physician contracting, governing board and medical staff bylaws, compliance plans, codes of conduct and compliance policies.

Heather received her Juris Doctor and Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law from Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University. While in law school, she received the Dean’s Scholar Award, Paul M. Hebert Scholar Award, and several CALI Awards for Excellence (highest grade). Prior to joining Sullivan Stolier Schulze, LLC, she practiced law as an Assistant Parish Attorney at a private law firm contracted by Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana.

A New Orleans native, she attended St. Mary’s Dominican High School before graduating magna cum laude from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) with a Bachelor of Science in Music Business and Recording. While at MTSU, Heather studied intellectual property law and was awarded the inaugural Chitwood Award of Excellence in Copyright Law for her proposal to reclaim author Beverly Cleary’s copyright for her book Ramona Quimby, Age 8 from her publisher. Her undergraduate work shifted her interest from music business to law.

Heather regularly writes articles on various topics that are currently affecting healthcare providers. She is an active member of the health care section of the American Bar Association, American Health Lawyers Association, and Louisiana State Hospital Association.

Publications

• Co-authored with Matthew Brown and Michael Schulze, “CMS’ Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement Reinstated for Louisiana’s Healthcare Facilities.” Louisiana Hospital Association Impact Law Brief, Vol. 37, No. 1, January 2022.
• Fourth Time’s a Charm? HHS Amends CARES Act Reporting Guidance … Again.” Louisiana Hospital Association Impact Law Brief, Vol. 36, No. 6, June 2021.
• “Navigating HHS’ COVID-19 Testing and Treatment for the Uninsured Program: The 5 Basics that Providers Should Know.” Louisiana Hospital Association Impact Law Brief, Vol. 36, No. 2, February 2021.
• “Third Time’s a Charm? HHS Amends CARES Act Reporting Guidance … Again.” Louisiana Hospital Association Impact Law Brief, Vol. 36, No. 1, January 2021.
• “Is Your Hospital Ready for the Price Transparency Rule?” Louisiana Hospital Association Impact Law Brief, Vol. 35, No. 6, November 2020.
• “HHS Amended CARES Act Reporting Requirements . . . Again.” Louisiana Hospital Association Impact Law Brief, Vol. 35, No. 5, October 2020.
• Co-authored with Michael Schulze, “HHS Issues Reporting Requirement Guidance for General and Targeted Distributions.” Louisiana Hospital Association Impact Law Brief, Vol. 35, No. 4, September 2020.
• “CMS Issues Its First Hospital Price Transparency Fines: Is Your Hospital Ready for an Audit?” Louisiana Hospital Association Impact Law Brief, Vol. 37, No. 2, June 2022.
• CMS Announces 2024 Changes to Hospital Price Transparency Rules: The Six Key Changes to Know.” Louisiana Hospital Association Impact Law Brief, Vol. 39, No. 2, February 2024

Presentations

“Managing Medicaid MCO Claim Disputes.” Co-presented with Michael Schulze and Bryan Dupree to the Louisiana Rural Health Association. August 18, 2022.

“The Legal Requirements and Significance of Physician Documentation” Co-presented with Michael Schulze and John Ellis to the Ochsner Health University Hospital & Clinics’ Family Medicine Residents. January 5, 2024.

Professional Associations

• American Bar Association
• American Health Lawyers Association
• Louisiana State Bar Association
• Louisiana Hospital Association
• Lafayette Bar Association

Bar Admissions

• Louisiana, 2018
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, 2019

Education

• J.D./D.C.L (Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law), Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, 2018
• Bachelor of Science, Music Business and Recording (magna cum laude), Middle Tennessee State University, 2015

Honors and Awards

• CALI Awards for Excellence and Highest-Grade Honors:
  – Advanced Trademark and Unfair Competition Law;
  – Louisiana Civil Procedure I;
  – The Legal Profession and Ethics; and
• Immigration Clinic Course.
• LSU Law Chancellor’s Scholar
• Dean’s Scholar Award, 2017
• Paul M. Hebert Scholar Award, 2018