J. Liam Gruzs

Liam is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the health care group.  His practice focuses on advising health care industry clients on legal, regulatory and business issues impacting their operations.  He brings in-house health care industry experience, which enables him to understand client expectations and apply a unique perspective to his practice.

Liam regularly advises a variety of providers — including hospitals, physician practice groups, home health care agencies, behavioral health care providers, medical equipment distributors, and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) — at all stages of the compliance life cycle, including strategic counseling, developing effective policies and procedures, and vigorously defending government audits.  Liam also regularly advises a variety of clients with various technology contracting issues, focusing on software licensing, software-as-a-service (SaaS) subscription models, and related data privacy and security issues.

Representative experience includes:

Health Care Compliance

• Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, including coverage, coding and documentation
• Provider enrollment, licensure and certification
• Practitioner scope of practice, including the use of physician extenders
  

Health Care Enforcement and Investigations

• Directing internal compliance investigations
• Preparing for and responding to payor audits, including Medicare RAC and ZPIC audits, Ohio Auditor of State Medicaid Compliance Examinations, and Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO) Special Investigative Unit (SIU) reviews
• Representing providers at various states of the reimbursement appeal process, including ALJ and state Medicaid administrative hearings

Health Information Technology (HIT), Privacy and Security

• HIPAA/HITECH privacy and security, state confidentiality laws and 42 C.F.R. Part 2, with a special focus on compliance by both traditional healthcare and healthcare-adjacent entities handling sensitive information
• Breach response, including investigation, notification and process improvement
• Telehealth delivery model development and related multi-state licensing issues
• Federal and state remote prescribing issues related to telehealth delivery models, including when an in-person physical examination is required

Liam served as a law clerk for Chief Judge John R. Pera of Lake County Superior Court in Indiana.  He was also a judicial extern for The Honorable Algenon L. Marbley, United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

Liam received his J.D. magna cum laude from Valparaiso University School of Law, where he was the managing editor of the Valparaiso University Law Review.  He received his M.S. with distinction from Valparaiso University and his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.

Honors & Recognitions

Columbus CEO, Best Lawyers, Health Care, 2022

Professional & Community Activities

Leadership Columbus, Signature Program, Class of 2022

London Public Library, Board of Trustees, Member, 2019 to present; Secretary, 2020 to present

St. Charles Alumni Association Board, 2011–2015

Big Brothers, Big Sisters Project Mentor, Africentric Early College, 2011-2012