Suzanne J. Scrutton
Practice Areas
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Health Care
- Academic Medical Centers
- Behavioral Health Care, Developmental Disabilities and Child Welfare
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Health Care Litigation
- Health Care Antitrust Litigation
- Health Care False Claims Act Actions/Civil and Criminal Investigations
- Privacy and Security of Health Information, HIPAA Compliance and Health Information Technology for Private and Public Providers
- Provider and Patient Rights/Medicare/Medicaid
- Regulatory Compliance Challenges/Licensure and Certification
- Reimbursement, Contract, and Fraud and Abuse
- Health Care Regulatory Practice
- Hospice and Palliative Care Providers
- Hospitals/Health Care Operations
- Joint Ventures/Hospital-Physician Collaborations
- Long Term Care Facilities
- Managed Care
- Privacy and HIPAA Compliance/Health Information Technology
- Reimbursement Counseling/Fraud and Abuse Compliance
- State and Federal Health Care Government Relations
- Labor and Employment
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Litigation
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Health Care Litigation
- Health Care Antitrust Litigation
- Health Care False Claims Act Actions/Civil and Criminal Investigations
- Privacy and Security of Health Information, HIPAA Compliance and Health Information Technology for Private and Public Providers
- Provider and Patient Rights/Medicare Litigation
- Regulatory Compliance Challenges/Licensure and Certification
- Reimbursement, Contract, and Fraud and Abuse Litigation
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Health Care Litigation
Industries
Education
- Capital University Law School, J.D., 1989
Capital University Law Review, Member, 1987-1989, Executive Articles Editor, 1988-1989 - Albion College, B.A.,1986, cum laude with Honors
Bar & Court Admissions
Suzanne is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and chair of the health care group. She has experience representing providers in the fields of long term care, behavioral health and developmental disabilities. Suzanne has extensive experience with regulatory issues, Medicaid reimbursement and regulations, as well as contract negotiations with various payor sources. She represents several statewide health care provider trade associations and their many members. Most recently, she was elected by her peers to serve on the Board of Directors of the American Health Law Association (the AHLA).
Her notable experience includes:
- Initiated successful litigation on behalf of providers of behavioral health services challenging the contracting practices of certain County Boards of Mental Health and Recovery Services
- Initiated successful litigation on behalf of providers of services to the developmentally disabled challenging the right of County Boards of DD to require contracts as a condition of participation in Ohio's Medicaid program
- Assisted Medicaid providers in navigating and defending audits by various governmental authorities, including the Ohio Department of Medicaid, the Ohio Auditor of State, the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
- On behalf of providers and trade association, participated in drafting and negotiating comprehensive overhaul of Ohio's Medicaid DD reimbursement system
- Participated in numerous Administrative Proceedings and other litigation involving licensure, certification, revocation and suspension of certification, granting or denying of certificates of need, and other regulatory issues concerning providers in the long term care, developmental disabilities, and behavioral health systems
- Provided counsel and guidance to several health care trade associations during Ohio's biennial budget process, relative to complex Medicaid reimbursement and health care regulatory issues
Suzanne received her J.D. from Capital University Law School where she was a member and executive articles editor of the Capital University Law Review. She received her B.A. cum laude with honors from Albion College.
Before joining Vorys, Suzanne served as chief legal counsel for the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services and legal counsel to the Ohio Office of Budget and Management and the State Controlling Board.
Professional and Community Activities
- American Health Law Association, National Board of Directors
- American Health Law Association, Behavioral Health Task Force, Chair 2015-2018, Vice Chair 2014-2015
- Friendship Village of Columbus, Board of Trustees, Secretary
- New Directions Career Center, Board of Directors
- New Directions Career Center, Governance Committee, Chair
- Prevent Blindness Ohio, Board of Trustees, Corporate Counsel, 2006-2012
- Ohio Human Rights Bar Association, Board of Trustees, 1995-2000; President, 1997-1999
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America, Health Care Law, 2016-2022
- Chambers and Partners, Leading Lawyer in Health Care, 2013-2021
News
- 8/19/2021One hundred and sixteen lawyers from Vorys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America® 2022 edition. In addition, 34 Vorys attorneys were named to the 2022 Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” list.
- 5/20/2021Vorys is pleased to announce that 33 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2021 edition of Chambers USA .
- 8/20/2020One hundred and twelve lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America® 2021 edition. In addition, 26 Vorys attorneys were named to the inaugural Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” list.
- 5/13/2020Vorys is pleased to announce that Suzanne J. Scrutton, a partner in the Columbus office and member of the health care group, has been elected by her peers to the Board of Directors of the American Health Law Association (AHLA – formerly the American Health Lawyers Association).
- 4/23/2020Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease is pleased to announce that 30 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2020 edition of Chambers USA.
- 8/15/2019One hundred and thirteen lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2020.
- 4/26/2019Vorys announced that 30 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2019 edition of Chambers USA.
- 8/15/2018One hundred and thirteen lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019.
- 5/4/2018Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease is pleased to announce that 32 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2018 edition of Chambers USA.
- 8/17/2017One hundred and eight lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2018.
- 5/26/2017Vorys announced that 30 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2017 edition of Chambers USA.
- 8/15/2016One-hundred and eleven lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017.
- 7/19/2016Vorys announced that Suzanne J. Scrutton, a partner in the Columbus office and member of the health care group, has been elected by her peers as chair of the American Health Lawyers Association’s Behavioral Health Task Force.
- 5/27/2016Vorys announced that 36 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2016 edition of Chambers USA.
- 8/17/2015One-hundred and eighteen lawyers from Vorys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016.
- 7/7/2015Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease is pleased to announce that Lisa Pierce Reisz and Suzanne Scrutton, partners in the Columbus office and members of the health care group, have been appointed to leadership roles within the American Health Lawyers Association.
- 5/19/2015Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease is pleased to announce that 39 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2015 edition of Chambers USA.
- 5/23/2014Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease is pleased to announce that 39 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2014 edition of Chambers USA.
- 10/29/2013Vorys is pleased to announce that Suzanne Scrutton, a partner in the Columbus office and a member of the health care group, has been named as a vice-chair of the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) Behavioral Health Task Force.
- 5/24/2013Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease is pleased to announce that 39 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2013 edition of Chambers USA. Chambers USA conducts in-depth research and ranks the leading firms and attorneys in an extensive range of practice areas throughout America.
Events
- 6/17/2020Liam Gruzs, Suzanne Scrutton and Mairi Mull presented a webinar discussing the recently allocated $15 Billion by The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services CARES Act provider relief fund to Medicaid providers.
- 1/22/2020Liam Gruzs and Suzanne Scrutton, partners in the Vorys health care group, presented a complimentary webinar on January 22, 2020 which discussed regulatory compliance issues that behavioral health care providers may face as they enter the new year.
- 4/24/2019Vorys Attorneys Suzanne Scrutton and Evelyn Stratton participated in a convener session hosted by the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) on April 24, 2019 in Washington, D.C.
- 4/5/2019Vorys Attorneys Suzanne Scrutton and Liam Gruzs spoke at the Ohio Provider Resource Association (OPRA) Spring Conference on April 5, 2019.
- 10/25/2018On October 25-26, 2018, several Vorys attorneys presented at the 2018 Ohio Provider Resource Association Fall Conference.
- 5/7/2018Nine Vorys attorneys presented at The Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers Compliance Training on May 7, 2018.
- 5/9/2017Vorys Partner Suzanne Scrutton was a speaker at an Investment in Behavioral Health webinar hosted by the Behavioral Health Task Force of the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) on May 9, 2017.
- 10/20/2016Several Vorys attorneys were speakers at the 2016 Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Service Providers Annual Conference on October 20-21, 2016.
- 5/2/2016Vorys Partner Suzanne Scrutton was a panel speaker at the 2016 American Network of Community Options and Resources Conference on May 2, 2016.
- 4/15/2016Vorys Partner Suzanne Scrutton and Vorys Health Care Advisors President Maureen Corcoran participated in a panel at the Institute on Medicare and Medicaid Payment Issues hosted by the American Health Lawyers Association on April 15, 2016.
- 7/16/2015Vorys Partner Suzanne Scrutton and Vorys Health Care Advisors President Maureen Corcoran presented a webinar titled “CMS Regulations Regarding Managed Care” on July 16, 2015.
- 5/8/2015Vorys attorneys Matt Albers, Robin Canowitz, Lisa Reisz, Amanda Roe and Suzanne Scrutton were speakers at The Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers Compliance Training on May 8, 2015.
- 3/25/2015Vorys partner Suzanne Scrutton served as a moderator for the Institute for Medicare and Medicaid Payment Issues Conference hosted by the America Health Lawyers Association on March 25, 2015.
- 10/21/2014Vorys Health Care Advisors professionals, Maureen Corcoran and Daphne Saneholtz, along with Vorys attorneys Suzanne Scrutton and Robin Canowitz presented at the 2014 OPRA Fall Conference on October 21, 2014.
- 10/2/2014Vorys attorneys Lisa Reisz, Robin Canowitz and Suzanne Scrutton presented at the Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers Annual Conference on October 2, 2014.
- 5/19/2014Vorys partner Suzanne Scrutton and Maureen Corcoran, president of Vorys Health Care Advisors will be presenting at the Ohio Assisted Living Association Spring Conference on May 19, 2014.
- 5/15/2014Vorys partner Suzanne Scrutton and Maureen Corcoran, president of Vorys Health Care Advisors, presented at the Long-Term Care Conference on May 14, 2014.
- 10/2/2013Vorys partner Suzanne Scrutton and members of Vorys Health Care Advisors’ Maureen Corcoran and Daphne Saneholtz presented at the Ohio Provider Resource Association Annual Fall Conference on October 8, 2013.
- 2/21/2013Vorys Health Care Advisors professionals, Maureen Corcoran and Daphne Saneholtz, along with Vorys attorneys Suzanne Scrutton and Karen Cincione, presented How the Governor’s Executive Budget Impacts Providers on February 21.
- 11/5/2012Vorys partner Suzanne Scrutton, along with Maureen Corcoran and Daphne Saneholtz of Vorys Health Care Advisors, spoke at the Ohio Assisted Living Association Fall Conference on November 5, 2012.
- 9/25/2012Vorys partner Suzanne Scrutton, along with Maureen Corcoran and Daphne Saneholtz of Vorys Health Care Advisors, spoke at the 2012 Ohio Provider Resource Association Fall Conference on September 25, 2012.
- 10/25/2011
- 10/20/2010
Insights
- 8/20/2021On August 18, 2021, President Biden announced that his administration will require Medicare and Medicaid-participant nursing homes to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations or risk losing Medicare and Medicaid funding.
- 3/12/2021On March 10, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued updated guidance for nursing homes to safely expand visitation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 12/2/2020On November 30, 2020, the State of Ohio announced a new grant program to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 by improving indoor air quality at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and adult day care centers.
- 10/9/2020On October 8, 2020, two weeks after Governor DeWine announced it during a COVID-19 press conference, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) posted the new order for indoor visitation for “homes” as defined under Ohio Revised Code 3721.01, including residential care/assisted living facilities and nursing homes.
- 5/20/2020The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OMHAS) has published guidance for behavioral health providers preparing to restart in-person services.
- 5/8/2020On May 6, 2020, CMS issued Quality, Safety, and Oversight (QSO) letter 20-29-NH, explaining the Interim Final Rule’s new COVID-19 reporting and notification requirements.
- 5/5/2020On April 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published an interim final rule with comment period (IFC) that, among other things, adds new COVID-19-related reporting requirements to the Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for long-term care facilities (LTCFs).
- 4/21/2020On April 14, 2020, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) submitted a request for the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to approve a State Plan Amendment (SPA) and waivers of specified regulatory requirements.
- 4/16/2020
- 4/1/2020On March 30, 2020, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued 18 blanket waivers of sanctions under the physician self-referral law (Stark) to provide vital flexibility for physicians and providers in the fight against COVID-19.
- 3/31/2020This Health Care Alert includes a brief overview of the provisions of the recently signed HB 197 that impact Ohio health care providers.
- 3/23/2020
- 3/20/2020Emergency rules, issued early this afternoon by the Ohio Department of Medicaid, expand and enhance access to telehealth services.
- 3/19/2020Today, March 19, 2020, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced he will be issuing an executive order authorizing the Department of Medicaid (ODM) to promulgate emergency rules which will expand access to telehealth.
- 3/10/2020On January 10, 2020, the Department of Justice announced that a Kentucky woman admitted in federal court that she solicited kickbacks from a toxicology laboratory in exchange for urine drug testing referrals, lied to law enforcement agents about the kickback she received, and then attempted to cover up the kickback by requesting the alteration of certain financial records.
- 8/15/2017Congressmen Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Tim Murphy (R-PA) recently introduced the Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act (the act), a measure that would align the Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records regulations (42 C.F.R. Part 2) with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended (HIPAA).
- 3/15/2017On March 6, 2017, House Republicans released the American Health Care Act (AHCA), their plan to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).
- 1/25/2017For the first time in nearly 30 years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has updated the Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records regulations (42 C.F.R. Part 2).
- 2/11/2016On Tuesday, the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) published a proposed rule which would amend the Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records regulations, found in 42 C.F.R. Part 2.
- 12/18/2015Ohio’s biennial budget bill for FY 2016-2017 (Am. Sub. H.B. 64) added Section 5124.70 to the Ohio Revised Code. This section, which was effective September 29, 2015, prohibits, with limited exceptions , an ICF/IID from allowing more than two residents to share a sleeping room.
- 6/18/2015Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published proposed rules relative to Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) that may increase access to Medicaid behavioral health services through Medicaid managed care programs.
- 1/15/2015Health Care Alert: Federal Court Strikes Down DOL’s New Companionship Services Exemption RegulationsNew U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) regulations concerning the companionship services exemption to the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) were scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2015.
- 10/17/2014One person with Ebola, technically known as the Ebola hemorrhagic virus, and sometimes called the Ebola Virus Disease, has died in the United States. Two others, health care workers who treated the first patient, have been diagnosed with the illness.
- 7/15/2014Each year, Medicare makes additions and deletions to its annual physician fee schedule (PFS). Medicare recently released a proposed rule for calendar year 2015 which includes an expansion of some telemedicine health services. Under the proposed rule, Medicare will expand payment for certain mental health and medical services that are furnished via telemedicine.
- 6/9/2014On Wednesday, June 11, 2014, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will hold a public listening session to solicit information regarding the Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records Regulations, 42 C.F.R. Part 2. Under these regulations, a federally assisted substance abuse program generally may only release identifiable patient information related to substance abuse treatment services with the individual’s express consent.
- 3/27/2014On March 20, 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) posted a “Transition Plan Toolkit” to assist states in developing their Home and Community-Based Settings (HCBS) 1915(c) waiver and section 1915(i) state plan amendment or renewal application(s) so that they comply with new requirements in the HCBS Final Rule, released earlier this year.
- 1/29/2014The Office of Inspector General posted OIG Advisory Opinion No. 14-01 on January 21, 2014 in response to a nonprofit senior housing and geriatric care provider’s question of whether it may pay an independent placement agency a fee for referring new residents to certain of its facilities. Despite concerns that the arrangement could potentially generate prohibited remuneration under the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), the OIG found that the facts and circumstances of the arrangement sufficiently mitigated any fraud and abuse risks.
- 1/27/2014In a recently published final rule, CMS established the requirements for settings that may be eligible sites for the delivery of reimbursable Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) provided under sections 1915(c), 1915(i) and 1915(k) of the Medicaid statute.
- 12/20/2013The Ohio Supreme Court issued a decision today confirming the constitutionality of the state's decision to expand the Medicaid program through an action of the Controlling Board. The Court rejected a constitutional challenge made by six legislators.
- 8/1/2013The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently published a final rule that adds a new Condition of Participation that requires long-term care facilities that choose to arrange for the provision of hospice care with one or more Medicare-certified hospice providers to have in place a written agreement with the hospice that specifies the roles and responsibilities of each entity.
- 1/18/2013On January 15, 2013, the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) issued guidance to intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF/IID) regarding the state-wide assessments that will be completed by DODD during the first quarter of calendar year 2013.
- 11/14/2012The licensure process for intermediate care facilities (ICFs) currently licensed by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) as nursing homes has recently changed. ICF providers who are currently licensed by the ODH as nursing homes will need to apply for a residential facility license through the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) by February 1, 2013.
- 4/4/2012As we discussed in a prior client alert, the Ohio Certificate of Need (CON) Program was changed to permit some inter-county bed relocations. Historically, Ohio CON law has prohibited relocating long-term care beds across county lines.
- 8/13/2010
- 7/20/2010
- 5/5/2010
- 11/11/2008
- 5/25/2000