David Winker on "Offshoring" and the Health Care Industry

Florida Medical Business published an article by David Winker on recent clarifications to Medicare policy concerning payment for medical servicesperformed outside of the United States. In the article, Mr.Winker outlined the controversy surrounding the "offshoring" of health care services and discussed the federal government's policy concerning non-payment for services performed outside of the United States. Despite pressure from certain segments of the health care industry, the federal government recently reiterated its position that Medicare reimbursement would not be available for such services. Mr. Winker cautioned Medicare providers to carefully review their arrangements with health care and other service providers that outsource outside of the United States in order to ensure compliance with this Medicare policy.

Zumpano Patricios & Winker Expands Firm With New Income Partner

An article in the Coral Gables Gazette today cited the expansion of Zumpano Patricios & Winker, P.A. through the addition of Tania Carreno-Mederos, who joined the firm as an Income Partner. Carreno-Mederos focuses her practice on representing physician groups, health care facilities and ancillary service companies in regulatory and transactional matters. Prior to joining the firm, she practiced law at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholas Graham in Miami. In addition, she served as an assistant Miami-Dade County attorney at the Public Health Trust/Jackson Memorial Hospital where she represented Jackson Memorial Hospital for more than eight years. "We are pleased to have Tania join our firm," said Joseph Zumpano, the firm's president and managing shareholder. "Her extensive experience in the health care field will certainly complement the firm's substantial health law practice." Carreno-Mederos is a member of the Florida Bar. She received her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from the University of Miami and her Juris Doctor from Cornell Law School. Carreno-Mederos resides in Miami.

Horecia Walker Weighs in on Jury Selection

Author: Curt Anderson

Horecia Walker was quoted in an article today on jury selection in the trial of John Evander Couey, who faces the death penalty in connection with the slaying of Jessica Lunsford. The trial was moved from Citrus County, where the crime occurred, to Broward County because of extensive pretrial media coverage. The article noted that Couey's taped confession was thrown out by a judge because Couey hadn't been allowed to consult a lawyer as he had requested. Ms. Walker, a former Public Defender in Broward County, indicated that she believed that "the prosecution still has a very strong case.  here is a lot of physical evidence. I think the prosecution has a very good chance of winning." Ms. Walker further indicated that despite the fact that the intense pretrial publicity has resulted in many people in Miami being familiar with the case, "it's still likely an impartial jury can be seated in such a large and diverse urban area" as South Florida." With respect to the lawyer's jury selection strategy, Ms. Walker stated that because this is a very emotional case "both sides are going to look for jurors who, despite their sympathies, are able to render a fair and impartial verdict."