Lauren's practice focuses on advising clients through complex health care transactions and regulatory matters. She has served as health care counsel on numerous private equity and strategic transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, affiliations, and investments involving pharmacies, PBMs, physician practices, long-term care facilities, third-party payors, value-based contracting entities, nurse staffing companies, and health care technology firms.
Lauren’s deal work is complimented by her regulatory practice, which primarily focuses on advising pharmacies, PBMs, managed care organizations and other clients in the payor space. Drawing from her experience working for the Federal Coordinated Health Care Office (the “Duals Office”) within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), she is able to provide practical advice to clients on regulatory and compliance issues relating to Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Medicaid. She has advised clients on Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D applications, audit appeals, contract negotiations, Medicaid managed care RFPs, and payment issues.
Lauren’s regulatory practice also focuses on compliance with the anti-kickback statute, corporate practice of medicine and fee-splitting prohibitions, telemedicine, and prescribing and licensing requirements (including change of ownership requirements).
Prior to her tenure with CMS, she was a research consultant with a health care consulting company in the Washington, DC area, working primarily with state Medicaid agencies and Medicaid managed care plans.
Experience
- Counseled private equity sponsors on health care acquisitions, including fraud and abuse issues, licensure, change of ownership, and payor matters.
- Served as health care regulatory counsel to several banks and lenders in debt financing transactions, including advising on the impact of corporate practice of medicine and other health care regulatory matters on the credit agreement and accompanying deal documents.
- Provided health care regulatory counsel to Cornell Capital in its acquisitions of Trustaff and CardioSolution, as well as the acquisitions of various nurse staffing companies by Ingenovis Health.
- Advised national pharmacy chain in multiple specialty pharmacy and long-term care pharmacy acquisitions.
- Advised venture capital and private equity firms on Series C and minority investments in various health care technology firms and value-based contracting entities.
- Represented Sanford Health, a nonprofit integrated health delivery system, in its affiliation with The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, a nonprofit long-term care provider. Our representation primarily focused on assisting Sanford in navigating the change of ownership filings for the Society’s licenses and Medicare and Medicaid filings.
- Conducted the due diligence and provided state and federal regulatory research and analysis in connection with TPG’s acquisition of Convey Health Solutions, a specialized health care technology company that provides health plan administration, supplemental benefits administration, and consulting services to health plans.
- Advised a global health care company on a variety of issues in connection with its acquisition of several health plans and provider groups, including health care regulatory due diligence, health care regulatory advice regarding transaction structure and strategy, and preparation of regulatory notices and other filings.
- Served as regulatory counsel to a consortium of investors led by TPG Capital and Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe in their $4.1 billion acquisition of Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: KND). The transaction was recognized by The Deal as the 2018 Private Equity Deal of the Year.
- Advised a consortium of investors led by TPG Capital and Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe in their $1.4 billion acquisition of Curo Health Services.
viewpoints
Medicaid Best Price 101: A Review of Medicaid Best Price Policy and New CMS Guidance on Medicaid Best Price Reporting for Value Based Purchasing Arrangements
April 26, 2022 | Blog | By Lauren Moldawer, Stephnie John
At the end of March 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance to drug manufacturers and states on reporting Medicaid Best Price under value based purchasing (VBP) arrangements (Medicaid Best Price Guidance or Guidance). This Guidance follows CMS’ final rule issued on December 31, 2020 (Final Rule) responding to criticism that Medicaid Best Price requirements are hindering the use of VBP arrangements. The Final Rule and Guidance will go into effect on July 1, 2022, allowing manufacturers to report multiple best prices for VBP arrangements so long as the manufacturer offers the VBP arrangement to state Medicaid programs. This blog post will begin with a “101” on the Medicaid Best Price Policy, and then delve into an overview of the Final Rule, including the surrounding criticism from stakeholders; summarize the Medicaid Best Price Guidance; and discuss the potential impact of this change on states and manufacturers
Removing Barriers to Second Chances
January 24, 2022 | Article
Building on the Success of Medicare-Medicaid Plans, CMS Proposes Modifications for D-SNPs
January 14, 2022 | Blog | By Lauren Moldawer, Stephnie John
The Biden Administration Releases Part II of its No Surprise Act Regulations, Sparking Criticism by Provider Groups
October 7, 2021 | Blog | By Lauren Moldawer
Biden Administration’s Drug Pricing Plan Calls for Bold Action by Congress
September 10, 2021 | Blog | By Joanne Hawana , Theresa Carnegie, Lauren Moldawer
Biden Administration Takes Aim at Rising Drug Prices through its Executive Order on Promoting Competition
July 20, 2021 | Blog | By Theresa Carnegie, Lauren Moldawer
Biden Administration Release Part 1 of its Regulations Targeting Surprise Billing
July 7, 2021 | Blog | By Lauren Moldawer
The provisions of the IFR apply to group health plans, health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage, and carriers in the FEHB Program (collectively, health plans), as well as certain health care facilities. The majority of the requirements in the IRF will be effective January 1, 2022. Below, we outline the major provisions of the IFR.
Bioethics in a Pandemic: Laying the Foundation for the Draft Framework for Equitable Allocation of a COVID-19 Vaccine
September 3, 2020 | Blog | By Bridgette Keller, Lauren Moldawer
CMS Proposes Significant Changes to Medicare Advantage & Part D for 2021 and Beyond, Part 2: CMS Proposes to Codify Supplemental Benefit Rules and Update MLR
February 25, 2020 | Blog | By Tara E. Dwyer, Lauren Moldawer
CMS Proposes Significant Changes to Medicare Advantage & Part D for 2021 and Beyond, Part 1: Updates to the Star Rating System and Suspension of the Past Performance Methodology
February 13, 2020 | Blog | By Tara E. Dwyer, Lauren Moldawer
News & Press
HHS Restructuring and Workforce Reductions
June 1, 2025|
Pharmacies, PBMs at Odds over Proposed Change to Part D Contracting Rule
February 28, 2025|
CMS Reiterates Drug Negotiation Guidance Ahead of Participation Deadline
February 27, 2025|
Mintz Advises TPG in Strategic Partnership with Surescripts
October 4, 2024|
CMS Star Capitulation Shows Up MA Shortcomings, Analysts Say
June 17, 2024|
Mintz Facilitates $3.7 Billion Deal For The Cigna Group
January 31, 2024|
Mintz Announces Record Member Growth in 2023
December 22, 2023|
4 Pharma Industry Arguments Against CMS Drug Pricing Plan
September 29, 2023|
Mintz Advises Kindred at Home in $5.7 Billion Sale to Humana
August 23, 2021|
Mintz Advising Consortium in $4+ Billion Acquisition of Kindred Healthcare
December 21, 2017|
podcasts
Health Law Diagnosed — Mintz Health Law Team: Reflecting on What We Are Grateful For
February 5, 2024 | Podcast | By Bridgette Keller
As the Mintz Health Law team welcomes the beginning of 2024, many of its members take a moment to reflect on the exciting growth of the Health Law Practice, opportunities to partner with clients on complex legal issues, and the celebration of numerous milestones.
Health Law Diagnosed: Transactions Part 2: Health Regulatory Diligence and How to Prepare for a Sell-Side Transaction
March 24, 2022 | Podcast | By Tara E. Dwyer, Xavier Hardy, Bridgette Keller, Lauren Moldawer, Cassandra Paolillo, Kate Stewart
Health regulatory diligence has the ability to make or break a deal. Listen to hear about our team’s firsthand experience in the importance of conducting health regulatory diligence and best practices in preparing for a sell-side transaction.
Health Law Diagnosed — Transactions Part 1: Regulatory Trends in Recent Health Care Transactions
March 3, 2022 | Podcast | By Xavier Hardy, Bridgette Keller, Lauren Moldawer, Cassandra Paolillo, Kate Stewart
Events & Speaking
Legal, Regulatory and Contractual Issues When Structuring Value-Based Agreements
14th Association for Value-Based Cancer Care Summit
New York, NY
Recognition & Awards
Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch – Health Care Law (2024, 2025)
Legal 500 United States: Healthcare – Service Providers (2025)

