Samantha’s practice focuses on defending clients in government investigations and advising on a wide array of fraud and abuse and compliance matters. She represents health care companies and providers in investigations and enforcement actions conducted by various federal and state enforcement agencies, including the US Department of Justice and/or its US Attorneys’ Offices, as well as state attorneys general offices, among many others. Many such actions are initiated by qui tam complaints filed under the federal False Claims Act and allege violations of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law. Samantha has also represented clients in investigations involving consumer protection issues and COVID-related programs. She negotiates and coordinates settlements with state and federal agencies, as well as corporate integrity agreements with the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services.
In addition, Samantha advises clients on a wide variety of health care regulatory issues, including coverage, billing, and reimbursement, and arrangements with referral sources. She develops and implements compliance programs, structures and conducts internal investigations, advises on voluntary self-disclosure to government agencies, and defends administrative proceedings involving licensure and reimbursement issues, among other matters.
Samantha is actively involved in pro bono matters at Mintz and previously served on the firm’s Pro Bono Committee. She manages the firm’s participation in the Lawyers Clearinghouse Legal Clinic for the Homeless, through which Mintz attorneys provide legal representation to residents of Boston-area homeless shelters. Samantha also represents a wide variety of clients seeking pro bono services.
Experience
- Defended a diagnostics company in a national criminal and civil investigation involving multiple US Attorneys’ Offices and state attorneys general offices. The investigation involved alleged kickback issues and billing violations with respect to the Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE programs, among other federal health care programs.
- Represented a clinical laboratory in a False Claims Act investigation involving alleged violations of the Stark Law stemming from arrangements with referring physicians.
- Defended a provider in an investigation conducted by the Federal Trade Commission involving alleged consumer protection violations.
- Represented a health care company in a False Claims Act investigations involving alleged performance of, and billing of federal health care programs for, medically unnecessary services.
- Advised several hospitals on submissions of self-disclosures under the CMS Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol and settling those matters with the agency.
- Representing a provider in investigations by numerous attorneys general involving alleged violations of state consumer protection laws.
- Represented specialty laboratories in False Claims Act investigations in connection with the payment of processing and handling fees for specimen collection.
- Represented a large physician practice in several investigations, including alleged violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute and False Claims Act violations stemming from medically unnecessary procedures and arrangements with referring physicians.
- Conducted internal investigations of several health care providers and prepared self-disclosures to the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
- Represented several clinical laboratories and laboratory directors in administrative proceedings, opposing loss of CLIA certification and the imposition of the two-year owner/operator ban.
- Successfully opposed the OIG’s proposed exclusion of a physician from participation in federal health care programs.
- Settled numerous False Claims Act investigations without imposition of Corporate Integrity Agreements.
viewpoints
Unbridling the FTC and Giving POWER to the NYC People Introduced Legislation Would Expand Federal and Local Consumer Protection Enforcement
October 27, 2026 | Blog | By Hope Foster, Robert Kidwell, Samantha Kingsbury, Lexie Gallo-Cook, Jane Haviland, Melody Tangellamudi
Proposed legislation would expand FTC enforcement powers and New York City consumer protections, increasing civil penalties and private litigation risks.
DOJ Rejects Petition to Allow Labs to Compensate Employed Sales Reps Using Variable Compensation Under EKRA
October 13, 2026 | Blog | By Samantha Kingsbury, Karen Lovitch
DOJ denied ACLA’s EKRA rulemaking petition, signaling scrutiny of referral-based sales commissions and prompting labs to reassess compensation plans.
DOJ Fraud and Health Care Enforcement: Latest Priorities, Trends, and Compliance Considerations
July 31, 2026 | Webinar | By Karen Lovitch , Eoin Beirne, Samantha Kingsbury, Nick A. LaPalme
Watch Mintz's on-demand webinar on DOJ health care fraud and False Claims Act enforcement priorities, emerging risk areas, whistleblower trends, and compliance strategies for 2026.
Handy, But Not Quite “Up to” Snuff: FTC Commissioners Clash over “Up To” Earnings Claims and Scope of Penalty Offense Authority
July 17, 2026 | Blog | By Hope Foster, Lexie Gallo-Cook, Robert Kidwell, Jane Haviland, Samantha Kingsbury
The FTC's action against Handy over “up to” earnings claims serves as a reminder that the agency remains focused on seeking civil penalties, while internal disagreement persists over the scope of its penalty offense authority.
Consumer Protection or Business Protection: New York Updates Consumer Protection Law to Go Beyond Protecting Consumers
April 6, 2026 | Blog | By Hope Foster, Lexie Gallo-Cook, Robert Kidwell, Samantha Kingsbury, Sherwet H. Witherington
Kathy Hochul’s FAIR Business Practices Act significantly expands New York’s consumer protection law, broadening the NYAG’s enforcement authority over unfair and abusive practices—including in purely commercial conduct—with health care as a key priority.
FTC’s Launch of Healthcare Task Force: Expanded Enforcement and Policy Advocacy
March 25, 2026 | Blog | By Lexie Gallo-Cook, Hope Foster, Jane Haviland, Robert Kidwell, Samantha Kingsbury
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Andrew Ferguson announced the launch of a Healthcare Task Force on March 20, 2026, signaling a significant escalation in the FTC’s approach to healthcare oversight. The directive aligns with President Trump’s February 25, 2025 Executive Order, Making America Healthy Again by Empowering Patients with Clear, Accurate, and Actionable Healthcare Pricing Information (Executive Order), and reflects FTC’s intent to institutionalize and broaden healthcare enforcement while shaping policy moving forward.
Cognitive Dissonance II: Oral Arguments at Second Circuit in Quincy Bioscience’s Brain Health Dietary Supplements Case
March 11, 2026 | Blog | By Hope Foster, Robert Kidwell, Lexie Gallo-Cook, Samantha Kingsbury, Sherwet H. Witherington, Wali Miller
The Second Circuit weighs materiality under New York Executive Law Section 63(12), the scope of FTC injunctions, and the NYAG’s bid for damages in the Prevagen case.
Cognitive Dissonance: State and Federal Enforcers’ Case Against Brain Health Dietary Supplement Due For Oral Arguments at the Second Circuit
February 20, 2026 | Blog | By Hope Foster, Robert Kidwell, Lexie Gallo-Cook, Samantha Kingsbury, Sherwet H. Witherington
Legal battle over Prevagen heads to the Second Circuit as FTC and NYAG dispute nationwide injunction, state authority, and standards for dietary supplement claims.
The Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act in 2025: New Developments and New Questions for Laboratory Sales Compensation — EnforceMintz
January 20, 2026 | Article | By David Gilboa, Samantha Kingsbury, Karen Lovitch
Learn the latest on EKRA enforcement and compensation rules for laboratory sales and marketing employees after the Ninth Circuit’s Schena decision. Explore DOJ’s stance, open compliance questions, and similar state law impacting clinical laboratories.
Cybersecurity-Related Enforcement Under the False Claims Act in 2025: New Settlements, Same Lessons — EnforceMintz
January 20, 2026 | Article | By Keshav Ahuja, Samantha Kingsbury
Discover key False Claims Act cybersecurity enforcement trends from 2025, including major DOJ settlements with defense contractors and health care companies. Learn best practices for compliance, self-disclosure, and risk mitigation as enforcement intensifies in 2026.
News & Press
Mintz is pleased to announce that 143 attorneys were recognized in the 2027 editions of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. The firm had 104 attorneys recognized in Best Lawyers and 39 recognized in Ones to Watch. In addition, four Mintz attorneys received the prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” designation, an honor awarded to only one attorney per practice area and geographic region.
Special Report: The 2024 Lab Enforcement Landscape
August 29, 2024|
Healthcare Enforcement & Litigation 2022
August 27, 2021|
2017 Health Care Enforcement Review: Final Thoughts
January 19, 2018|
Health Care Enforcement Review And 2017 Outlook: Part 2
January 17, 2017|
What Is The Anti-Kickback Statute?
January 1, 2015|
podcasts
Health Law Diagnosed – New Year's Gratitude
February 3, 2025 | Podcast | By Bridgette Keller, Alison H. Peters, Samantha Kingsbury, Theresa Carnegie, Joanne Hawana , Abdie Santiago, Stephnie John, Pamela Polevoy, Karen Lovitch , Jean D. Mancheno, Deborah Daccord, Rachel A. Alexander, Jane Haviland, David Gilboa, Kathryn Edgerton, Hassan Shaikh, Madison Castle, Laurence Freedman, Priyanka Amirneni, Samantha Hawkins, Tara E. Dwyer, Rachel Yount, Sophia Temis, Xavier Hardy
Host Of Counsel Bridgette Keller invites the Mintz Health Law team to reflect on what they’re grateful for as they prepare for the year ahead. Hear from a dynamic group of Members, Of Counsel, and Associates as they share their perspectives on what’s coming up over the horizon.
Mintz Health Law: What We Are Grateful For
January 11, 2023 | Podcast | By Bridgette Keller
Bridgette Keller speaks with the Mintz Health Law team about what they are grateful for as they look back on a year of client service, mentorship, and working together as a team.
Events & Speaking
DOJ Fraud and Health Care Enforcement: Latest Priorities, Trends, and Compliance Considerations
Virtual Event
Publications
Co-author, What Is...The Anti-Kickback Statute?, Second Edition, Published by the American Bar Association (2022)
Read lessRecognition & Awards
The Best Lawyers in America: Health Care Law (2027)
Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch – Health Care Law (2026)
Massachusetts Super Lawyers: Rising Star – Health Care (2017 – 2019)
Phi Beta Kappa
Involvement
- Member, American Health Lawyers Association
Recent Insights
