Proven Legal Guidance For Behavioral Health Professionals
At Malecki Brooks Ford Law Group, LLC, we understand the complexities that health care professionals face in the rapidly evolving field of behavioral health. Since our establishment in 2017, our collective legal acumen spans over 300 years, providing a robust foundation to address your legal needs. We bring together a dynamic team of attorneys with a wealth of experience, including those who have served as in-house counsel and compliance officers within hospital environments. This multidisciplinary approach ensures comprehensive coverage for a range of legal concerns, from contract reviews and compliance issues to risk management and labor disputes.
We serve as your unwavering allies in the field of health care law. Serving the greater Chicago area, the state of Illinois, and clients across the Midwest and the nation from our office in Chicagoland, we are known for our fierce loyalty to health care providers. Our commitment to you is embodied in our six-pronged approach: empowering you, solving problems effectively, responding promptly, being mindful of your needs, ensuring cost-effectiveness and keeping you fully informed every step of the way.
Tailored Legal Support For Behavioral Health Practitioners
As attorneys dedicated to healthcare, we are intimately familiar with the unique challenges faced by behavioral health practitioners in both their clinical practice and business operations. Our seasoned team is equipped to guide Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Clinical Therapists, Psychologists and Psychoanalysts through the intricacies of contracts, scope of practice concerns, potential collaborations with other healthcare providers and malpractice defense. We are committed to providing you with tailored legal counsel that addresses the nuances of your profession.
Comprehensive Legal Solutions For Behavioral Health Organizations
Navigating the legal landscape for behavioral health organizations requires a partner who is not only knowledgeable but also deeply integrated into the healthcare sector. We offer expansive support for such entities, addressing a spectrum of legal issues from organizational governance and policy development to employment law, patient care concerns and defense in litigation.
We can assist behavioral health organizations with a wide range of concerns, including:
- Navigating the Illinois Mental Health Code
- Assuring compliance with the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act and other privacy and confidentiality laws and regulations
- Federal and state regulations relating to not-for-profit organizations
- Sales and acquisitions of mental health centers and behavioral health practices
- Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) issues
- Employment law training
Our proactive strategies aim to mitigate risks while fostering a secure environment for growth and success.
Where Does Malecki Brooks Ford Law Group, LLC, Work With Behavioral Health Practitioners And Organizations?
Malecki Brooks Ford Law Group, LLC, is based in Greater Chicago and serves clients throughout Chicagoland and Illinois. Our attorneys are licensed to practice in various states across the Midwest and nationwide. This allows us to assist behavioral health practitioners and organizations beyond Illinois.
Depending on the legal issue or issues involved, we may be able to help providers anywhere in the U.S. Behavioral health organizations should not hesitate to contact us and inquire if our attorneys can assist with their legal needs.
What Are Common Challenges Behavioral Health Organizations Face?
Behavioral health organizations deal with several complex challenges every day, but compliance tops the list. Compliance issues can quickly become overwhelming because organizations must navigate:
- Local, state and federal laws and regulations: In addition to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and federal privacy laws, organizations must comply with Illinois- or state-specific rules for mental health services.
- Patient care complexities: Behavioral health care often involves dual diagnoses, substance abuse issues or severe psychiatric conditions, requiring a delicate balance between patient rights and care standards.
- Mental health records requests: Protecting patient confidentiality while complying with legitimate record requests can be challenging to navigate.
Failure to stay compliant can result in investigations, lawsuits, fines or even loss of licenses. Licensing boards closely scrutinize behavioral health professionals. Allegations, even unfounded ones, can trigger stressful and expensive licensing defense proceedings.
How Can Behavioral Health Organizations Ensure Compliance For Telehealth Practices?
With the surge of telehealth over the last decade, new opportunities have abounded in behavioral health care. A minefield of changing regulations has also accompanied telehealth. Behavioral health providers must be ready for the following:
- Frequent regulatory updates: Illinois regularly updates what behavioral health services can be delivered via telehealth and under what conditions.
- Credentialing and licensure issues: If servicing patients outside Illinois, Chicago-based providers may need additional licensure.
- Privacy and security requirements: HIPAA-compliant technology is a must, especially when dealing with sensitive behavioral health information.
Because regulations change quickly, working with an experienced behavioral healthcare attorney is important. Our attorneys can help organizations set up compliant systems, audit current practices and quickly adapt and adjust when new rules emerge.
Ready To Assist You With Your Behavioral Health Legal Needs
If you are a health care professional seeking legal counsel that aligns with your commitment to excellence, contact our experienced attorneys today. The following attorneys serve behavioral health professionals:
We invite you to connect with us by calling 630-912-6146 or by submitting an inquiry through our online contact form. Allow us to be your advocates, ensuring that your legal concerns are handled with the utmost proficiency and care.