Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville’s position at the forefront of issues that impact the healthcare arena lends us tremendous insight and provides our clients a decided advantage in matters concerning federal statutes and compliance requirements relating to public health and environmental laws.
Attorneys in PPSV’s public health practice represent healthcare providers, municipalities, drinking and waste water utilities, flood and storm water management districts and numerous public health agencies before Congress and various regulatory bodies such as the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. PPSV’s experience representing large municipal water systems spans more than two decades; the firm is recognized nationally for its base of knowledge and skill in issues arising under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act.
We assist healthcare clients to meet their obligations under various environmental programs at the state and federal levels, including the proper handling and disposal of medical wastes and other solid and hazardous wastes. Our attorneys possess considerable experience with all federal regulations and requirements relating to water pollution control matters.
Additionally, our reputation and experience has led trade associations and individual municipalities to seek out PPSV for counsel regarding their compliance obligations under increasingly complicated regulatory programs.
Leaders at the Intersection of Healthcare Law and Homeland Security
Long before the tragedy of September 11, 2001, PPSV had been actively working with the US government and with clients on issues that involved potential threats to our country and to our citizens as a result of the tumultuous events occurring all over the world.
As early as the 1980s, our attorneys routinely helped clients address concerns such as vaccine injury and compensation issues and critical infrastructure protection issues. A PPSV professional scheduled and staffed the first hearing in the United States Senate devoted to preparedness for epidemics and bioterrorism in June 1998, well before 9/11. This foresight prepared us far better than most to assist healthcare providers and public health and safety agencies in meeting new challenges in today’s era of heightened security risk.
PPSV has the further distinction of being one of the only law firms in the country to establish an “information sharing and analysis center,” called an “ISAC” in Homeland Security parlance, for clients. This internet-based tool is a secure site where critical threat and response information can be shared between the public and private sectors.
With our background in matters related to public health security, PPSV has broadened our scope of services to include assistance with the multitude of new laws and regulations enacted in the wake of 9/11, among them:
- Facility protection and other emergency preparedness issues for healthcare institutions and personnel
- Bioterrorism research and training
- Funding opportunities in the field of security-related education and training
- Emergency preparedness for specific crises and situations affecting the greater community, including pandemics, toxic exposures such as anthrax and food-borne and water-borne contaminants
- Issues of public awareness, education and communication
As a function of our role as leaders at the intersection of healthcare law and security, our attorneys routinely collaborate with colleagues across many disciplines and in a variety of public health capacities. Our advocacy on behalf of our clients is enhanced through our ongoing working relationships with public health policy makers, elected officials, government agencies and members of the law enforcement, judicial and emergency management communities and many others whose involvement touches on healthcare law and policy.
We assist our clients in avoiding liability and maintaining compliance with the myriad of regulatory changes spawned by new laws governing a wide range of diverse matters that impact healthcare providers and healthcare-related entities. We also remain sensitive to the costs involved and the liability potential associated with implementation of new compliance regulations.
