Media Contact: Barrie Handy, 206.757.8494 or barriehandy@dwt.com
WASHINGTON, MAY 9, 2011 – Adam H. Greene, a 12-year health law veteran and key regulator at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agency responsible for HIPAA and health information technology (HIT) enforcement, will join the law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP in their Washington, D.C., office, effective May 16.
Over his past five years at HHS, Greene had a key role in administering and enforcing the HIPAA privacy, security, and breach notification rules. He is regarded as one of the preeminent national experts on these issues, speaking on behalf of HHS to consumer and industry associations at more than 15 conferences since the beginning of 2010.
“I’m looking forward to this next chapter in my career,” said Greene. “The ability to join the established health care practice at Davis Wright Tremaine and develop a top-tier HIPAA and HIT compliance practice advising the private sector is a great opportunity for me.”
Greene’s involvement at HHS during the evolution of HIPAA and related privacy and safety regulations has given him a keen understanding of the key role it plays in the health care community. At HHS, Greene was responsible for determining how the HIPAA rules apply to new and emerging health information technologies. Having created the model resolution agreement and corrective action plan for enforcing violations of HIPAA and negotiated the first formal HIPAA settlement, he was instrumental in the development of the current enforcement process.
“Adam brings an invaluable base of knowledge to our clients – an internal understanding of policy development and enforcement of HIPAA, health IT, and related regulations,” said Bob Homchick, chair of Davis Wright Tremaine’s health law practice. “He’ll be second-to-none when it comes to advising private-sector companies on building effective compliance models.”
Greene, the first traditional health care lawyer to join the law firm’s Washington, D.C., office, further cements the group’s national reputation with an east coast presence in the heart of the federal regulatory environment. Additionally, he provides a complementary practice to the firm’s D.C.-based communications team, which provides privacy and networking counsel to health care providers around the country.
“We’re looking forward to Adam joining the team,” said Homchick. “We feel extremely fortunate to have a lawyer of his reputation and experience join our practice, and it’s going to be exciting to build the practice even further.”
Prior to joining HHS in 2006, Greene spent seven years as a health care attorney with Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville, P.C. in Washington, D.C. He previously earned his juris doctor and master of public health degrees at George Washington University and his bachelor of arts in biology at Johns Hopkins University.
About Davis Wright Tremaine
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is a national law firm with more than 500 lawyers representing clients based throughout the United States and around the world. For more information, visit www.dwt.com.