Practice Areas, Austin Administrative Law Attorneys

Sharp & Cobos, L.L.P. is a boutique law firm dedicated to the representation of health care professionals before their licensing Boards and in proceedings before collateral or third party entities such as hospitals, insurance companies, credentialing and peer review entities.

We represent Physicians, Dentists, Nurses, Psychologists, Pharmacists, Licensed Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Physical Therapists, Podiatrists, Chiropractors, Acupuncturists, Physician Assistants and other licensees in the Health Care field. In addition, we have represented Veterinarians, Land Surveyors and Professional Engineers in licensure and disciplinary matters.

The Firm is focused on the combined fields of Health Law and Administrative (government agency) Law and as a result, we represent clients in licensing and disciplinary matters before their licensing Boards.

Generally, the area of law dealing with state and federal governmental agencies is referred to as “administrative law”. State and federal agencies are created by enabling statutes which empower the agencies with enforcement of various statutory laws governing the health professions as well as enforcement of rules of practice and procedure created by individual agencies. Agencies, which are creations of the Legislature though a branch of the Executive Branch of government, have certain legal authority to create and enforce law through its express or implied rule making authority and to create and enforce agency policy. This area of law is specialized and has a separate distinction of specialization within the State Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization. To qualify for certification in administrative law, an attorney must demonstrate sufficient years of experience, including substantial involvement and special competence in administrative law (see www.TBLS.org for detailed requirements). Attorneys certified in administrative law must also demonstrate sufficient experience in contested case proceedings.

We represent our licensure clients from preliminary investigation, through formal investigation, informal settlement, mediation, formal hearing, and appeal. We accept engagement at all stages of the process.

Health care professionals typically face a variety of state and federal regulations governing or affecting their practice, including initial licensing or renewal issues, practice requirements regarding patient care and standard of care issues, reporting requirements, practice structure or corporate issues, and billing requirements to name a few areas. Other areas include substance abuse, psychiatric issues, physical health, communication issues with patients or colleagues, criminal charges and their effects upon a license, and ethical issues.

Health care professionals also face a variety of legal issues associated with third part entities such as specialty certification, hospital or insurance company credentialing or billing, third party peer review or practice review from the Texas Medical Foundation or other quality of care entities such as the Joint Commission. We represent providers in peer review proceedings at the health facility level, before Texas Medicaid in eligibility matters, Texas Medical Foundation (Medicare Quality Assurance) as well as drafting provider friendly Medical Staff Bylaws, reviewing provider employment contracts, advising criminal attorneys related to client needs, and representing a multi-specialty physician group of 120 + physicians in general healthcare matters for over 18 years.

We also proactively advise health care professionals as to how to reduce the risk of agency complaints, risk management issues, and psychiatric care or substance abuse issues.

Sharp & Cobos is experienced in all these areas and committed to quality and effective representation. Our attorneys have served in high ranking positions in several Health Care Agencies. Together we have an accumulated experience of 103 years in practice, 61 of those years in private practice.

Sharp & Cobos, L.L.P. is a boutique law firm handling all types of Administrative Law cases in Austin and throughout Texas. Our Austin Health Law Attorneys represent licensed professionals in proceedings before licensing boards, hospitals, and other third-party entities. Call (512) 473-2265 to have your case reviewed by an experienced Austin Administrative Law attorney at Sharp & Cobos, L.L.P.