Clay Countryman

Practice Areas

Healthcare

HIPAA Compliance

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association. Health Law Section

- Health Law Section: Chair (2021-2022); Chair Elect (2020-2021); Vice Chair (2019-2020); Vice Chair, Diversity & Inclusion Committee (2021-2022); Secretary (2018-2019); Council Member at Large, 2015-2018, ABA Health Law Section

- Medical-Legal Partnerships Work Group, Chair, 2015-present, ABA Health Law Section

- Vice Chair Health Care Reform Task Force, 2017-2019, ABA Health Law Section

- Physician Legal Issues Conference, Co-Chair 2014, 2015 and 2017, ABA Health Law Section

- ACO Task Force, Vice Chair, 2015-2016, ABA Health Law Section

- Business & Transactions Interest Group, Chair, 2014-2015, ABA Health Law Section

- eHealth, Privacy & Security Interest Group, Vice Chair, 2011-2012, ABA Health Law Section

- Emerging Issues Conference, Planning Committee, 2005-2006, ABA Health Law Section

American Bar Association, Veterans Legal Services Commission, Member, 2017-2018

American Bar Association, Section Offices Conference, Budget Task Force, 2023-present

American Bar Association, IOLTA Commission, 2023-present

Louisiana State Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education Committee

American Health Lawyers Association

Louisiana Medical Group Management Association

Louisiana Hospital Association, Society of Hospital Attorneys

Health Care Compliance Association

Louisiana Ambulatory Surgery Center Association

Career

Clay Countryman is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P. Mr. Countryman represents clients in all areas of the healthcare industry, with a primary focus on healthcare business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity investments, and other business transactions. Clay has extensive experience in advising healthcare clients on the Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, government investigations, and other health care fraud and compliance matters.

Clay has been legal counsel to several different types of healthcare providers and provider organizations, ranging from national and regional health systems, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, to specialty physician groups and physician clinics.

Clay has held several leadership positions with the American Bar Association, and is a former Chair of the ABA Health Law Section. Clay is also a nationally recognized speaker and author on healthcare legal topics.

Clay has assisted healthcare providers in structuring joint ventures and other transactions to promote business objectives while meeting compliance requirements of specific laws and regulations, such as the Stark Law, the Anti-Kickback Statute, Medicare and Medicaid coverage and reimbursement requirements, and licensure and accreditation requirements.

Education

Awards