Representing health care providers has been a critical mission at Nexsen Pruet for six decades. Matthew Robert’s dedication to continuing that tradition is why firm leadership selected him to Chair the firm’s Health Care Practice Group.
Matthew’s Practice
Matthew has assisted providers in virtually every aspect of the health care business. Typically, his engagements are focused on:
- Healthcare affiliations and joint ventures
- Physician/hospital relationships
- Managed care issues
- Stark/Anti-Kickback laws
- General compliance matters
- Health care contracts
- Board governance
- Regulation of tax-exempt hospitals
- False claims analysis and defense
- Health care legislation and regulation
Matthew has set up single service agreements, developed integrated physician networks and established other collaborative arrangements between health care providers.
Matthew collaborates with clients to create and implement strategic plan and has extensive experience advising clients on affiliations, joint ventures, and purchase and sales. He also advises physician relationships, health care provider Boards on matters including executive compensation, conflict of interest policies and Board involvement in compliance and quality related issues.
Matthew also works with health care clients on ways to minimize their exposure compliance risk caused by the myriad of regulatory requirements found in the health care industry and to create a "culture of compliance" implemented on a system-wide basis.
Matthew also routinely works with providers to assist them in resolving payment and billing disputes with various types of payors.
The Credentials
Matthew earned his undergraduate degree in International Relations, magna cum laude, from the University of South Carolina, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he was a member of the South Carolina Law Review and of the Order of the Wig and Robe. He is an active member of the American Health Lawyers Association, the Health Care Compliance Association, and the American Bar Association.
- University of South Carolina, J.D., 1995
- University of South Carolina, B.A., 1990
- South Carolina
- North Carolina
- SCBIO Board Member, 2020
- Healthy Learners - Board Member, Chairman (2016-2020)
- Carolina Children's Home - Board Member
- The Free Medical Clinic - Board Member
- South Carolina Bar - Health Law Section
- North Carolina Bar Association - Health Law Section
- Vice Chair, Business Law & Governance Practice Group, American Health Lawyers Association (2016-2018)
- American Bar Association
- Health Care Compliance Association
- Healthcare Financial Managers Association (NC/SC)
- Columbia Business Monthly's Legal Elite of the Midlands, 2015-2018
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America for Health Care Law, Since 2009
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
- Riley Institute Diversity Leadership Program 2017
- 2010 In All Things Charity Award, Healthy Learners
- "Who's Who in Health Care" - Charlotte Business Journal
- Leadership Columbia
Overview
Representing health care providers has been a critical mission at Nexsen Pruet for six decades. Matthew Robert’s dedication to continuing that tradition is why firm leadership selected him to Chair the firm’s Health Care Practice Group.
Matthew’s Practice
Matthew has assisted providers in virtually every aspect of the health care business. Typically, his engagements are focused on:
- Healthcare affiliations and joint ventures
- Physician/hospital relationships
- Managed care issues
- Stark/Anti-Kickback laws
- General compliance matters
- Health care contracts
- Board governance
- Regulation of tax-exempt hospitals
- False claims analysis and defense
- Health care legislation and regulation
Matthew has set up single service agreements, developed integrated physician networks and established other collaborative arrangements between health care providers.
Matthew collaborates with clients to create and implement strategic plan and has extensive experience advising clients on affiliations, joint ventures, and purchase and sales. He also advises physician relationships, health care provider Boards on matters including executive compensation, conflict of interest policies and Board involvement in compliance and quality related issues.
Matthew also works with health care clients on ways to minimize their exposure compliance risk caused by the myriad of regulatory requirements found in the health care industry and to create a "culture of compliance" implemented on a system-wide basis.
Matthew also routinely works with providers to assist them in resolving payment and billing disputes with various types of payors.
The Credentials
Matthew earned his undergraduate degree in International Relations, magna cum laude, from the University of South Carolina, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he was a member of the South Carolina Law Review and of the Order of the Wig and Robe. He is an active member of the American Health Lawyers Association, the Health Care Compliance Association, and the American Bar Association.
- SCBIO Board Member, 2020
- Healthy Learners - Board Member, Chairman (2016-2020)
- Carolina Children's Home - Board Member
- The Free Medical Clinic - Board Member
- South Carolina Bar - Health Law Section
- North Carolina Bar Association - Health Law Section
- Vice Chair, Business Law & Governance Practice Group, American Health Lawyers Association (2016-2018)
- American Bar Association
- Health Care Compliance Association
- Healthcare Financial Managers Association (NC/SC)
- Columbia Business Monthly's Legal Elite of the Midlands, 2015-2018
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America for Health Care Law, Since 2009
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
- Riley Institute Diversity Leadership Program 2017
- 2010 In All Things Charity Award, Healthy Learners
- "Who's Who in Health Care" - Charlotte Business Journal
- Leadership Columbia
Speaking & Writing
- Taking The Pulse Podcast Highlights South Carolina Health Care
June 10, 2020 - Matthew Roberts on SCBIO Webinar: Next Up - How SC Healthcare is Taking on COVID-19
May 22, 2020 - Nexsen Pruet Announces Changes to Firm Leadership
August 14, 2018 - Nexsen Pruet Leaders Selected for 2017 Class
February 22, 2017 - 2015 "Legal Elite of the Midlands"
October 14, 2015 - "Flat earth theory: the future of billing"
April 22, 2015
- Update on Hospital Price Transparency Rules Effective January 1, 2021
January 12, 2021 - Transparency in Pricing Trend Continues with New Federal Rule that Applies to Health Plans
November 13, 2020 - Serving on the Board of Directors of a Health Care Provider Organization During COVID-19
August 17, 2020 - A Glimpse at Recent State and Federal COVID-19 Testing Developments
May 12, 2020 - Nexsen Pruet and SCHA Team Up for a Q&A on Labor Related COVID-19 Topics
April 21, 2020 - Emergency Health Powers Act
April 1, 2020 - SC and NC Emergency Regulatory Changes and Telehealth: Guidance, Implementation, and Pitfalls
March 27, 2020 - Alert: NCI Awarded Payment Error Rate Measurement Review Contractor (PERM RC) by HHS
June 28, 2018 - Three Strikes and You're Out: CMS Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE) Process
May 3, 2018 - Creativity Over Hammers
April 26, 2018 - How to Stop a Steam Roller: Defending the Veterans Affairs Audit by CGI Federal
March 22, 2018 - Tales of Two Fraud Investigations Terminated and the Lives Blessed by Truth
February 12, 2018
Presentations
Featured Panelist, “Next Up -- How SC Healthcare is Taking On COVID-19,” a 1-hour virtual conversation providing key stakeholders of South Carolina’s life sciences industry with a current snapshot of SC’s healthcare climate now, and the path forward as we begin the move towards normalcy. May 19, 2020
Speaker, “SC and NC Emergency Regulatory Changes and Telehealth: Guidance, Implementation, and Pitfalls,” Nexsen Pruet, Columbia, SC, March 26, 2020
Presenter, "Managed Care Contracting in South Carolina," SCHA, Columbia, SC, November 2019
Presenter, "Managed Care Contracting in South Carolina," SCHA CFO Forum, Charleston, SC, August 2019
Co-Presenter, "Medicaid Managed Care in North Carolina: The Future Is Now," Coastal Carolina Health Alliance, Wilmington, NC, June 2019
Co-Presenter, "Health Care Providers' Investment in Technology re: Analytics," Dixon Hughes Goodman Healthcare Symposium, Orlando, FL, June 2019
Co-Presenter, "Best Practices for Managing Hospital Volunteers," South Carolina Hospital Association, Columbia, SC, May 2019
Co-Presenter, "Compliance Overview for Physician Practices," South Carolina Rheumatism Society, Charleston, SC, April 2018
Presenter, “Duties of Nonprofit Board of Directors,” Nexsen Pruet Nonprofit Symposium, February 16, 2018
Co-Presenter, “Competing in the Health Care Industry: Antitrust Implications,” South Carolina Hospital Association CFO Forum, Charleston, SC, August 2017
Co-Presenter, Nexsen Pruet Direct Contracting Symposium, Columbia, SC, June 2017
Co-Presenter, “In a Post-Yates World, Do Your Board and Officers Have Adequate Protection?” American Health Lawyers Association, Webinar, Columbia, SC, November 2016
Presenter, “Update on Legal Trends in Healthcare,” Dixon Hughes Goodman Hospital Symposium, Greenville, SC, September 2016
Co-Presenter, “State of Telehealth in South Carolina; Fraud & Abuse Issues in Telehealth,” Palmetto Care Connections, Columbia, April 2016
Presenter, “Competition and Antitrust in Healthcare,” Medical University of South Carolina Masters in Health Administration program, Charleston, SC, November 2015
Co-Presenter, “Direct Contracting: A New Opportunity For An Old Idea?” South Carolina Hospital Association Annual, Trustees, Administrator and Physicians (“TAP”) meeting, Hilton Head, SC, September 2015
Co-Presenter, “Preparing Boards for Assuming Risk,” Dixon Hughes Goodman Healthcare Symposium, Orlando, FL, May 2015
Co-Presenter, “Legal Issues in Hospital Administration,” Medical University of South Carolina Masters in Health Administration program, Charleston, SC, November 2014
Co-Presenter, “Risk Capability and the Hard Work of Healthcare Transformation: Connecting the Dots with Governance,” South Carolina Hospital Association Annual, Trustees, Administrator and Physicians (“TAP”) meeting, Hilton Head, SC, September 2014
Publications
Issues and Considerations in an Evolving Liability Environment: Summaries and Checklists Regarding Protections for Board of Directors and Executive Officers
Matthew Roberts co-authored a toolkit on behalf of the AHLA Business Law and Governance Practice Group, that identified liability issues for directors and officers that organizations should be aware of and provided checklists of matters to consider with respect to managing challenges and risks. (AHLA PG Toolkit, December 2018)
Navigating the Challenges of Physician Board Membership
Due in large part to the increased affiliation between hospitals and physicians, some hospital boards are seeking additional physician representation. Many hospitals have determined that having physician board members is an effective physician-alignment strategy and gives the board a different, but much needed, perspective on clinical issues.
Amendment to the Stark Law Effective January 1
The healthcare reform act, known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), has now been passed into law and will affect the lives of Americans in numerous ways. One change impacts the way in which some healthcare entities operate their businesses to comply with the ever changing landscape of the Stark law.
Taking the Pulse - A Health Care Podcast
Co-Host, Episode 1: Thorton Kirpy, President and CEO, SC Hospital Association, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, May 12, 2020
Co-Host, Episode 2: Charles Williams, President and CEO, Regional Medical Center, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, May 19, 2020
Co-Host, Episode 5: Sam Konduros, President and CEO, SCBIO, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, June 9, 2020
Co-Host, Episode 6: Dr. Linda Bell, South Carolina State Epidemiologist, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, June 16, 2020
Co-Host, Episode 9: Josh Arant, Chief Operating Officer, Mako Medical, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, July 7, 2020
Co-Host, Episode 10: South Carolina State Representative Murrell Smith, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, July 14, 2020
Co-Host, Episode 13: Dr. Mitch Nimmich, Hospitalist, Lexington Medical Center, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, August 4, 2020
Co-Host, Episode 15: Tom Keith, President, Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, August 18, 2020
Co-Host, Episode 16: Matthew Roberts and Darra Coleman, Health Care Attorneys, Nexsen Pruet, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, August 25, 2020
Co-Host, Episode 19: Dr. Bill Massey, Chief Scientific Officer, Vikor Scientific, Nexsen Pruet, & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, September 15, 2020
Co-Host, Episode 20: Angela O'Neal, Nextra Solutions Director, and Dawn Staley, USC Women's Basketball Coach, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, September 22, 2020
Co-Host, Episode 21: Will Hamilton, CVA, BuckheadFMV, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, September 29, 2020
Co-Host, Episode 22: Peter Leventis, CEO, Community Integrated Management Services, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, October 6, 2020
Co-Host, Episode 23: Bobby Williams, CEO, Lizard's Thicket, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, October 13, 2020
Co-Host, Episode 26: Josh Baker, Director, South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, November 3, 2020
Co-Host, Episode 27, Brandon Neal, Deputy Chief Legal Officer, and Mindy Staley, Assistant General Counsel, Novant Health, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, November 11, 2020
Co-Host, Episode 28, Matt Shaffer, Senior Vice President, and Dr. Shawn Stinson, Senior Vice President of Health Care Innovation and Improvement, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, November 17, 2020
Co-Host, Episode 30, Brian Morris, President, Fulcrum Risk Solutions, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, December 1, 2020
Co-Host, Episode 31, Lara Hewitt, Vice President of Workforce and Partner Engagement, South Carolina Hospital Association and Andy Hartung, Assistant Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Self-Regional, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, December 8, 2020
Co-Host, Episode 34, Freddie Strange, Executive Director, Free Medical Clinic, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, December 29
Co-Host, Episode 35, Lauren Sausser, Features Editor and Health Care Journalist, The Post and Courier, Nexsen Pruet & NP Strategy, Columbia, SC, January 5, 2020
Outside Nexsen Pruet
Matthew is an avid photographer and has traveled extensively with his camera in hand. His walls and desk are filled with images from his travels and of his family.
Matthew’s contributions to the Midlands community include years of service on various community boards including: Healthy Learners, Carolina Children's Home, the Free Medical Clinic, the American Heart Association, and Trustus Theatre. In recognition of service to children's initiatives he received the 2010 In All Things Charity Award from the Sisters of Charity Health System.
Matthew and his wife have 1 daughter.