Medical Coding Legal Advisory Committee
The Legal Advisory Board serves in an advisory capacity to the national office of AAPC, the AAPC National Advisory Board, and the AAPC Chapter Association. Members occasionally author articles on compliance and legal issues associated with medical coding for Coding Edge, and speak on legal issues at AAPC events.
Timothy P. Blanchard, JD, MHA, FHFMA
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
Timothy P. Blanchard, JD, MHA, FHFMA, is a partner with McDermott Will & Emory LLP in its Los Angeles office. His practice addresses health care regulatory issues, including certification and licensing; coverage, reimbursement, documentation and billing issues; fraud and abuse audits and investigations; provider compliance programs; HIPAA privacy; and utilization review. Tim is active in the American Health Lawyers Association and chairs its annual Institute on Medicare and Medicaid Payment Issues. He speaks and writes frequently on health law topics, including leading articles regarding medical necessity policy, and serves on editorial advisory boards for several health care and compliance publications.
Julie E. Chicoine, JD, RN, CPC®
Ohio State University Medical Center
Julie Chicoine is an attorney at law and registered nurse with several years of health care experience. Julie has served both as in-house and external legal counsel for hospitals providing guidance on coding, billing and reimbursement issues as well as compliance with federal and state regulatory laws for a wide range of hospital services. She has a particular expertise in CPT®, HCPCS and ICD-9-CM coding practices for diagnosis, procedures and services performed by physicians and other providers. Julie currently serves as compliance director for the Ohio State University Medical Center, where her responsibilities include oversight of the Medical Center’s Integrity and Compliance program, and directing system-wide operations and activities relating to compliance with federal health care program requirements. Julie earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Houston Law Center. She also holds a Bachelor of Science and Nursing degree from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston. She has written and spoken widely on health care issues, with special attention to regulatory and reimbursement issues.
Michael D. Miscoe, JD, CPC®, CASCC®, CUC®, CHCC
President, Practice Masters, Inc.
Michael D. Miscoe, JD, CPC, CASCC, CUC, CHCC, is president of Practice Masters, Inc. and the founding partner of Miscoe Health Law, LLC. He is a past member of the AAPC National Advisory Board (NAB) and current member of the Legal Advisory Board (LAB). He is admitted to the Bar in the state of California as well as to the practice of law before the U.S. District Courts in the Southern District of California and the Western District of Pennsylvania. Mr. Miscoe has nearly 20 years of experience in health care coding and over 12 years as a compliance expert testifying in civil and criminal cases.
Christopher A. Parrella, JD, CHC, CPC®
Member of The Health Law Offices of Anthony C. Vitale, PA in Miami
The firm concentrates on criminal, civil, regulatory, licensure, and compliance representation of all health care provider and supplier types. Mr. Parrella received his JD from the Massachusetts School of Law in 1997. He is a frequent national lecturer on health care compliance topics.
Robert A. Pelaia, Esq., CPC®
Senior University Counsel for Health Affairs -
Jacksonville, University of Florida
Robert A. Pelaia, Esq., CPC®, provides a wide range of legal support services for the University of Florida with exclusive legal responsibility for the University of Florida Jacksonville Health Science Center and its related not-for-profit corporate support entities. Robert is certified as a Health Care Law Specialist by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education. He is certified by the AAPC as a professional coder and is a member of both the AAPC Legal Advisory Board and the AAPC Chapter Association Board of Directors.
David M. Vaughn, JD, CPC®
Vaughn & Associates, LLC
David M Vaughn, JD, CPC®, is the founding member of Vaughn & Associates, LLC. David graduated Mississippi College with Special Distinction (Magna Cum Laude) in 1974, and graduated LSU Law School in 1977. David has been a certified coder since 1999. David is the author of several coding and compliance books, and is the editor of a coding newsletter. David is a national speaker for healthcare associations and facilities. David’s practice consists of representing providers in federal and state prosecutions, qui tam cases, and Medicare and third party payer audits. David also conducts audits and provides education to providers.
