Susan L. St. John is a partner at Garfunkel Wild based out of our Florida office. Having served as a health care financial consultant and Medicare Auditor prior to becoming a lawyer, Susan brings over 30 years of health care experience to clients on business planning, tax law, health care compliance, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions and health care regulatory matters. Susan combines sophisticated M&A negotiation skills, with a unique understanding of operations, financial and tax implications of transactional matters and structuring “the deal” to help her clients maximize value and minimize risk.

With a comprehensive understanding of the state and federal regulatory agencies, Susan has represented health care facilities and practitioners before the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) concerning certification, billing, and audit issues relevant to the Medicare and Medicaid Programs. She has also provided practitioner and provider/facility representation in regards to licensing applications and licensing defense before Florida state agencies such as, Agency for Health Care Administration, Department of Health, Board of Medicine, Board of Osteopathic Medicine, Board of Nursing, Board of Podiatric Medicine, Board of Chiropractic Medicine, and Board of Optometry.

Susan has experience in health care litigation for physicians and other health care providers involved in disputes with various government agencies. She also has experience in litigation involving contract disputes and has defended clients before Florida courts, including the First District Court of Appeals, and administrative tribunals in various types of proceedings. Her clients include both for-profit and not-for-profit entities, physicians and physician group practices, home health agencies, nursing homes, behavioral health centers, hospitals and other providers.

Susan’s experience entails many years of advising clients on the Florida certificate of need (“CON”) process, including various hospital types, hospices, and specialty services. She has defended new applicants and existing providers opposing an application, and has a deep understanding of the criteria required for approval of a CON application.