Gabriela Sanchez
Shareholder
sanchezg@lanepowell.com
503.778.2172
Areas of Practice
Gabi Sanchez represents long term care, senior housing, home health and hospice providers
in business, regulatory and litigation matters. She routinely advises long term care clients on
contentious resident issues including resident transfers, compliance with resident rights, resident
capacity concerns, disputes with residents and family, and collection of accounts receivable from
various pay sources. She also advises facilities in insurance payment disputes and recoupment issues.
She drafts and provides training regarding admission agreements, resident handbooks and related
facility documents. Additionally, she counsels clients on compliance with federal and state laws and
regulations governing long term care and senior housing providers.
Gabi provides risk management advice and strategies and defends against agency actions and
investigations, including defense of civil monetary penalties, fraud and abuse complaints, and
imposition of conditions on provider licenses as well as revocation, denial or non-renewal of provider
licenses. Further, she counsels providers with respect to HIPAA/HITECH compliance in various
jurisdictions, including Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona and Montana.
She has experience with the corporate practice of medicine doctrine in the nursing home context,
billing and incorporating nurse practitioner services in skilled nursing facilities.
Gabi is a frequent presenter and author for the Oregon Health Care Association.
Professional Experience
Sussman Shank LLP
Partner (2012-2015)
Attorney (2007-2012)
Hershner Hunter LLP, Attorney (2004-2007)
Admitted to Practice
Oregon
Washington
U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Academics
University of Oregon School of Law (J.D.)
University of Texas at El Paso (M.S. Candidate, Biological Sciences)
BEST Graduate Fellow (1999-2000)
University of Texas at El Paso (B.S., Biological Sciences)
Practice Group and Specialty Team Memberships
Diversity Committee
Long Term Care and Seniors Housing Client Service Team
Litigation
Representative Matters and Clients
Represents Avamere Group of Companies in business and regulatory aspects of long term care
Represents multi-national senior living, health care and residential community providers
Represents single-facility providers in regulatory, business and resident matters
Assisted large senior living provider to incorporate nurse practitioners into their practice, including analyzing corporate practice of medicine issues in four different states
Assisted a long term care provide to successfully resolve a complex and multi-faceted case involving license revocation, replacement of a management company, defending against an Oregon Department of Justice Uniform Trade Practices Act investigation, resolution of a related elder abuse litigation, and sale of the facility
Drafted admission documents for all types of providers including adult foster homes, assisted living, residential care and skilled nursing facilities
Successfully represented providers in complex resident transfer cases involving resident behavioral and/or payment issues
Recovered millions of dollars owed to providers from residents, Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial and government related insurance companies
Provide effective risk management strategies involving contentious resident issues
Publications
“Department of Justice Launches 10 Regional Elder Justice Task Forces,” Lane Powell Legal Update, Co-author (April 1, 2016)
“Unlawful Trade Practices, Investigations, and Claims: Are Long Term Care Providers at Risk?” Co-
author, Lane Powell White Paper (February 12, 2016)
“Proceed With Caution: Does HIPAA Apply to Your Business?” Oregon Business magazine, Co-author
(July/August 2015)
“Ask the Lawyer: I Have Several Residents Who Have Not Paid Their Bill. Do You Have Effective Strategies for Handling Long Term Care Collections?” The HeartBEAT, Oregon Health Care Association (April 2014)
“Ask the Lawyer: What Is the Difference Among a Resident Representative, a Health Care Power of Attorney and a General Durable Power of Attorney?” The HeartBEAT, Oregon Health Care Association (March 2014)
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“Ask the Lawyer: What Is the Difference Between a Personal Representative, a Conservator and a Guardian?” The HeartBEAT, Oregon Health Care Association (February 2014)
“Ask the Lawyer: We Currently Do Not Have a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Policy at Our Facility. Should We Have One?” The HeartBEAT, Oregon Health Care Association (January 2014)
Ask the Lawyer: My Resident Owes a Large Past Due Balance. May I Issue a Notice of Transfer or Move out Notice to Move the Resident?” The HeartBEAT, Oregon Health Care Association (October 2013)
“Ask the Lawyer: Are You a Covered Entity?” The HeartBEAT, Oregon Health Care Association (July 2013)
“Long Term Care Facilities,” Health Law in Oregon, Oregon State Bar Association, Co-author (2012)
“What You Didn’t Know About Deeds in Lieu of Foreclosure,” Oregon Daily Journal of Commerce (December 9, 2010)
“HIPAA Muddies Privacy Waters for Employers,” Oregon Daily Journal of Commerce (July 9, 2009)
Speaking Engagements
“Right-To-Die Issues in Senior Care and Housing,” LeadingAge Oregon Annual Conference and Exposition, Co-presenter (May 17, 2016)
“Right-To-Die Issues in Senior Care and Housing,” LeadingAge California Annual Conference and Exposition, Presenter (May 3, 2016)
“Branding: Becoming Visible and the Importance of Self,” National Diversity Council’s 2016
Portland Women in Leadership Symposium, Panelist (April 19, 2016)
“Modern Technology in LTC: Uses and Regulatory Implications,” Oregon Health Care Association’s Annual Spring Expo, Co-presenter (March 3, 2016)
“Death With Dignity: Right-to-Die Issues in Senior Care and Housing,” The American Health Lawyers Association’s Long Term Care and the Law Conference, Co-presenter (February 24, 2016)
“Women of Color: Striving for Excellence,” Washington Women’s Conference, Panelist (February 3, 2016)
“Marijuana Legalization and Long Term Care in Oregon: Policies and Procedures for Resident Rights and Resident Safety,” Oregon Health Care Association’s 2015 Annual Convention and Trade Show, Co-presenter (September 15, 2015)
“Marijuana: Its Impact on Long Term Care Facilities in Oregon,” Oregon Health Care Association webinar, Presenter (July 10, 2015)
Oregon Health Care Association’s Risk Management Conference, Co-presenter (April 29, 2015)
“Regulatory Issues: Trips and Traps,” Oregon Health Care Association’s Annual Spring Expo,
Co-presenter (March 6, 2015)
“Facility Privacy Best Practices: The Intersection of HIPAA & Social Media,” Oregon Health Care Association’s 2014 Annual Convention and Trade Show, Co-presenter (September 23, 2014)
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“Nuts and Bolts of the Fair Housing Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act,” Oregon Health Care Association’s 2014 Annual Convention and Trade Show, Co-presenter (September 23, 2014)
“Facility Privacy Best Practices: The Intersection of HIPAA & Social Media,” Oregon Health Care Association’s Annual Spring Expo, Co-presenter (March 7, 2014)
“The Importance of Admission Agreements,” Oregon Health Care Association Webinar (March 18, 2011)
“Admissions: The First Step to Creating a Happy, Healthy, Homelike Community,” Washington Health Care Association’s 2010 Annual Convention, Co-presenter (May 2010)
“Legal Solutions for the Business Owners, Credit Manager and Professional” (2009)
“Admission Agreements and Collections,” Avamere Training (2008 and 2009)
Awards and Honors
Named as an “Oregon Rising Star,” Super Lawyers® magazine, Health Care (2012-2014)
Professional and Community Activities
American Health Lawyers Association
Post-Acute and Long Term Services Practice Group Leadership Development Program (2016-Present)
Oregon Health Care Association
Washington Health Care Association
Oregon State Bar Association
Health Law Section
Debtor/Creditor Section (2003-2012)
Oregon Hispanic Bar Association
Multnomah Bar Association
Washington State Bar Association, Health Law Section
American Cancer Society
Committee Co-Chair, Portland Hope Ball (2010-2014)
Treasurer, Iron Ridge Homeowner’s Association
Volunteer, Loaves and Fishes Meals on Wheels (2011-2014)
Board Member, Touchmark Foundation (2016-Present)
Languages
Spanish
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