Yvonne Puig practices exclusively in the health care area, and has an active practice in state and federal courts.  She represents hospitals, HMOs, medical schools and other institutional health care providers.  Her practice involves commercial litigation, including health care, antitrust, staff privileges, and exclusive contracts.   Yvonne has represented defendants in Qui Tam/False Claims Act actions and related investigations.  She has extensive experience in a variety of health law regulatory matters, including, but not limited to: EMTALA, credentialing, peer review, due process hearings, government regulatory investigations, and The Joint Commission accreditation and compliance.

Her trial experience includes complex litigation, such as representation of hospital systems, manufacturers and sellers of medical devices, and commercial and antitrust litigation involving the health care industry. Additionally, she has experience reviewing business arrangements among managed care providers and other statutory and regulatory compliance.

Her recent matters include:

• Lead counsel representing a national hospital system sued for violations of federal and state antitrust laws, tortious interference and defamation
• Representation of national hospital system in state and federal investigations arising out of alleged medication errors
• Lead counsel representing an international medical device manufacturer in state Attorney General investigation
• Lead counsel representing academic medical center and health systems in the creation and implementation of compliance programs in the areas of EMTALA, and The Joint Commission and Medicare Secondary Payor Act

• Texas Board of Legal Specialization Inaugural Exam Commission - authored the first health law specialty examination for the State Bar of Texas (2002 - 2007)
• State Bar of Texas
  • Health Law Section, Chair; Council Member
• American Board of Trial Advocates
• National Health Lawyers Association
• Texas Association of Defense Counsel

• The Best Lawyers in America, two categories: Health Care Law and Medical Malpractice Law (2008 - 2010)
• The Best Lawyers in America, two categories: Health Care Law and Litigation (1991 - 2007)
• "One of five outstanding lawyers in health law," Texas Lawyer "Go-To" Guide
• "Super Lawyer," Law & Politics (2003 - 2009)
• "Outstanding Health Care Litigator of 2006," Nightingale News Service (One of ten attorneys nationwide)
• "Outstanding Health Care Litigator of 2004," Nightingale News Service (One of twelve and only one in Texas)
• Chambers U.S.A. (2005 - 2009)
• "Top 50 Texas Super Lawyer," Law & Politics (2006)

Yvonne has published numerous articles on a variety of health care topics and liability updates.

• Economic Credentialing, AHLA Enterprise Risk Management for Healthcare Entities (2009)
• "Emerging Issues in Healthcare," Chapter 3 of Managed Care, ERISA and Beyond, American Bar Association, February 2002

Selected recent speeches:

• Annual Fall THA/Health Law Section Seminar
  • Speaker, 2005 - 2009
  • Chair and Moderator, 2004
• UT Annual Health Law Conference, Houston, Texas, 2001-2007, 2009
• Texas Association of Health Plans Conference, October 2006
• National Emergency Department Practice Management Association, New Orleans, Louisiana
• ABA Managed Care Liability, Houston, Texas
• Liability Update
  • ABA Managed Care, Washington, D.C.
  • State Bar of Texas Managed Care Seminar
  • University of Texas School of Law Program, Chair

1978 - J.D., The University of Texas School of Law
1975 - B.A., High Honors, Psychology, The University of Texas

Yvonne was admitted to practice law in Texas in 1978; the U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas in 1980; and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit in 1985.