Kathy Lester JD, MPH

Kathy Lester, JD, MPH, Lester Health Law PLLC

Kathy Lester provides legal and strategic advice to clients on legislative and regulatory matters involving Medicare and Medicaid coverage and reimbursement, quality, federal health care funding, health information technology, and medical and Internet privacy -- including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, other federal and state privacy laws, as well as the European Union Privacy Directive.

Ms. Lester practices at the intersection of health care law and public policy. She focuses her practice on finding solutions to her clients’ problems by assisting with compliance programs or by seeking legislative or regulatory modifications. She has worked with health care providers and suppliers to modernize their payment structures within the Medicare program.

Ms. Lester has served a wide variety of health care providers, including physicians, dialysis facilities, hospitals, long-term care providers, home oxygen suppliers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, device companies, and patient organizations. She also has assisted with the formation and growth of industry- wide coalitions. She represents Kidney Care Partners, a coalition of dialysis facilities, patient advocacy organizations, manufacturers, and health care professionals, including the ANNA. She also represents the Kidney Care Council, a coalition of large, medium, and small dialysis organizations, as well as members of the kidney care community.

Ms. Lester has experience in all three branches of the federal government. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Lester served as a privacy consultant in the Office of General Counsel to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where she finalized the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Ms. Lester also served as law clerk to the Honorable Michael S. Kanne, Circuit Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and worked for Senator Richard G. Lugar (R-IN).