Partners Schultz and Hufford Named 2019 Law360 MVPs

Zuckerman Spaeder is pleased to announce that partners William B. Schultz and D. Brian Hufford have been named 2019 MVPs by Law360. Mr. Schultz is recognized in the Health category, while Mr. Hufford, who has been named an MVP four out of the last five years, is recognized in the Benefits category. Law360 MVPs are “attorneys who have distinguished themselves from their peers over the past year through high-stakes litigation, record-breaking deals and complex global matters.”

In its article about Mr. Schultz, Law360 says he “fought to improve access to health care for patients and hold the government accountable, including helping to stop nearly 30% in cuts to Medicare drug reimbursement rates...” It goes on to highlight Mr. Schultz’s work to strengthen and protect the 340B drug discount program, which supports certain nonprofit hospitals, community health centers and federally funded clinics that provide services for vulnerable communities. On behalf of hospitals, Mr. Schultz secured a victory “when a D.C. federal judge ruled that [the Department of Health and Human Services] overstepped its authority by cutting certain drug reimbursement rates…HHS will have to make good on the roughly $3.2 billion in cuts if the finding is upheld at the D.C. Circuit.”

The article also discusses Mr. Schultz’s successful work to “pressure HHS into implementing changes to the 340B drug discount program that Congress passed back in 2010.” After years of delay, HHS agreed to implement the changes following a lawsuit brought by Mr. Schultz.

In its discussion of Mr. Hufford, Law360 says he “successfully challenged insurance companies this year after they denied coverage for mental health and substance abuse claims…” The publication specifically highlights the work done by Mr. Hufford to deliver a landmark decision against United Behavioral Health, which found that while the insurer “espoused good standards for treating patients for behavioral health issues at a 2017 class action bench trial, none of that is reflected in the company's actual guidelines…” 

The March win on behalf of more than 50,000 plaintiffs is part of a broad effort led by Mr. Hufford, in which Zuckerman Spaeder is challenging insurers in order to enforce the rights of both patients and providers. In the last few years alone, the work has led to numerous precedent-setting decisions and delivered settlements that have both compensated plaintiffs and forced insurers to change their coverage policies. 

In both 2018 and 2019, the firm’s health care work earned it a Law360 Practice Group of the Year award, in the Health and Benefits categories respectively.

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Kalie Hardos
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