Kenya Woodruff is of counsel in the Healthcare Practice Group in the Dallas office of Haynes and Boone, LLP. Her practice is dedicated to healthcare regulatory and related transactional and business matters. Her counseling activities focus on the creation and maintenance of compliant healthcare operations and structures for physicians, hospitals, home health and hospice providers, including accountable care organizations and the proper utilization of nonprofit health organizations (formerly known as 5.01(a)'s). Her practice also includes advice on compliance with HIPAA/HITECH, Stark, anti-kickback and other applicable fraud and abuse laws.
Prior to joining Haynes and Boone, Kenya served as Deputy General Counsel at the Dallas County Hospital District d/b/a Parkland Health & Hospital System. She was the attorney primarily responsible for government investigations and provided legal support and consult for the hospital's daily operations. Before joining Parkland, in addition to her experience as outside counsel to healthcare entities, Kenya was the Vice President of Compliance and Associate General Counsel for a national radiology services company.
Honors and Other Achievements
- George Washington University Associate's Certificate in Contract Management, 2009
- Selected for inclusion in Texas Rising Stars in healthcare law in 2009, 2013
- Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Public Member, 2005-current; appointed by Governor to a six-year term in 2005; Reappointed in 2011
Selected Publications
- "Chapter 3: The Medicare Appeal Process: Procedural and Practical Considerations," Health Law and Compliance Update, John Steiner ed., Aspen Publishers, 2009.
- "The Medicare Appeals Process and Recoupment: the Provider's Dilemma," American Health Lawyers Association, Healthcare Liability & Litigation Practice Group Newsletter, 2008.
Selected Speeches
- "How Does the Affordable Care Act Affect My Franchise Client?" Dallas Bar Association, Franchise & Distribution Law Section, 2013.
- "Payer-Physician Alignment Strategies: Prevailing Legal, Valuation and Industry Perspectives," co-presenter, American Bar Association, Health Law Section, 2013.
- "Medical Records Law in Texas: General Principles of Confidentiality, Access to Medical Records and HB 300," Lorman Education Services, 2012.
- "Ethical Dilemmas: When Healthcare Investigations Meet Litigation," co-presenter, Dallas Bar Association, Health Law Section, 2012.
- "Supreme Court Decision: Are We Ready for What's Next?" panelist, Health Industry Council of the North Texas Region, 2012.
- "The Current State of Health Reform," co-presenter, Dallas Bar Association, 2011.
- "Healthcare Reform: The Highlights," co-presenter, State Bar of Texas, Texas Minority Counsel Program, 2010.
- "HIPAA: The Latest and Greatest," co-presenter, Medical Device Action Alliance, An Affiliate of the Health Industry Council, 2008.
- "Medicare Appeals - Part A and Part B Fee for Service," Dallas Bar Association, Health Law Section, 2008.
- "HIPAA for Employers," Urban League of Greater Dallas and North Central Texas, 2008.
- "ADA: Acquiring Disability Awareness...in our Healthcare Facilities," moderator, American Health Lawyers Association, In-House Counsel Section, 2006.
- "The Indigent Health Care and Treatment Act, Dallas Bar Association, Health Law Section, 2006.
- "National Provider Identifier Initiative," co-presenter, North Texas Healthcare Compliance Professionals Association, 2006.
- "Physician Recruitment in the Post-Alvarado Environment, co-presenter, Dallas Bar Association, Health Law Section, 2004.
Selected Professional and Business Activities
- College of the State Bar of Texas - Member, 2013
- American Bar Association - Health Law Section, Vice Chair, Business & Transactions Interest Group, 2012-2013
- Dallas Bar Foundation, 2011-present
- The Honorable Patrick E. Higginbotham American Inn of Court, Barrister, 2010-2013
- Dallas Bar Association - Law in the Schools Committee, Co-Vice Chair 2012, Co-Chair 2013; Health Law Section, Secretary, 2007; Treasurer, 2008; Vice Chair, 2009; Chair, 2010; and Business Law Section, Member, 1999-present
- American Health Lawyers Association, Member, 2003-present
- JL Turner Legal Association - Corporate Counsel Section, Co-Chair, 2007; DBWA Section, Co-Chair, 2005,2006
- Aids Arms, Inc. - Community Advisory Committee, Board Member, 2012-present; Member, 2007-2012
Online Publications
04/19/2013 -
OIG Releases Updated Self-Disclosure Protocol
On April 17, 2013, the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) released an Updated Provider Self-Disclosure Protocol (SDP), which replaces the original SDP published in 1998.
01/25/2013 -
HHS Provides Amendments to HIPAA Privacy and Security Regulations to Conform Regulations to HITECH, GINA and Add Some Additional Changes
The long awaited Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Regulation amendments (the “Changes”) to incorporate the changes made by Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) in 2009 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and by the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (“GINA”) were recently released.
04/03/2012 -
Fate of Health Reform is Uncertain after Supreme Court Oral Arguments
After three days of historic oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court, the fate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the momentous 2010 health reform law, is uncertain, given robust questioning of the ability of Congress to force individuals to purchase health insurance.
11/29/2011 -
State Medicaid RAC Audits to Begin in 2012
Medicaid providers will be subject to new audits by Medicaid Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs), beginning in January 2012. These new audits will be in addition to existing audits being conducted by Medicare RACs, Medicaid Integrity Contractors (MICs) and Zone Program Integrity Contractors (ZPICs), among others.