Overview

Clients rely on Susan Orr to provide clear, practical legal guidance rooted in a deep understanding of the health care industry. Known for her thoughtful style, Susan helps health care providers navigate complex regulatory issues, business transactions, and professional licensing challenges with confidence and clarity.

Susan Orr is a member of the firm’s Health Care Practice Group and advises a wide range of clients, including individual physicians, group practices, mental health providers, hospitals, home health agencies, ambulatory surgery centers, and imaging centers. Clients and colleagues count on Susan for her straightforward communication, problem-solving mindset, and ability to align legal strategy with business objectives. Her previous experience as a practice administrator gives her unique insight into the operational challenges health care providers face. Susan routinely negotiates mergers and acquisitions involving academic medical centers, statewide groups, and private equity firms. She also advises on practice formation, employment, shareholder agreements, and corporate governance.

Clients often turn to Susan when facing high-stakes decisions involving the sale or purchase of health care facilities, Medicare and Medicaid compliance issues, or disciplinary investigations. She begins each engagement by understanding her client’s goals and constraints, considering budgets, values, and long-term plans. Clients say they value her calm demeanor, consistent communication, and ability to demystify complicated legal matters. Drawing on her real-world experience, Susan ensures clients feel supported and well-informed at every step. Whether working with a solo provider or a large organization, she brings focus and efficiency to each matter.

Susan focuses on preparation, communication, and building trust to help her clients make informed decisions. She advises on third-party payor audits, licensing board actions, and compliance disputes, helping clients avoid surprises and resolve matters efficiently. She finds it especially rewarding to assist physicians, nurses, and psychologists in resolving disciplinary issues and participating in professional monitoring programs. Her ability to provide steady, informed counsel in moments of uncertainty helps clients move forward confidently. Susan’s work reflects a commitment to legal excellence and the long-term success of the providers she serves.

Representative Experience

  • Negotiated the sale of a large multispecialty practice to a major academic medical center, involving numerous subdivisions and relationships with accountable care organizations and other risk-contracting entities.
  • Represented a psychologist in a Medicare overpayment case, reducing the claim from $300,000 to a $2,500 settlement following a successful appeal before an administrative law judge.
  • Advised an ambulatory surgery center during a HIPAA audit, helping the facility pass without penalties or disciplinary action.

Professional & Community Activities

  • American Health Lawyers Association – 2000 to Present
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association – 2000 to Present
  • Chester County Bar Association – 2000 to 2020
  • Vice President and Member of the Board of Directors – Elverson Honey Brook Area Emergency Medical Services – 2009 to Present

Speeches & Presentations

  • Author, “Avoiding Cyberattacks in your Practice”, Perspectives, Volume 19 Issues 3, 4, 2020
  • Author, “Want to get off the Hamster Wheel? Consider Changing to Direct Primary Care,” Perspectives, Volume 19, Issue 2, 2020
  • Author, “How to Protect Your Practice from Employee Discrimination”, Perspectives, Volume 19, Issue 1, 2020
  • Author, “Failure to Encrypt Mobile Devices Leads to $3m Settlement”, Perspectives, Volume 18, Issue 4, 2019
  • Author, “Do You Know Your Reporting Requirements to the Board of Medical Examiners and Other State Agencies?”, Perspectives, Volume 18, Issue 3, 2019 
  • Author, “New Jersey’s Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act”, Perspectives, Volume 18, issue 2, 2019
  • Author, “Joint Commission: National Patient Safety Goals” Perspectives, Volume 18, Issue 1, 2019
  • Author, “Disclosure of Patient information in light of the Opioid Crisis” Perspectives, Volume 17, Issue 4, 2018
  • Author, “New Rule concerning Physician Interaction with the Pharmaceutical Industry”, Volume 17, Issue 3, 2018
  • Author, “Most Common HIPAA violations”, Perspectives, Volume 17, Issue 2, 2018
  • Author, Presenter , PESI, “Privacy, Confidentiality and Disclosure of Mental Health Information in New Jersey – Legal and Ethical Considerations in the Era of EMR and Social Media,” November 8, 9, 12, 2018
  • Author, Presenter, PESI, “Privacy, Confidentiality and Disclosure of Mental Health Information in Pennsylvania – Legal and Ethical Considerations in the Era of EMR and Social Media,” May 14, 15 and 17, 2018
  • Author, Presenter, Virtua Family Medicine Residency, “Legal Issues,” January/February 2017, January/February 2018
  • Author, Presenter, Philadelphia Mental Health Court Group, “HIPAA 101 and Mobile Devices and Social Media,” December 20, 2017
  • Author, Presenter, New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians, “Integrating Behavioral and Physical Health Care,” October 23, 2017
  • Author, Presenter, Banking Institute, “Medical Marijuana Update,” September 15, 2017
  • Author, Presenter, Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association, “Medical Marijuana – Requirements and Processes for Practice,” April 27, 2017
  • Author, Presenter, Philadelphia Mental Health Court Group, “Privacy, Confidentiality and Disclosure,” April 19, 2017
  • Author, Presenter, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, “Privacy, Confidentiality and Disclosure of Mental Health Information in Pennsylvania,” March 17-23, 27, 2017
  • Author, Presenter, Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers, “Physician Compensation in a Value-Based World,” October 11, 2016
  • Author, Presenter, “The Medical Side of Medical Marijuana.” Harrisburg, PA, July 13, 2016; King of Prussia, PA, July 14, 2016
  • Author, Presenter, PESI, “Privacy, Confidentiality and Disclosure of Mental Health Information in New Jersey – Legal and Ethical Considerations in the Era of EMR and Social Media,” January 21-22, 29, 2016
  • Author, Presenter, PA Academy of Family Physicians, “Medical Marijuana”, November 19, 2016
  • Author, Presenter, Rhoads & Sinon LLP Banking Institute, “HIPAA and HITECH Act: Implications for Financial Institutions,” October 22, 2015
  • Author, Presenter, Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians, “Legal and Practical Aspects of Using Social Media in the Treatment of Patients,” July 2015
  • Author, Presenter, New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians, “Facilitating Advanced/End-of-Life Care Planning in Practice,” June 11, 2015
  • Author, Presenter, New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians, “Referral Tracking – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” June 11, 2015
  • Author, Presenter, “Formation of Large Group Practices: How Physicians Can Remain independent,” May 18, 2015
  • Author, Presenter, Health Care Institute, “Tweet, Follow, or Get Out of the Way: What Every Employer Needs to Know About Social Media,” May 18, 2015
  • Author, Presenter, Health Care Institute, “ACO and Clinically Integrated Network Development Hospital and Physician Perspectives,” May 18, 2015
  • Author, Presenter, PESI, “Privacy, Confidentiality and Disclosure of Mental Health Information in New Jersey – Legal and Ethical Considerations in the Era of EMR and Social Media,” Princeton, NJ – January 22, 2015; Parsippany, NJ – January 23, 2015; Toms River, NJ – January 27, 2015
  • Author, Presenter, Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians, “Providers Beware: PPACA Grace Period Provision May Lead to Uncompensated Care,” November 7, 2014
  • Author, Presenter, New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians, “Providers Guide to Combating Nonpayment During the PPACA Grace Period,” October 29, 2014
  • Author, Presenter, PESI, “Privacy, Confidentiality and Disclosure of Mental Health Information in New Jersey – Legal and Ethical Considerations in the Era of EMR and Social Media,” Princeton, NJ – January 24, 2013; Parsippany, NJ – January 25, 2013
  • Author, Presenter, New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians, “OPEN NOTES: Are They For You?” Atlantic City, NJ – June 22, 2013
  • Author, Presenter, New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians, “Co-Management Agreements,” Atlantic City, NJ – June 20, 2013
  • Author, Presenter, Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians, “Accountable Care Organizations: A Legal and Physician Perspective,” November 4, 2012
  • Author, Presenter, Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians, “Options for Physician Integration,” Hershey, PA – March 11, 2012
  • Author, Presenter, Medical Group Management Association, “Physician Compensation Models,” May 5, 2011
  • Author, Presenter, “Compliance Plans Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” January 19, 2011

Publications

  • Author, “Alternative Payment Models and New Exception to Codey Law,” NJAFP Perspectives, Volume 17, Issue 1, 2018
  • Author, “The Most Common HIPAA Violations,” NJAFP Perspectives, Volume 17, Issue 2, 2018
  • Author, “New Rule Concerning Physician Interaction with the Pharmaceutical Industry,” NJAFP Perspectives, Volume 17, Issue 3, 2018
  • Author, “Are You Considering Selling Your Practice to a Hospital System?” Perspectives, Volume 16, Issue 3, 2017
  • Author, “Have you done a HIPAA Risk Analysis?” Perspectives, Volume 16, Issue 1, 2017
  • Author, “Understanding ‘Incident to’ Services,” Keystone Physician, Winter 2017
  • Author, “Non-Discrimination in Health Care,” Perspectives, Volume 15, Issue 4, 2016
  • Author, “Medical Practice Targeted by Ransomware,” Perspectives, Volume 15, Issue 3, 2016
  • Author, “CMS Issues Final Rule on Reporting and Returning of Overpayments,” Perspectives, Volume 15, Issue 2, 2016
  • Author, “Developing a Social Media Policy,” Perspectives, Volume 15, Issue 1, 2016
  • Author, “Are You an ‘Applicable Large Employer’ under the Affordable Care Act?” Perspectives, Volume 14, Issue 4, 2015
  • Author, “Beware of the New Nondiscrimination Requirements of the Accountable Care Act,” Perspectives, Volume 14, Issue 3, 2015
  • Author, “My Top 10 Watch List,” Perspectives, Volume 14, Issues 1 & 2, 2015
  • Co-Author, “When the Thrill is Gone: Dealing with the Breakup of Physician Practices,” American Health Lawyers Association, Health Care Liability & Litigation, Volume 17 Issue 1, May 2015
  • Author, “Medicare Revalidation,” Keystone Physician, Summer 2014
  • Author, “Providers Beware: ACA Grace Period Provision May Lead to Uncompensated Care,” Keystone Physician, Spring 2014
  • Author, “Adding Mid-Level Providers to your Practice,” Perspectives, Summer 2013
  • Author, “OPEN NOTES: Are They For You?” Keystone Physician, Summer 2013
  • Author, “Co-Management Agreements for Patient Care,” Keystone Physician, Winter 2013

Professional Recognition

  • Speaker, New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians
  • Speaker, Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians
  • Contributor, Keystone Physician, and Perspectives

Further information on methodologies is available via these links.

Representative Experience

  • Negotiated the sale of a large multispecialty practice to a major academic medical center, involving numerous subdivisions and relationships with accountable care organizations and other risk-contracting entities.
  • Represented a psychologist in a Medicare overpayment case, reducing the claim from $300,000 to a $2,500 settlement following a successful appeal before an administrative law judge.
  • Advised an ambulatory surgery center during a HIPAA audit, helping the facility pass without penalties or disciplinary action.

Insights