Poyner Spruill Welcomes Education Law Practice Group

Email Notice

Although we would like to hear from you, we cannot represent you until we know that doing so will not create a conflict of interest. Also, we cannot treat unsolicited information as confidential. Accordingly, please do not send us any information about any legal matter until we authorize you to do so. To initiate a possible representation, call the professional at the listed telephone number.

By clicking the “ACCEPT” button, you agree that we may review any information you transmit to us. You recognize that, even if you submit information that you consider confidential in an effort to retain us, our review of that information will not create an obligation on us to keep it confidential and will not preclude us from representing another client directly adverse to you, even in a matter where that information could and will be used against you.

Please click the “ACCEPT” button if you understand and accept the foregoing statement and wish to proceed.

Accept close

Steve Shaber

Of Counsel
t: 919.783.2906 f: 919.783.1075

Steve represents and advises clients with regard to a wide range of health law matters, including defense of complaints to professional licensing boards and false claim cases.

Read Steve's articles

Biography

Steve has spent his entire career in health law – first with the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office and, since 1985, in private practice. His clients range from large hospitals to sole practitioners. Most of his work focuses on Medicare and Medicaid fraud & abuse, provider reimbursement, false claims, hospital medical staff matters, and professional licensing board cases. He also advises physicians with business and contract matters.  His cases have involved patient deaths, large-dollar claims for recoupment, and other urgent matters. Steve has also helped providers with a number of innovative business transactions. He speaks frequently to various professional organizations, including the North Carolina Psychological Association, the North Carolina Medical Society, the North Carolina Medical Group Managers Association, and the North Carolina Hospital Association.

While a N.C. Assistant Attorney General, he represented the State in federal class action lawsuits involving hundreds of millions of dollars for Medicare, mental health, and other programs of public assistance. He successfully argued Lassiter vs. Department of Social Services in the United States Supreme Court, on behalf of the State as amicus curiae.

Areas of Focus

+Health Care

  • Reimbursement, Fraud, and Abuse – Steve represents corporate and individual providers having problems with Medicare, Medicaid, the OIG, the Attorney General’s Office, and private insurers regarding possible underpayments, overpayments, fraud and abuse, and corporate compliance. He has successfully represented clients in cases involving very large amounts of money and potential criminal charges.
  • Licensing Board and Medical Staff Matters – Steve frequently represents licensees in hearings before the N.C. Medical Board, the N.C. Pharmacy Board, the N.C. Psychology Board, and others. He also handles hospital medical staff hearings, sometimes representing the physician, sometimes the medical staff, and sometimes serving as the hearing officer. His licensing board and medical staff cases involve patient deaths, sexual misconduct, adulterated drugs, substance abuse, professional competence, and fraud. He obtained a preliminary injunction against a hospital, preventing it from summarily suspending a surgeon’s privileges without a hearing. Steve also helps medical staffs draft and revise staff bylaws.
  • Business Matters – Steve also represents providers in business disputes with other providers. He organized several small physician practices into a company that won the right to develop a new surgical center. He represented a specialty surgical practice that obtained exclusive rights to do certain procedures at a large hospital. Steve regularly advises physicians about employment contracts.
  • Clinical Research – Steve chairs the Institutional Review Board (the research ethics committee) for an international clinical research organization, and he advises physicians about serving as local and site investigators.
Visit our Health Care page   ▶

+Government Relations

  • Steve represented providers before state health agencies. For over 20 years, he lobbied state government on behalf of various children’s services organizations in North Carolina. He chaired the General Statutes Commission committee that rewrote the state’s adoptions law.
Visit our Government Relations page   ▶

Credentials

+Education

Duke University School of Law, J.D., 1976

Wabash College, B.A., 1973, magna cum laude

+Notable Accomplishments

Recognized in North Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s Power List of the state’s most influential healthcare attorneys in 2023

North Carolina Psychological Association, President’s Award for “dedication and outstanding service” to the organization and profession, 2020

Recognized as a Leading Attorney by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (Healthcare) 2014 – 2018

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® (Administrative Law), 2008-2021, 2023-2024; (Health Care Law) 2010-2021, 2023-2024; (Litigation – Health Care) 2023-2024

Ranked among Law & Politics magazine’s North Carolina “Super Lawyers” (Health Care Law), 2006

Phi Beta Kappa

+Professional & Community Activities

North Carolina Opera, Board of Directors, 2011-Present; Executive Committee, 2018-2021; Treasurer, 2019 – 2021

North Carolina Medical Society Foundation, Board of Trustees, 2013 – 2018; Treasurer 2017-2018

Sustain Foundation, Board of Directors, 2009-2018

North Carolina Medical Society, Accountable Care Organization Task Force, Member 2010 – 2012

North Carolina Medical Society, Physician Hospital Issues Committee, Consultant, 2008-2014

North Carolina Medical Society, Community Practitioner Program Advisory Board, Member 2013-2014

North Carolina Bar Association, Administrative Law Section Council, Chair, 2004-2005

Tenth Judicial District Bar, Attorney Fee Dispute Resolution Committee, Chair, 1999-2003

North Carolina Society of Health Care Attorneys, President, 1992

American Health Lawyers Association, Member

+Speaking & Writing

“Practical Chaperones”, a webinar for Medical Mutual Insurance Company concerning use of chaperones during physical examinations (2019).

“Chapter 8: Hospital physician employment agreements,” in ACOs, CO-OPs and other options: A “how-to” manual for physicians navigating a post-health reform world (American Medical Association, 2011, rev’d 2017).

“An Overview of the New Forensic Specialty Guidelines: Is More Less? Or Is It More? Or Is It Just More of the Same?” in NC Psychologist (NC Psychological Association, 2012).

Here for you

Contact Steve

Email
What you Need to Know

Read Recommended Articles

◀︎ All Professionals