Annually appearing on the Best Lawyers list, as well as the Ohio Super Lawyers list, Tom has more than 40 years of experience representing assisted living facilities, durable medical equipment companies, home health agencies, hospice providers, hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies, physicians and other licensed health care providers before state, federal and administrative courts across the country. He is a past member of the firm's Board of Directors and immediate past chair of the Government Relations and Health Care Industry practice groups.

Leveraging extensive experience with a thorough understanding of the issues facing the health care industry, Tom takes a practical, yet aggressive, approach to help clients meet their needs while also mitigating risk. Within the constantly-evolving industry, he guides clients through myriad challenges, including certificate of need, health care fraud investigations, as well as issues related to Medicare and Medicaid audits, overpayments, certifications, exclusions and reimbursement. Additionally, he has assisted clients with the acquisition and disposition of health care facilities and practices, demonstrating a knowledge of not only the industry’s distinctive operations but also of traditional business transactions. Understanding that complex health care reform initiatives have dramatically impacted the industry’s operations, Tom, a former assistant attorney general in Ohio, utilizes his familiarity with the regulatory agencies and their procedures to provide clients with the insight they need to confidently move forward.

A frequent speaker on health care issues throughout the country, he uses his experience to provide clients with knowledgeable and efficient counsel in a constantly-evolving industry.

Bar Admissions

Ohio

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio

Education

• Capital University School of Law (J.D., 1976)
• Ohio University (B.S.Ed., cum laude, 1973)

• National Law Review, "Go-To Thought Leader" (2020)
• Best Lawyers^® (1995 - present)
  • "Lawyer of the Year" in Columbus for Administrative/Regulatory Law (2018)
  • Administrative/Regulatory and Health Care Law 
• Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
• Ohio Super Lawyers^® (2004 - present)
• Top Lawyers by Columbus CEO magazine
• Mentor of the Year, Dinsmore (2015)

• American Bar Association
• Ohio State Bar Association
• Columbus Bar Association, Health Law Committee, past chairperson
• American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery (2024-present) 
  • Board of Directors 
  • Governance Committee 
  • Standard and Credentials Committee 
• American Board of Medical Specialties, past member 
  • Board of Directors (2014-2024) 
  • Accountability and Resolution Committee, chair (2020-2022) 
  • Governance Committee (2020-2023) 
• American Health Law Association, LTC-SIR Advisor Editorial Board, past member 
• Ohio Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators, Board of Directors, past member, vice chairman
• Arthritis Foundation of Central Ohio, Board of Trustees, past member
• American Federation for Aging Research Ohio Chapter, Board of Trustees, past member
• Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine and Pharmacy Foundation, Board of Directors, past member
• University of Cincinnati, College of Allied Health Sciences, adjunct professor

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Control in Nursing Homes

  By Thomas Hess |March 2020