Overview
Susan Huntington, chair of the firm's Healthcare practice, assists all types of health care providers with the spectrum of business and regulatory needs, with particular experience in forming accountable care organizations and clinical integration networks. In addition to private law firm practice, she has 20-plus years of in-house experience for a hospital, an insurance company, a large medical practice and an entrepreneurial healthcare company. Additionally, Susan has developed a national reputation for her work at the heart of the emerging trend for convergence between healthcare providers and health plans. During her 30+ year legal career, she has focused on health law and has extensive clinical, business management, insurance, risk management and legal experience. As a certified physician assistant, Susan also has a first-hand perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced by health care providers. Susan helps hospitals and physicians take advantage of the new options for clinical integration or joint ventures to improve the quality and delivery of health care. She has provided the legal support for forming three Medicare shared savings program ACOs, including two national ACOs, a statewide clinically integrated network and multiple ACO-like arrangements with third party payers.
Susan has provided legal support from just about every side of a transaction—serving as in-house counsel at Aetna, General Counsel for Connecticut's largest primary care physician group and Deputy General Counsel at Hartford HealthCare. In addition, her initial experience as a physician assistant aids with her interactions with health care clients by understanding the general clinical environment and the goals needed to achieve success in today's complicated regulatory environment. Her in-house experience helps to navigate not only the legal issues, but also the internal political and practical issues that can become obstacles in bringing disparate parties together effectively.
In addition, Susan has over ten years of experience working for a major international insurance company and served as the health care practice leader/senior vice president. The health care practice provided directors and officers insurance, managed care liability and medical professional liability insurance for the entire spectrum of health care organizations and all types of physicians. The underwriting and claim information from the thousands of insureds provided Susan with a wealth of experience on liability and risk management for health care providers and managed care organizations.
At Day Pitney, Susan was a key driver in establishing and drafting content for the firm's COVID-19 Resource Center and continues to be the resource on COVID-related issues for clients. She is a frequent author and editor of the Healthcare quarterly newsletter called C.H.A.T (Cybersecurity, healthcare and technology). Susan also serves as Co-Chair of the Practice Support Work Group, which has been a key in addressing the remote work environment required by the pandemic. She previously served as vice-chair of the Corporate and Business Law department.
Experience
Servicing as outside general counsel for physician practices, ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient clinics, medical spas, urgent care centers, care management companies, and other licensed health care providers
Assisting health care providers contract and meet regulatory requirements for ACOs and integrated delivery networks
Assist with effective negotiating of managed care contracts
Provide legal advice on transactions between various types of health care providers to comply with health care regulations
Compliance with privacy regulations and investigations of actual or potential breaches
Practical advice on software contracting for electronic health records, disease management systems and population management software
Risk management counseling
Education and Credentials
Education
- Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., cum laude, 1990
- University of Wisconsin, Madison, B.S., with Honors, 1977
Admissions
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- District of Columbia
- State of Connecticut
Affiliations
- American Bar Association, Health Law Section
- American Health Lawyers Association, Enterprise Risk Management Task Force, Vice Chair
- D.C. Bar Association, Health Law Section
- Virginia Bar Association, Health Law Section
Recognition and Community
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court of any state. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See Awards Methodology.
Recognitions
Chosen for inclusion in the Chambers USA Legal Directory (Chambers & Partners) of recognized practitioners for Healthcare in Connecticut, 2017-2024
Recipient of Profiles in Diversity Journal's 18th Annual "Women Worth Watching" Award, 2019
Recipient of Leadership Award for Exceptional Volunteerism from the University of Connecticut Medical School, 2016
Community Involvement
University of Connecticut Medical School, Adjunct Faculty, 2023
In The Media
Media Mention
- Moses & Singer Healthcare Atty Joins Day Pitney in Hartford, Law360, March 7, 2024
- Day Pitney Adds Attorney Damian Privitera to Healthcare Team, Day Pitney Press Release, March 6, 2024
- With COVID-19 Emergency Orders Lifted, Employers Seek Guidance on Workplace Precautions, Hartford Business Journal , October 16, 2023
- Legal Experts: COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates Easing; Hybrid Work Here to Stay, Hartford Business Journal, August 29, 2022
- No, Employees Aren't Legally Required to Report Positive COVID-19 Tests to Employers, July 19, 2022
- Pandemic Fuels Physician Consolidation Trend, as CT Struggles to Retain Doctors, Hartford Business Journal, March 14, 2022
- Legal Limbo: Firms and Their Clients Scramble to Meet the Federal Vaccine Mandate, ABA Journal, February 1, 2022
- 135 Law Firms Among Best Places to Work for LGBTQ People, Law360, February 4, 2021
- Nonprofit designates over 130 law firms as best places to work for LGBTQ equality; what firms made the list?, ABA Journal, February 4, 2021
- Gov. Lamont's Executive Orders Have Helped CT Beat Back COVID-19, but Some Businesses Want to Curtail His Powers, Hartford Business Journal, July 14, 2020
- COVID-19 Controversy at PA Capitol Calls Into Question Employer Obligations in Telling Workers About Positive Test, WMPT Fox 43, June 2, 2020
- Are You Expecting PPP Loan Forgiveness? Don't Forget This Step, Forbes, May 28, 2020
- Big Law Is Helping Small Businesses Get Back on Their Feet During COVID-19 Health Crisis, Connecticut Law Tribune, May 26, 2020
- STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVES: U.S. Supreme Court Decides Allina and Analysis, Predictions Follow, Health Law Daily, June 10, 2019
- Attorneys React To High Court's HHS Rulemaking Decision, June 4, 2019
- Growing HIPAA Focus Leads To Fresh Compliance Options, Law360, February 27, 2017
- Fewer exchange options could increase health premiums, The Hartford Business Journal, July 18, 2016
- Attys React To High Court's FCA Liability Ruling, Law360, June 17, 2016
- Hospitals, others beef up data security amid tougher oversight, The Hartford Business Journal, April 18, 2016
- Whose Information and Whose Responsibility?, Healthcare Risk Management Review, July 29, 2015
- Attorneys React To Supreme Court's ACA Save, Law360, June 26, 2015
Publications
- Hey, SPACs: Congress and the SEC Would Like a Word With You, Day Pitney Cybersecurity, Healthcare and Technology (C.H.A.T.) Newsletter, December 15, 2021
- National Publication: A 50 State Survey on Opioid Prescribing Requirements, American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA), November 20, 2019
- AHLA Business Law and Governance Practice Group Toolkit, American Health Law Association's (AHLA) Business Law and Governance Practice Group, December 17, 2018
- Enterprise Risk Approach to Successful Population Management, American Health Lawyers Association, American Society of Healthcare Risk Management, January 18, 2017