Elise Dunitz Brennan
Overview
Elise Brennan helps health care organizations navigate complex regulatory, operational, compliance, and transactional matters so they can effectively deliver care, manage risk, and achieve specific strategic objectives.
For more than 30 years, Elise has represented hospitals, health systems, pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies, long-term care facilities, and other health care providers. Clients rely on her counsel across a broad range of matters, including regulatory compliance, operational issues, HIPAA, Medicare reimbursement, fraud and abuse laws, EMTALA, physician recruitment, medical staff matters, licensure, Certificate of Need requirements, Change of Ownership transactions, risk management, and new service development.
A significant portion of Elise’s practice focuses on health care transactions and industry transformation initiatives. She advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, provider integration strategies, accountable care organizations, service line collaborations, non-clinical joint ventures, and provider-payor contracting arrangements. Her experience helps organizations navigate evolving regulatory requirements while pursuing growth and innovation opportunities.
In addition to her counseling and transactional practice, Elise serves as an arbitrator and mediator in health care and commercial disputes. She is a Fellow of the American Health Lawyers Association and was the first Oklahoma attorney elected to that distinction.
Credentials
Education
- Southern Methodist University School of Law (J.D.)
- University of Michigan (M.S.W.)
- Tulane University (B.A.), magna cum laude
- Assisted in the acquisition of a Certificate of Need, bond financing, and regulatory approval for the first life care community in Oklahoma.
- Handled the formation and drafting of all provider and group contracts for a hospital-owned managed care entity in Oklahoma, which offers HMO, PPO, fully-insured, and Medicare Advantage products.
- Represented hospitals in over 20 physician peer review hearings.
- Represented a large physician practice in its acquisition by a large tertiary care hospital.
- Represented investors in the acquisition of primary care and psychiatric hospitals.
- Assisted hospitals and physician practices with compliance self-assessments and remedial actions.
- Guided the restructuring of a large long-term care system and provided advice on new service development.
- Represented an association of independent pharmacies in negotiation of contracts and dispute resolution with national PBMs.
- Represented the largest Oklahoma behavioral health center.
- Served as an arbitrator in excess of four dozen disputes, many between health care providers and payors or partners.
- University of Oklahoma College of Law, Adjunct Professor
- Tulsa Ballet Theater, Board of Directors
- Family & Children’s Services, Board of Directors, Past President; Advisory Board
- Journal of Health and Life Sciences Law, Editorial Board
- American Arbitration Association, Commercial Panel; Health Panel
- American Health Lawyers Association, Fellow
- Board Directors and Executive Committee, Former Member; Credentialing Practice Group, Past Chair; Public Interest Committee, Past Chair; Alternative Dispute Resolution Task Force, Past Chair
- American Health Lawyers Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Panel, Mediator, Arbitrator, and Trainer
- Oklahoma Health Lawyers Association, Past President
- City of Tulsa, Tula City Council, Ethics Advisory Committee (nominated by Mayor)