OVERVIEW

J. Michael Grubbs

Partner

Indianapolis

11 S. Meridian Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204-3535

F 317-231-7433

Experience is the cornerstone of Mike Grubbs’ healthcare practice. He champions providers in regulatory battles, untangles reimbursement problems, and crafts smart strategies that often result in avoiding compliance pitfalls. Mike's dual perspective – as both an industry veteran and a seasoned counselor – gives clients a powerful ally in navigating the changing healthcare landscape.

OVERVIEW
EXPERIENCE
EXPERIENCE
INSIGHTS & EVENTS

OVERVIEW

This insider's view translates into real-world results for Mike's clients. He knows, firsthand, the pressures healthcare organizations face – from operational challenges to bottom-line realities. This deep understanding, earned after decades of advising healthcare clients, allows him to develop practical solutions that can work in boardrooms and courtrooms alike. Whether Mike resolves a thorny licensing issue or steers a client through a high-stakes reimbursement appeal, he is appreciated for his multi-dimensional understanding of both internal and external industry challenges.

Mike's impact as a trusted adviser extends beyond just representing private clients. He's played a key role in shaping healthcare policy, helping draft legislation on critical issues like Medicaid payments and patient record access. This big-picture involvement keeps him at the forefront of industry trends, resulting in advice that is forward-thinking and strategically sound.

Before becoming a lawyer, Mike walked in his clients’ shoes. He worked the front lines as a paramedic, managed the finances of a disability services organization, and advocated for long-term care facilities. This varied background fuels his passion for healthcare law and his ability to see challenges and solutions from every angle – a combination that consistently delivers results for his clients.

Honors

The Best Lawyers in America, 2025

Professional and Community Involvement

Certified Arbitrator and Mediator, American Health Lawyers Association

Former Board Member and Former President, Damar Homes

High School Mock Trial Competition Volunteer Judge, Indiana Bar Foundation

Physician MBA Program Case Competition Judge, IU Kelley School of Business

Former Volunteer, Junior Achievement of Central Indiana

Former Board Member and Former President, Mental Health Association of Indiana

EDUCATION

Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, J.D., 1988

Butler University, M.B.A., 1984

DePauw University, B.A., 1977

Bar Admissions

Indiana

Court Admissions

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

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

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

Languages

English
Practices

Antitrust and Competition Law

Corporate

Food, Drug and Device Law

Litigation

Industries

Fraud and Abuse Compliance and Defense

Healthcare

Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities

Hospitals and Other Healthcare Providers

Medicare and Medicaid Reimbursement

Mergers, Acquisitions, Joint Ventures and Healthcare Innovation

Senior Living, Long-Term Care, Home Health and Hospice

EXPERIENCE

The firm counsels hospitals, home health agencies, long-term care facilities and individual practitioners in administrative litigation with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the Indiana State Department of Health.
A Barnes & Thornburg attorney assisted a number of hospitals and long-term-care facility clients obtain CMS approval of provider taxes.
A Barnes & Thornburg attorney defended group home operator as institutional representative payee against SSA claims for restitution of beneficiaries funds allegedly not used for their benefit.
A Barnes & Thornburg attorney prepared joint venture agreements for many transactions involving institutional pharmacies, MRI centers, contract therapy companies, hospitals, physician group practices, and long term care facilities.
A Barnes &Thornburg attorney helped a client obtain an order evicting a nursing facility tenant and order to seize Medicare and Medicaid funds to satisfy judgment.
A firm attorney advised medical spas regarding scope of practice issues for nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel.
A PM&R physician in professional licensing action regarding opioid prescribing and interventional injections for pain management.
A team of firm attorneys assisted in the $15.5 million sale of a 225-bed skilled nursing facility, which closed Dec. 31, 2013. The consummation of the transactions resulted from a coordinated effort among firm attorneys who handled all of the health care and related regulatory issues, oversaw all real estate aspects of the transactions, navigated union, labor and related employment matters and helped expedite the closing.
Attorneys represented seller of funeral trusts in state court litigation (Marion County and Indiana Court of Appeals) with State Medicaid Agency about Medicaid eligibility of persons who purchase funeral trusts.
Barnes & Thornburg assisted in lobbying efforts that obtained a statutory reclassification of Lake County, Indiana, hospitals to the Chicago, Illinois Medicare wage index.
Barnes & Thornburg attorneys assisted a nursing home client convert from government-owned to a private not-for-profit organization.
Barnes & Thornburg attorneys drafted and negotiated medical director agreements for physician and hospital clients.
Barnes & Thornburg attorneys obtained reversal of State Medicaid Agency order on judicial review in state court (Marion County) prohibiting long-term care facility from using resident personal funds to pay for over-the-counter drugs not covered by Medicaid formulary.
Barnes & Thornburg attorneys represented a nursing home in obtaining Trial Rule 41(b) involuntary dismissal of the Indiana Attorney General’s lawsuit on behalf of the Indiana State Department of Health seeking appointment of a health care receiver of a long-term care facility for persons with developmental disabilities.
Barnes & Thornburg counsels physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals before Indiana Medical Licensing Board and other health professions boards.
Barnes & Thornburg prepared and revised Admission and Life Care Agreements for long-term care facility clients and continuing care retirement communities.
Barnes & Thornburg represented a hospital client in a peer review matter involving summary suspension and revocation of privileges of an osteopathic physician
Barnes & Thornburg represented a publicly-traded long-term care chain with over 30 hospitals and long-term care facilities in Indiana in state licensure and Medicaid enrollment matters during the company’s reorganization into a real estate investment trust (REIT) and an operating company.
Barnes & Thornburg represented several physician clients and were successful with medical staff credentialing and peer review matters.
Counsel to Indiana long term care trade association in state court litigation (Hamilton County) against the State Medicaid Agency enjoining Medicaid reimbursement cuts due to failure to follow proper rulemaking procedures.
Counsel to Indiana long-term care trade association and individual health facility administrators in state court litigation (Marion County) against State Attorney General and Consumer Protection Division Director for malicious prosecution and abuse of process due to over 100 professional licensing complaints filed the same day against HFAs without any investigation whatsoever in response to newspaper criticism of incumbent Governor during an election year for failure to investigate complaints against HFAs. Settled by appointment of RN/JD reviewer to review each complaint. Following review, all complaints against HFAs were dropped.
Counsel to Indiana long-term care trade association in state court litigation (Marion County and Indiana Supreme Court) against Governor and the State Medicaid Agency regarding constitutionality of governor’s veto of bill prohibiting Medicaid rate changes.
Firm attorneys prepared a response leading to closure of an FBI investigation of a seller of a long-term care chain resulting from a Medicare intermediary’s report of alleged document destruction to cover alleged Medicare cost report fraud.
Firm attorneys resolved concerns of Indiana Securities Division about solvency of CCRC by establishing escrow accounts for refundable entrance fees of current residents.
Helped critical access hospital spin off service lines that were formerly treated as non-reimbursable cost centers so as to avoid overhead allocation to those service lines and to increase overhead reimbursement.
Issued legal opinion regarding legality of administration of propofol by nurses in gastroenterology office setting.
Negotiated employment of cardiac and vascular surgeons physician group that dissolved after its physicians became employees of the hospital and the hospital acquired its physical assets.
Negotiated sale of vascular laboratory from cardiac and vascular surgery group to hospital.
Obtained favorable settlement of Medicaid overpayment demand for dental services payments due to invalidity of statistical sampling methodology used.
Obtained rescission of summary suspension of surgeon for alleged disruptive conduct.
Our lawyers helped clients obtain favorable medical necessity rulings from multiple OMHA ALJs in over 150 appeals of Medically Unlikely Edits (MUE) denying Medicare payment for drug screens on patients receiving chronic opioid therapy (COT).
Prepared response leading to closure of Medicare intermediary’s investigation of therapy company due to fraud allegations by long term care facility as a pretext to terminate the therapy company contract.
Represented nursing home trade association in obtaining CMS approval of state plan amendment and regarding provider taxes.
Represented seller of an institutional pharmacy chain to a provider of pharmaceuticals.
The firm has represented several county hospitals and hundreds of nursing facilities in arrangements to convert the nursing facilities to non-state government operated nursing facilities (NSGO NF) eligible to make intergovernmental transfers (IGTs) to fund non-federal share of Medicaid upper payment limit (UPL) payments to those facilities.
The firm represented a physician in the negotiation of an employment contract, including restrictive covenant, call coverage and compensation.
The firm represented various individual health care practitioners and organizations in negotiating and reviewing many employment agreements, leases, management agreements and other contracts.
The firm’s client obtained summary judgment in state court (Hamilton County) against hospital ambulance division that sued long term care facilities for ambulance service payments after unilaterally refunding Medicaid payments for those services.