Sheppard Mullin gets Baker boost as Healthcare Regulatory Partner

Sheppard Mullin gets Baker boost as Healthcare Regulatory Partner

Clients look to Baker for cutting-edge strategic counseling, risk management, regulatory policy, and government affairs assistance

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has announced the joining of A. Xavier Baker the firm's Healthcare Industry Team as a Partner in its Washington D.C. office.

Baker was previously associated with Crowell & Moring LLP.

"Our many industry-leading healthcare clients will benefit almost immediately from Xavier's extensive capabilities to navigate through the complex emerging issues of mental health parity and to respond effectively to federally mandated parity audits," said Sheppard Mullin Managing Partner MaryJeanette Dee.

"His intimate understanding of the complicated regulatory world in which health plans and other industry players operate and his practical approach to advising healthcare clients on their compliance obligations make him an ideal fit for our firm," MaryJeanette added.

Recognized among The National Law Journal's 2020 list of Health Care Law Trailblazers, Baker counsels national and regional health insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, care coordination organizations, and other specialty healthcare service providers and trade associations in navigating both federal and state health insurance regulatory schemes. These include the rapidly evolving demands under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), medical loss ratio, Medicaid expansion, potential repeal and replacement legislation, and regulatory changes under the Biden Administration.

Clients look to Baker for cutting-edge strategic counseling, risk management, regulatory policy, and government affairs assistance to meet the challenges posed by this constantly changing environment.

He also has experience with federal health care programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE, as well as the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

Eric A. Klein, leader of Sheppard Mullin's Healthcare Industry Team commented, "Xavier brings substantial experience counseling clients on healthcare insurance and managed care regulations, including issues of critical importance to Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and Marketplace health plans like medical loss ratio, non-discrimination and risk adjustment issues."

Baker is a member of the American Bar Association's Health Law Section; the American Health Lawyers Association; the Hispanic National Bar Association; and the Hispanic Bar Association of D.C., where he serves as a mentor to new attorneys and law students. He earned his B.A. and M.A. from Boston College and his J.D. from Duke University School of Law.