Lauren R. Nunez
Overview
Lauren R. Nunez is a partner in Crowell & Moring’s Washington, D.C. office, where she is a member of the firm’s Health Care Group. Her practice covers a wide range of litigation and counseling engagements, including representing leading managed care organizations, health benefit plans, health care providers, government contractors, and various other corporate commercial litigants. Lauren litigates complex matters in federal, state, and arbitral forums, with a particular focus on commercial health care disputes, class actions, civil antitrust, and False Claims Act suits. Lauren’s antitrust experience includes mergers and acquisitions and civil antitrust cases. She has represented clients in investigations before the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Labor, and various state enforcement agencies.
Career & Education
- University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D., summa cum laude, 2013
- Providence College, B.A., summa cum laude, 2010
- District of Columbia
- Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Professional Activities and Memberships
- American Health Lawyers Association
Lauren's Insights
Client Alert | 4 min read | 01.23.25
Tri-Agencies Release Third Mental Health Parity Report to Congress
On January 17, 2025, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury (the “Tri-Agencies”) released the 2024 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (“MHPAEA”) Report to Congress (the “Report”). The Report is the third report made by the Tri-Agencies to Congress in accordance with the mandate set forth in the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (“CAA”). The CAA requires that, each year starting in 2021, the Tri-Agencies submit a report to Congress summarizing their activity in the prior year to collect comparative analyses from plans and issuers and any findings made with respect to noncompliance with MHPAEA.[1] Under the CAA, the Report is due by October 1 of each year. This year’s version was published on the last working day of the Biden Administration.
Publication | 12.23.24
Tri-Agencies Finalize NQTL Comparative Analysis Standards In Final Rule
Client Alert | 12 min read | 09.13.24
Tri-Agencies Finalize NQTL Comparative Analysis Standards in Final Rule
Firm News | 8 min read | 08.15.24
Representative Matters
- Trying case behalf of leading health services company to defense verdict in $150 million action involving fraud and breach of contract claims related to the design, build, and operation of a health plan.
- Defending managed behavioral health care organization in response to a joint state and federal investigation of compliance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act for both fully-insured and self-funded plans.
- Representing a health system in an FTC investigation.
- Representing multiple health plans in complex commercial disputes with pharmacy benefit managers and retail pharmacies regarding pharmaceutical reimbursement.
- Defending leading health plan in multiple class actions in federal court concerning compliance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.
- Defending a large health insurer in multiple arbitration proceedings across the nation involving a Medicare Advantage dispute.
- Representing a Medicaid managed care organization in complex litigation with a state concerning actuarial soundness of capitation rates, government contracting, and related performance and transition of care issues.
- Defending a leading health plan in arbitration against a major hospital system in Florida regarding payment of behavioral health claims.
Lauren's Insights
Client Alert | 4 min read | 01.23.25
Tri-Agencies Release Third Mental Health Parity Report to Congress
On January 17, 2025, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury (the “Tri-Agencies”) released the 2024 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (“MHPAEA”) Report to Congress (the “Report”). The Report is the third report made by the Tri-Agencies to Congress in accordance with the mandate set forth in the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (“CAA”). The CAA requires that, each year starting in 2021, the Tri-Agencies submit a report to Congress summarizing their activity in the prior year to collect comparative analyses from plans and issuers and any findings made with respect to noncompliance with MHPAEA.[1] Under the CAA, the Report is due by October 1 of each year. This year’s version was published on the last working day of the Biden Administration.
Publication | 12.23.24
Tri-Agencies Finalize NQTL Comparative Analysis Standards In Final Rule
Client Alert | 12 min read | 09.13.24
Tri-Agencies Finalize NQTL Comparative Analysis Standards in Final Rule
Firm News | 8 min read | 08.15.24
Insights
Tri-Agencies Finalize NQTL Comparative Analysis Standards In Final Rule
|12.23.24
Employee Benefit Plan Review
Increased State Innovation Aimed at Stabilizing ACA Marketplaces
|02.18.20
Crowell & Moring's Health Law Blog
DC Circuit Breathes New Life into AHA's Suit over Medicare Appeals Backlog
|02.24.16
Crowell & Moring's Health Law Blog
Lauren's Insights
Client Alert | 4 min read | 01.23.25
Tri-Agencies Release Third Mental Health Parity Report to Congress
On January 17, 2025, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury (the “Tri-Agencies”) released the 2024 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (“MHPAEA”) Report to Congress (the “Report”). The Report is the third report made by the Tri-Agencies to Congress in accordance with the mandate set forth in the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (“CAA”). The CAA requires that, each year starting in 2021, the Tri-Agencies submit a report to Congress summarizing their activity in the prior year to collect comparative analyses from plans and issuers and any findings made with respect to noncompliance with MHPAEA.[1] Under the CAA, the Report is due by October 1 of each year. This year’s version was published on the last working day of the Biden Administration.
Publication | 12.23.24
Tri-Agencies Finalize NQTL Comparative Analysis Standards In Final Rule
Client Alert | 12 min read | 09.13.24
Tri-Agencies Finalize NQTL Comparative Analysis Standards in Final Rule
Firm News | 8 min read | 08.15.24
