Stephanie F. Johnson

• United States ex rel. Senters v. Quest Diagnostics, Inc. et al., No. 1:10-cv-02202-SCJ (N.D. Ga.); No. 24-12998 (11th Cir.). Secured dismissal of successive amended complaints with court rejecting novel theory and confirming a relator must plead the actual submission of a claim that was not medically necessary to satisfy the falsity element of an FCA violation. Eleventh Circuit upheld the ruling, and the Supreme Court denied cert.
• Represented Regional hospital in qui tam complaint alleging violations of the False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark Law, and state Medicaid Fraud Act. The Relator alleged that a surgeon violated the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute by requesting that the hospital purchase medical devices from a business owned by a family member. The Court dismissed all federal claims with prejudice for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, separately holding that the corporate parent could not be held liable for the actions alleged in the complaint. The court’s opinion also included important holdings favorable to defendants on the scope of the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute.
• Represented national hospice and palliative care provider in an investigation and associated Civil Investigative Demand from the United States Department of Justice, requesting information on potential FCA violations involving allegations of improper medical director relationships. Engaged with the government and was successful in obtaining a declination and Notice of Voluntary Dismissal Without Prejudice of the action to which the Attorney General consented.
• Representing multiple healthcare providers in various stages of government investigations as well as False Claims Act litigation with private relators and the U.S. Department of Justice.
• Have secured numerous declinations to intervene by the DOJ and state Medicaid Fraud Control Units, followed by subsequent dismissal of complaints by the plaintiff/relator following an investigation in FCA qui tam suits.

Stephanie represents healthcare clients in high-stakes False Claims Act (FCA) matters, government investigations and internal investigations. Stephanie has represented clients in more than 40 federal and state false claims and qui tam matters across the country.  She advises clients on a wide range of regulatory and compliance matters, including self-disclosure strategies. In addition, Stephanie has significant experience assisting providers with internal investigations, compliance program assessments, and the negotiation and implementation of Corporate Integrity Agreements. Stephanie also advises providers on how to respond to government contractor audits. She has represented health systems, hospitals, home health and hospice companies, inpatient psychiatric facilities, skilled nursing facilities, laboratories, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, physician practices, durable medical equipment companies, and healthcare technology companies. 

Chambers USA recognized Stephanie from 2019 to 2026 as a healthcare attorney providing concentrated FCA and compliance advice to a range of providers, including matters in False Claims Act proceedings and government investigations.  The Legal 500 named Stephanie as a Healthcare Service Provider who "is particularly adept at defending clients in False Claims Act (FCA) Investigations."  Consulting firm, BTI, named Stephanie a Client Service All-Star in 2021, 2022, and 2023 as one of the attorneys nationwide “who stand above all the others in delivering the absolute best in client service.” In 2020, Stephanie was recognized as a rising star in compliance by Law360. In 2019, Stephanie was part of the King & Spalding team that secured a complete defense verdict on behalf of a hospital system against the California Department of Insurance and a relator in an Insurance Frauds Prevention Act trial, which was recognized as one of the Daily Journal's 2019 Top California Verdicts.

Stephanie co-chairs the Atlanta regional Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) annual meeting and serves on the Board of the Georgia Academy of Healthcare Attorneys. Additionally, Stephanie serves as Vice Chair of the Healthcare Fraud & Compliance Health Law Section of the American Bar Association.  Stephanie has served on Law360's 2022 Georgia Editorial Advisory Board. Stephanie is a regular author and presenter on healthcare enforcement and compliance. 

Stephanie serves on the Grady Health Foundation Board of Directors. 

While in law school, Stephanie was a member of the Mercer Law Review and a member of the Moot Court team.