Clifford E. Barnes, Sloan MBA ’74

Clifford E. Barnes, a 1974 graduate of the Sloan Program, is a Member of the Firm in the Health Care and Life Sciences practice in the firm’s Washington, D.C. and New York offices. He serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Health Plan Compliance Group. An accomplished and respected attorney, Cliff has been employed by the firm for over 35 years and represents providers, including hospitals, nursing homes, home health, hospice, ancillary service companies and managed care companies, concentrating in Medicare and Medicaid. He is the Co-Founder of Medicaid Health Plans of America, Inc., and past Vice Chair of the Accountable Care Organization Task Force of the American Health Lawyers Association.

His success has been acknowledged by his selection to the Washington DC Super Lawyers list in the area of Health Care from 2016 to 2020 and recommended in The Legal 500 United States in the area of Healthcare: Health Insurers in 2016 and 2018. In 2020, Cliff was elected as Fellow in the American Health lawyers Association. In 2019, he was named to Lawyers of Color’s inaugural “Nation’s Best” list. Cliff counsels health care providers and payors on issues related to mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and various forms of contracting, including accountable care organization arrangements, international transactions, antitrust issues, fraud and abuse, and compliance programs. He serves as general and special counsel for post-acute providers, including nursing home, home health, and long-term acute care facilities, as well as for managed care companies, including Medicare and Medicaid health plans, non-profit associations, and the National Medical Association.

Cliff also counsels providers on forming clinically integrated networks, representing providers in JCAHO accreditation appeals. In addition he counsels clients on compliance program effectiveness, on federal and state regulation, including insurance regulation and state health planning regulation, and advises clients in the cannabis and medical marijuana industry on licensing laws, regulatory compliance, and corporate transactions.

Prior to entering University of Virginia law school, Cliff worked as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Health Department and as the Assistant Director for Project Review at the Health System Agency of New York City. He received his BBA from Pace University.

Giving back to the Sloan Program has been a priority for Cliff and his focus on support of students has included ongoing mentorship and career advice, as well as assisting in recruitment. Cliff has generously dedicated his time and philanthropy to the Sloan Program to see its success continue. He has served on several boards and is currently a Board member of CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, the National Association of Health Services Executives, and the MHPA, among others. Cliff speaks regularly on current health care issues.