Overview
Attorney Dennis Sapien-Pangindian draws on his experience at HHS-OIG, the largest Inspector General’s office in the U.S. government, to guide health care providers, health plans, and life sciences clients who are confronted with information blocking issues, fraud and abuse issues, grant fraud issues (e.g., NIH, HRSA, ACF), regulatory compliance, health care business disputes, and state and federal government investigations.
Dennis has substantial experience managing internal investigations concerning alleged violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS); and the False Claims Act (FCA). Dennis also has experience with the information blocking law and regulations that were promulgated under the 21st Century Cures Act. Clients value his strategic thinking, sharp litigation skills, and deep knowledge of government health care programs. Dennis helps clients respond to U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) subpoenas and demands, develops investigation work plans, and designs and conducts compliance reviews tailored to clients’ needs, including patient support programs and pharmaceutical sponsored genetic testing programs.
Before joining Epstein Becker Green, Dennis was a health care and life sciences attorney at an international law firm. He previously served as an Associate Counsel in the Administrative and Civil Remedies Branch of HHS-OIG. As Associate Counsel, Dennis represented HHS in various administrative and civil fraud enforcement actions, including FCA, AKS, Stark Law, and Civil Monetary Penalties Law matters. He also negotiated and monitored Corporate Integrity Agreements with several entities on behalf of HHS-OIG and advised HHS on policy issues related to implementing the HHS-OIG’s information blocking authorities under the 21st Century Cures Act.
During law school, Dennis served as a judicial extern in the Cook County Circuit Court, Chancery Division, in Illinois under the Honorable Mary Mikva, currently a Justice on the First District Appellate Court of Illinois.
Dennis also maintains a significant pro bono practice involving civil rights, immigration, breach of contract, and real estate matters.
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Focus Areas
Services
Experience
- Represented a rare disease drug manufacturer under DOJ investigation for alleged off-label promotion of a drug, as a result of which DOJ closed its file on the client.
- Provided representation to a biologics distributor under DOJ investigation into alleged AKS and FCA violations.
- Defended a diagnostics company in a pre-litigation dispute with a hospital over alleged price gouging of COVID-19 testing panels during the pandemic.
- Defended a pharmaceutical company in an internal investigation into potential AKS violations.
- At HHS-OIG, negotiated a significant grant fraud FCA settlement with an academic center.
Recognition
- HHS-OIG's Award for Excellence in Fighting Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (2020)
- Lawyers of Color, “Hot List” (2023)
Credentials
Education
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2017)
- Editor-in-Chief, Annals of Health Law
- Loyola Marymount University (M.A., 2013)
- University of California, Irvine (B.A., 2009)
Bar Admissions
- New York
Professional & Community Involvement
- National Filipino American Lawyers Association, Board of Governors
Insights
Insights
- BlogsThe U.S. Sentencing Commission’s Proposed 2024 Amendments to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines Seek to Restore ...6 minute read
- BlogsONC’s “Information Blocking Enhancements” Under the HTI-1 Rule Are in Effect12 minute read
- BlogsRevised OCR Guidance Provides New Examples, but Raises More Questions, Regarding Use of Online Tracking Technologies by ...8 minute read
- BlogsMain Justice Launches a 90-Day “Policy Sprint” to Launch a Whistleblower Rewards Program7 minute read
- BlogsBioMarin Subpoena Potentially Signals Continued Investigations into Sponsored Testing Programs4 minute read
- PublicationsSponsored Genetic Testing Programs: Compliance Considerations Following DOJ False Claims Act Settlement13 minute read
- PublicationsHHS Publishes Proposed “Disincentives Rule” to Prevent Information Blocking by Health Care Providers15 minute read