Stratagem Law Group, PLLC

10/09/2026

Can you challenge a Washington state agency rule? Sometimes, yes. But the process and timing matter.

If your organization is being impacted by a rule (or guidance being treated like a rule), here are four practical questions to start with:

1) Is it actually a "rule" under the Washington APA?
2) Was it adopted through the required process?
3) What is the best procedural path to challenge it (and when)?
4) What is the operational impact if you do nothing?

I put together a plain-English overview here (general information only, not legal advice): https://stratagemlawgroup.com/challenging-washington-agency-rule/

If you want to talk through options for your business or organization, we are happy to help.

10/03/2026

Have you seen this pattern in Medicare Advantage litigation?

A plan removes a provider's state-court case to federal court, then moves to dismiss claiming the provider has not exhausted Medicare's administrative appeals. We call this the "jurisdictional two-step."

Our latest Insights post examines when Section 405(h) actually channels a dispute into Medicare appeals and when it does not. The analysis covers cases from 1996 through 2025, including a Washington case where a solo optometrist's approximately $480 small-claims case was removed to federal court and stayed for 17 months.

If your practice is facing MA recoupment demands, this analysis is worth reading. Law reviewed through September 15, 2026.

Read the full post: https://stratagemlawgroup.com/medicare-advantage-recoupment-section-405h/

This article provides general information and is not legal advice.

Legal Insight. Business Instinct.

Stratagem Law Group: Business and Business Tax Law, Member and Contract Disputes, Nonprofit Law, Civil Litigation, and more.

09/30/2026

When a nonprofit faces a transition or a crisis, the board's first moves matter more than the facts on the ground.

Our latest Insights post outlines four sequential moves a board should make:

1. Establish on the record who has authority to act
2. Secure the organization's records
3. Separate the organization from the people who are leaving
4. Only then, decide what comes next

Whether the trigger is a founder exit, an internal investigation, a lawsuit, or a funder walking away, the board's first four moves are the same. The post draws on Washington nonprofit law (RCW 24.03A) to provide a practical framework.

Read the full post: https://stratagemlawgroup.com/nonprofit-board-transition-first-four-moves/

This article provides general information and is not legal advice.

Legal Insight. Business Instinct.

09/26/2026

When innovation outpaces reimbursement rules, the gap is where False Claims Act cases are born.

In January 2026, DOJ announced that five ophthalmology practices agreed to pay nearly $6 million to resolve FCA allegations tied to trans-cranial Doppler ultrasounds billed to Medicare and Medicaid. DOJ alleged the tests were medically unnecessary, premised on diagnoses patients did not have, and resulted from Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law violations.

The compliance lesson: coding and documentation are risk controls, not administrative afterthoughts. Innovation moves fast. Reimbursement rules do not.

Note: DOJ press releases reflect allegations resolved by settlement, not adjudicated findings of liability.

Read the full analysis: https://stratagemlawgroup.com/doj-ophthalmology-fca-settlement-compliance-lessons/

This post provides general information and is not legal advice.

Legal Insight. Business Instinct.

Stratagem Law Group: Business and Business Tax Law, Member and Contract Disputes, Nonprofit Law, Civil Litigation, and more.

09/19/2026

Today, the Thurston County Superior Court ruled from the bench in favor of our clients in their challenge to Washington's sixteen-child cap on family home child care.

The Court found that WAC 110-300-0358 is VOID, unenforceable, and the prior version is restored. A written order will follow.

Stratagem Law Group Managing Attorney Matthew T. Macklin briefed and argued the case for the providers.

The Court found that the Department of Children, Youth & Families adopted the rule without complying with the Administrative Procedure Act's rulemaking requirements, including the obligation to hold a genuine public hearing and to keep a complete rulemaking file.

Rulemaking procedure is not a formality. When an agency writes a rule that carries the force of law, the people it binds are entitled to notice, a real opportunity to be heard, and a record showing the agency actually considered what it heard. Our clients asked only that this process be followed before authority they had held for years was taken from them. Today the Court agreed.

This is a win for families as much as for providers. Our clients are licensed providers who were approved, home by home, after review of their space and their staffing, to care for more than sixteen children. Family home child care is where many Washington families find care that fits their lives: evenings, overnight shifts, weekends, and the hours that center-based programs do not cover. Parents choose these homes because they know them and trust them. Today's ruling keeps those doors open.

Congratulations to our clients, who were willing to stand up on behalf of the families they serve.

Every case is different; prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Learn more at stratagemlawgroup.com

Stratagem Law Group: Business and Business Tax Law, Member and Contract Disputes, Nonprofit Law, Civil Litigation, and more.

02/06/2026

Business decisions need more than legal advice. How does your counsel support operational growth?

At Stratagem Law Group, we bridge legal strategy with real-world business insight. Our founder’s dual background means your compliance plan is practical and your business goals stay in focus.

Curious how integrated counsel can move your organization forward? Let’s connect.

02/03/2026

Big changes may be coming for healthcare. Pending Washington legislation would reshape how providers do business.

Proposed updates to the corporate practice of medicine act could force structural overhauls or even a total business model shift for clinics and medical groups. The law is poised to eliminate healthcare entity ownership structure and relationships that had been permitted. Are you ready for what’s next?

Stay ahead. Schedule a corporate compliance review with our pros today and get planning. 📄

01/31/2026

Legal insight meets business strategy—every decision counts.

What if your legal counsel understood your operations as well as you do? Imagine risk managed proactively, not reactively.

Stratagem Law Group blends deep legal knowledge with real-world executive experience to help your business grow while staying compliant.

Ready to see how legal and operational counsel can drive your goals? Let’s talk.

01/30/2026

Major compliance shifts. Are you ready?

Medical providers and health systems face evolving Stark, AKS, and FCA rules. Even small changes can mean big risks—or new opportunities.

Discover what matters most for your practice. Let’s talk about proactive steps to keep you ahead.

Connect with Stratagem Law Group today.

01/24/2026

Compliance should protect operations, not paralyze them.

That's the philosophy we explore in our latest podcast episode. Too many organizations treat compliance as a checkbox exercise, missing the strategic advantage it can provide.

We break down how healthcare providers and businesses can build compliance frameworks that actually support growth and operational efficiency.

🎧 Listen to the full episode and discover practical strategies that balance regulatory requirements with business realities. Launching Feb 1.

Visit stratagemlawgroup.com or reach out to discuss how we can help your organization achieve compliant growth.