
Partner
Stamford
Email: ssobkowiak@murthalaw.com
Phone: 203-653-5400
Fax: 203-653-5444
New Haven
Phone: 203-772-7782
Fax: 203-772-7777
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Bar & Court Admissions
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
Education
- Boston College Law School (J.D., 2004)
- University of Delaware (B.S., summa cum laude, 2001)
Stephanie Sprague Sobkowiak
Stephanie Sprague Sobkowiak, a partner, a member of the firm's Executive Committee, and co-chair of the firm’s Health Care Practice Group, is recognized as one of Connecticut’s top lawyers for health care providers.
Described in Chambers USA as “a really strong lawyer” who “cuts through the nonsense” to solve problems, Stephanie represents physicians, hospitals, home health and post-acute care providers, and others in the health care industry. She handles compliance, regulatory, managed care, risk management and reimbursement issues, including fraud and abuse claims, payor contracts, medical staff and credentialing matters, Certificates of Need (CON) documentation, and HIPPA and other patient record security breaches.
Stephanie’s clients rely on her counsel to prepare detailed contracts such as physician and physician extender employment agreements, service agreements, medical staff bylaws and related documents. She strives to understand her clients’ goals and strategic vision in order to provide legal plans that make sense in the context of their businesses.
Known for her negotiation skills, Stephanie credits her success to applying a pragmatic approach when resolving disputes between her clients and opposing parties. She has negotiated numerous managed care agreements, advised on payor relationship issues, advocated for clients in matters before the Connecticut Department of Public Health and handled a variety of complex Medicare/Medicaid matters. She also drafts and negotiates purchase and sale transactions for health care clients.
Stephanie frequently shares her knowledge of federal and state regulatory requirements impacting electronic medical records, patient information and Medicare/Medicaid by speaking at seminars and authoring articles. Her insight on these topics, as well as other timely risk-avoidance issues, benefits a wide audience of health care professionals, lawmakers, accountants, lawyers and others.
- Listed as leading Healthcare lawyer in Chambers USA, Chambers & Partners-Publishing (Chambers.com)
-
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® as Lawyer of the Year in the area of Health Care Law, 2022 (Copyright 2019 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC)
-
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Health Care Law, 2020-2022 (Copyright 2019 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC)
-
Connecticut Law Tribune 2014 New Leader in the Law
- Listed as Connecticut Super Lawyers® Rising Star in the area of Health Care in 2014 (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.).
- Connecticut Bar Association - Health Law Section
- American Health Law Association
- Saugatuck Child Care Services, Incorporated d/b/a A Child's Place, Former Member of Executive Board of Directors & Past President
- August 19, 2021 - 40 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition
- May 21, 2021 - Murtha Cullina LLP Recognized by Chambers USA
- August 20, 2020 - 48 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition
- April 23, 2020 - Murtha Cullina LLP Recognized by Chambers USA
- January 7, 2020 - Stephanie Sprague Sobkowiak Named Chair of Murtha Cullina LLP Regulatory Department
- February 2, 2016 - Stephanie Sprague Sobkowiak Named Co-Chair of the Health Care Practice Group
- January 2, 2015 - Stephanie Sprague Sobkowiak Elected Partner of Murtha Cullina LLP
- November 24, 2014 - Attorney Leads Donation Drive for Local Non-Profit Organization
- September 30, 2014 - Connecticut Law Tribune Names Murtha Cullina Attorneys New Leaders in Law
- Murtha Cullina Welcomes New Associates
- January 17, 2018 - PrivacyAndCybersecurityPerspectives.com: Connecticut Recognizes New Cause of Action for Breach of Patient/Physician Confidentiality
- April 25, 2017 - PrivacyAndCybersecurityPerspectives.com: OCR Published Three HIPAA Settlements in Two Weeks, Signaling a Ramp Up of HIPAA Enforcement Activity
- October 5, 2015 - Stephanie Sprague Sobkowiak Quoted In Ambulatory M&A Advisor Article Entitled "The Price of Good Will"
- October 2014 - Article by Paul E. Knag and Stephanie Sprague Sobkowiak published in AAA Dispute Resolution Journal
- May 16, 2014 - Health Law: Data Breaches In Health Care
- March 30, 2022 - Stephanie Sobkowiak Presenting “How to Proactively Manage Risks By Viewing Regulatory Compliance Through the Lens of an IRO” for the HCCA 26th Annual Compliance Institute
- October 23, 2020 - Stephanie Sobkowiak Presenting on Information Blocking Final Rule for the CT Health Information Management Association
- September 27, 2017 - Stephanie Sobkowiak and Dena Castricone Speaking at 2017 HFMA CT Legal/Legislative Update
- June 22, 2017 - H. Kennedy Hudner, Burt Cohen and Stephanie Sobkowiak to present at "Sales of Goods, Software/Cloud Licensing, Indemnifications, Cyber Security Issues in Contracting" CLE
- June 9, 2017 - Stephanie Sobkowiak and Dena Castricone to present "HIPAA" at present at the CT Society of Eye Physicians' Scientific Programs and Technology Expo
- June 9, 2017 - Stephanie Sobkowiak and Dena Castricone to present "Cybersecurity" at present at the CT Society of Eye Physicians' Scientific Programs and Technology Expo
- February 23, 2017 - Stephanie Sprague Sobkowiak To Be Panelist for the CT Healthcare Financial Management Association Women in Leadership Conference.
- January 10, 2017 - Stephanie Sobkowiak and Ryan Suerth presenting "Hacked: Counseling Clients After a Data Breach" at CLE for CBA Young Lawyers Section
- October 6, 2016 - Stephanie Sobkowiak and Daniel Kagan to present “Health Care Legal Update” seminar for the Healthcare Financial Management Association and the CT Society of CPAs
- June 10, 2016 - Stephanie Sobkowiak and Jennifer Corvo to present on Practice Management to the CT Society of Eye Physicians in Southington, CT.
- October 2015 - Stephanie Sobkowiak to present “Health Care Legal Update” seminar for the Healthcare Financial Management Association and the CT Society of CPAs
- November 2014 - Stephanie Sobkowiak to Co-Present of “Surviving in the World of Managed Care" Disputes, Contracting and Joint Negotiating” for the Healthcare Financial Management Association
- November 2014 - Stephanie Sobkowiak to Co-Present at the "Successful Physician Integration" A Connecticut Perspective" seminar for the Healthcare Financial Management Association
- September and October 2014 - Stephanie Sobkowiak to Co-present “Cloud Agreements! Ignore the Hype" Read the Fine Print” to the Massachusetts Health Information Management Association
- September 2014 - Stephanie Sobkowiak to Co-Present "Health Care Legal Update" for the Healthcare Financial Management Association
- November 2013 - Stephanie Sobkowiak to present at the Crossroads Venture Group Boardroom Series - Health Care Transactions in CT: Recent Market and Process Developments.
- October 2013 - Stephanie Sobkowiak to present "Meaningful Use Update" for the Healthcare Financial Management Association.
- October 2013 - Stephanie Sobkowiak to present "Crossing Two Midnights - The Final Rule" for the Massachusetts Hospital Association and the Massachusetts Health Information Management Association
- May 2008 - Stephanie Sobkowiak to present Medical Records Law Seminar for physician practices and hospital personnel in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Stephanie Sprague Sobkowiak, a partner, a member of the firm's Executive Committee, and co-chair of the firm’s Health Care Practice Group, is recognized as one of Connecticut’s top lawyers for health care providers.
Described in Chambers USA as “a really strong lawyer” who “cuts through the nonsense” to solve problems, Stephanie represents physicians, hospitals, home health and post-acute care providers, and others in the health care industry. She handles compliance, regulatory, managed care, risk management and reimbursement issues, including fraud and abuse claims, payor contracts, medical staff and credentialing matters, Certificates of Need (CON) documentation, and HIPPA and other patient record security breaches.
Stephanie’s clients rely on her counsel to prepare detailed contracts such as physician and physician extender employment agreements, service agreements, medical staff bylaws and related documents. She strives to understand her clients’ goals and strategic vision in order to provide legal plans that make sense in the context of their businesses.
Known for her negotiation skills, Stephanie credits her success to applying a pragmatic approach when resolving disputes between her clients and opposing parties. She has negotiated numerous managed care agreements, advised on payor relationship issues, advocated for clients in matters before the Connecticut Department of Public Health and handled a variety of complex Medicare/Medicaid matters. She also drafts and negotiates purchase and sale transactions for health care clients.
Stephanie frequently shares her knowledge of federal and state regulatory requirements impacting electronic medical records, patient information and Medicare/Medicaid by speaking at seminars and authoring articles. Her insight on these topics, as well as other timely risk-avoidance issues, benefits a wide audience of health care professionals, lawmakers, accountants, lawyers and others.
- Listed as leading Healthcare lawyer in Chambers USA, Chambers & Partners-Publishing (Chambers.com)
-
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® as Lawyer of the Year in the area of Health Care Law, 2022 (Copyright 2019 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC)
-
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Health Care Law, 2020-2022 (Copyright 2019 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC)
-
Connecticut Law Tribune 2014 New Leader in the Law
- Listed as Connecticut Super Lawyers® Rising Star in the area of Health Care in 2014 (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.).
- Connecticut Bar Association - Health Law Section
- American Health Law Association
- Saugatuck Child Care Services, Incorporated d/b/a A Child's Place, Former Member of Executive Board of Directors & Past President
- August 19, 2021 - 40 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition
- May 21, 2021 - Murtha Cullina LLP Recognized by Chambers USA
- August 20, 2020 - 48 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition
- April 23, 2020 - Murtha Cullina LLP Recognized by Chambers USA
- January 7, 2020 - Stephanie Sprague Sobkowiak Named Chair of Murtha Cullina LLP Regulatory Department
- February 2, 2016 - Stephanie Sprague Sobkowiak Named Co-Chair of the Health Care Practice Group
- January 2, 2015 - Stephanie Sprague Sobkowiak Elected Partner of Murtha Cullina LLP
- November 24, 2014 - Attorney Leads Donation Drive for Local Non-Profit Organization
- September 30, 2014 - Connecticut Law Tribune Names Murtha Cullina Attorneys New Leaders in Law
- Murtha Cullina Welcomes New Associates
- May 19, 2022 - Health Care Providers Beware: Subpoenas Continue to Be a Source of Concern
- October 27, 2021 - Labor & Employment Group News: Handling COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates: Federal Agencies Continue to Issue Guidance
- June 16, 2021 - Health Care and Long-Term Care Groups News: OSHA Announces COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard for Healthcare Industry
- December 22, 2020 - Health Care Group News: Breaking Down the New Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute Final Rules
- October 30, 2020 - Health Care Group News: UPDATE: Information Blocking Final Rule Implementation Delayed
- October 14, 2020 - Health Care Group News: Compliance Check-In: Are You Ready For The Information Blocking Rule?
- May 1, 2020 - Health Care Group News: Round-Up Of Recent Connecticut Executive Orders Pertaining To Health Care Providers
- April 1, 2020 - Health Care Group News: In Light of COVID-19, CMS Issues Additional Waivers
- March 30, 2020 - Health Care Group News: CMS Expands Accelerated and Advance Payment Program to Provide Financial Assistance to Medicare Providers During COVID-19 Emergency
- March 25, 2020 - Health Care Group News: DPH Temporarily Allows Out Of State Practitioners To Render Healthcare Services To Connecticut Residents
- March 23, 2020 - Health Care Group News: Temporary Certificate of Need Waivers During Covid-19 Public Health Emergency
- March 4, 2020 - Health Care Group News: A Reminder That Covered Entities Of All Sizes Need To Comply With HIPAA Security Rule
- October 30, 2019 - Health Care Group News: A HIPAA Compliance Program "In Disarray" Leads to OCR Imposing a $2.15 Million Civil Monetary Penalty
- June 3, 2019 - Health Care Group News: But, I'm Just a Business Associate . . . Think Again.
- March 12, 2019 - Health Care Group News: OIG Allows Hospital to Provide Free In-Home Patient Care
- January 17, 2018 - Health Care Group News: Connecticut Recognizes New Cause of Action for Breach of Patient/Physician Confidentiality
- January 3, 2018 - Health Care Group News: CMS Clarifies that Texting of Orders is Not Permitted
- September 7, 2017 - Health Care Group News: Summer Is Over ... Time For Connecticut Health Care Providers To Get Up To Speed On Recent Changes
- June 28, 2017 - Health Care & Long-Term Care Group News: Data Breaches Most Expensive For Health Care Industry But Precautionary Measures Can Keep Costs Down
- June 15, 2017 - Health Care Group News: OCR Releases Checklist On What To Do Following A Cyber Attack
- April 25, 2017 - Health Care Group News: OCR Published Three HIPAA Settlements in Two Weeks, Signaling a Ramp Up of HIPAA Enforcement Activity
- April 10, 2017 - Health Care Group News: FBI Releases Warning on Cyber Criminals Targeting Sensitive Information Through File Transfer Protocol Servers
- January 5, 2017 - Health Care Group News: Texas District Court Preliminarily Enjoins Partial Enforcement of Section 1557
- November 10, 2016 - Health Care Group News: A (Temporary) Sigh of Relief for Hospital Expansion: CMS Releases Final Rule regarding Provider-Based Departments
- November 9, 2016 - Health Care Group News: Section 1557's Nondiscrimination Mandates - Is Your Practice Compliant?
- August 16, 2016 - Health Care Group News: Bitcoin. System Lockdown. Data Held Hostage. Ransom Demand.
- May 26, 2016 - Health Care Group News: Part Two: The Rest of SB 351 (Now Public Act 16-95)
- May 6, 2016 - Health Care Group News: Connecticut Limits Physician Non-Competition Agreements: Just one piece of SB 351
- March 29, 2016 - Health Care and Long-Term Care Groups News: The HIPAA Phase 2 Audits Have Arrived
- March 24, 2016 - Information Security and Privacy Group News: Cybersecurity Conference Essential Take-Aways Government, Industry and Legal Perspectives
- February 22, 2016 - Health Care Group News: Final Rule Regarding Return Of Medicare Overpayments Is More Favorable to Providers Than Anticipated
- December 3, 2015 - Health Care Group News: CMS Finalizes Two New Stark Exceptions and Provides Some Clarity to Others
- November 16, 2015 - Health Care Group News: Bi-Partisan Budget Act Affects New Provider-Based Facilities
- November 2014 - Patients Can Sue in State Court for Confidentiality/Privacy Breaches Despite HIPAA
- October 2014 - State Attorney General Issues Guidance Regarding the Reporting of Certain Physician Transactions
- Hospital Acquisition of a Large Physician Practice Draws Federal Antitrust Enforcement
- Finally! Final Rule for the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA)
- The Stuff of Nightmares: EMR Vendor Cuts Off Access to Medical Records, Leaves Health Center in Very Bad Place
- OIG Rejects a New Twist on Pod Labs
- More Tinkering with the Medicare Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program
- January 17, 2018 - PrivacyAndCybersecurityPerspectives.com: Connecticut Recognizes New Cause of Action for Breach of Patient/Physician Confidentiality
- April 25, 2017 - PrivacyAndCybersecurityPerspectives.com: OCR Published Three HIPAA Settlements in Two Weeks, Signaling a Ramp Up of HIPAA Enforcement Activity
- October 5, 2015 - Stephanie Sprague Sobkowiak Quoted In Ambulatory M&A Advisor Article Entitled "The Price of Good Will"
- October 2014 - Article by Paul E. Knag and Stephanie Sprague Sobkowiak published in AAA Dispute Resolution Journal
- May 16, 2014 - Health Law: Data Breaches In Health Care
- March 30, 2022 - Stephanie Sobkowiak Presenting “How to Proactively Manage Risks By Viewing Regulatory Compliance Through the Lens of an IRO” for the HCCA 26th Annual Compliance Institute
- October 23, 2020 - Stephanie Sobkowiak Presenting on Information Blocking Final Rule for the CT Health Information Management Association
- September 27, 2017 - Stephanie Sobkowiak and Dena Castricone Speaking at 2017 HFMA CT Legal/Legislative Update
- June 22, 2017 - H. Kennedy Hudner, Burt Cohen and Stephanie Sobkowiak to present at "Sales of Goods, Software/Cloud Licensing, Indemnifications, Cyber Security Issues in Contracting" CLE
- June 9, 2017 - Stephanie Sobkowiak and Dena Castricone to present "HIPAA" at present at the CT Society of Eye Physicians' Scientific Programs and Technology Expo
- June 9, 2017 - Stephanie Sobkowiak and Dena Castricone to present "Cybersecurity" at present at the CT Society of Eye Physicians' Scientific Programs and Technology Expo
- February 23, 2017 - Stephanie Sprague Sobkowiak To Be Panelist for the CT Healthcare Financial Management Association Women in Leadership Conference.
- January 10, 2017 - Stephanie Sobkowiak and Ryan Suerth presenting "Hacked: Counseling Clients After a Data Breach" at CLE for CBA Young Lawyers Section
- October 6, 2016 - Stephanie Sobkowiak and Daniel Kagan to present “Health Care Legal Update” seminar for the Healthcare Financial Management Association and the CT Society of CPAs
- June 10, 2016 - Stephanie Sobkowiak and Jennifer Corvo to present on Practice Management to the CT Society of Eye Physicians in Southington, CT.
- October 2015 - Stephanie Sobkowiak to present “Health Care Legal Update” seminar for the Healthcare Financial Management Association and the CT Society of CPAs
- November 2014 - Stephanie Sobkowiak to Co-Present of “Surviving in the World of Managed Care" Disputes, Contracting and Joint Negotiating” for the Healthcare Financial Management Association
- November 2014 - Stephanie Sobkowiak to Co-Present at the "Successful Physician Integration" A Connecticut Perspective" seminar for the Healthcare Financial Management Association
- September and October 2014 - Stephanie Sobkowiak to Co-present “Cloud Agreements! Ignore the Hype" Read the Fine Print” to the Massachusetts Health Information Management Association
- September 2014 - Stephanie Sobkowiak to Co-Present "Health Care Legal Update" for the Healthcare Financial Management Association
- November 2013 - Stephanie Sobkowiak to present at the Crossroads Venture Group Boardroom Series - Health Care Transactions in CT: Recent Market and Process Developments.
- October 2013 - Stephanie Sobkowiak to present "Meaningful Use Update" for the Healthcare Financial Management Association.
- October 2013 - Stephanie Sobkowiak to present "Crossing Two Midnights - The Final Rule" for the Massachusetts Hospital Association and the Massachusetts Health Information Management Association
- May 2008 - Stephanie Sobkowiak to present Medical Records Law Seminar for physician practices and hospital personnel in Bridgeport, Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- Boston College Law School (J.D., 2004)
- University of Delaware (B.S., summa cum laude, 2001)