Office of the General Counsel

The General Counsel manages the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), is a member of the Agency’s Management Team, and advises the Secretary and the Agency Management Team on legal issues relating to the Agency. The General Counsel supervises all OGC Section Chiefs.

OGC provides legal advice and representation for the Agency on all legal matters, including: licensure and regulation of health care facilities; regulation of managed care plans; administration of the Medicaid State plan; recovery of Medicaid overpayments due to abuse or third party liability; and, civil litigation related to various Agency programs. The Agency Clerk’s Office and Public Records Office are also managed by the OGC.

Contact Information:

Josefina M. Tamayo
General Counsel

Mary Gay Templeton
Assistant to the General Counsel
(850) 412-3675
MaryGay.Templeton@ahca.myflorida.com

William H. Roberts
Deputy General Counsel
(850) 412-3664
William.Roberts@ahca.myflorida.com

Mary Clemmons-Haire
Office Manager and Assistant to Deputy General Counsel
(850) 412-3673
Mary.Haire@ahca.myflorida.com

The Agency Clerk's Office

The Agency Clerk’s Office (ACO): receives all requests for hearing and other documents filed with the Agency; reviews all requests for hearing and grants or denies such requests based on their timeliness and legal sufficiency; rules on various motions and requests filed with the Agency; processes and mails all Final Orders issued by the Agency; prepares the record indices and records for every Agency case that is appealed; and oversees the Agency’s Public Records Unit. The Agency Clerk is responsible for implementing the provisions of Chapters 119 and 120, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 28, Florida Administrative Code.

E-Filing with AHCA's Agency Clerk is now available

RICHARD J. SHOOP, AGENCY CLERK

Assistant: Melanie Dyals
(850) 412-3689; Melanie.Dyals@ahca.myflorida.com

Appellate Section

The Appellate Section is responsible for handling and/or monitoring all Agency appeals cases filed in the Florida District Courts of Appeal, Florida Supreme Court, and Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. The Appellate Section is also responsible for advising Agency clients and attorneys in the OGC on issues related to appeals.

TRACY C. GEORGE, CHIEF APPELLATE COUNSEL

Assistant: Catherine Belmont
(850) 412-3632; Catherine.Belmont@ahca.myflorida.com

Facilities Section

The Facilities Section provides legal representation to the Agency’s six HQA Bureaus: Health Facility Regulation, Managed Care, Field Operations, Central Services, Plans and Construction and the Florida Center for Health Information and Policy Analysis. Their representation consists of appearing on behalf of the Agency on licensure and regulation matters, Certificate of Need actions, administrative rule actions, and bankruptcy actions. In addition, the Facilities attorneys prepare bill analysis, draft responses to petitions for declaratory statements, waivers and variances, respond to public records requests, provide representation to Agency employees at depositions, and provide other advice and counsel on HQA legal matters.

THOMAS M. HOELER, CHIEF FACILITIES COUNSEL

Assistant: Sandra Haynes
(850) 412-3677; Sandra.Haynes@ahca.myflorida.com

Litigation Section

The Litigation Section represents and defends the Agency throughout Florida in federal district court and state circuit court. Representation includes such matters as putative class actions; federal constitutional claims (spending clause and equal rights); alleged violations of the federal Medicaid Act; alleged violations of Florida’s Medicaid Act; and others.

ANDREW SHEERAN, CHIEF LITIGATION COUNSEL

Assistant: Cathy Belmont
(850) 412-3632; Catherine.Belmont@ahca.myflorida.com

Medicaid Managed Care Section

The Medicaid Managed Care (MMC) Section provides legal counsel to the Medicaid Division heads and Bureau Chiefs and their staff in all legal matters relating to managed care including: procurements related to managed care, contract management, compliance with federal law, federal waivers, state plan amendments, and legislative bill analysis.

KIM A. KELLUM, CHIEF MEDICAID COUNSEL (MMC Policy and Program Integrity)

Assistant: Martha Gayler
(850) 412-4454; Martha.Gayler@ahca.myflorida.com

Medicaid Administrative Litigation (MAL) and Medicaid Program Integrity (MPI) Section

The Medicaid Administrative Litigation (MAL) and Medicaid Program Integrity (MPI) Section provides legal representation to the Agency in all Medicaid administrative litigation at the state level, including proceedings related to MPI, Fair Hearings, Medicaid Program Finance, Medicaid Policy, Background Screening, and Financial Services matters. This section also represents the Agency in federal administrative litigation. In addition, the attorneys in this section prepare bill analysis, represent the Agency in rule challenges, respond to public records requests, provide legal guidance to the MPI unit, and provide advice and counsel on other matters as needed.

SHENA L. GRANTHAM, CHIEF MAL and MPI COUNSEL

Assistant: Lesley Smith
(850) 412-3672; Lesley.Smith@ahca.myflorida.com

Administrative Rules Coordination

The Rules Coordinator provides legal guidance and recommendations to the Agency’s divisions regarding the rulemaking process. The Agency’s rulemaking activities are reviewed and tracked to ensure compliance with the relevant statutes and rules.

Shena L. Grantham, RULES COORDINATOR

Assistant: Lesley Smith
(850) 412-3672; Lesley.Smith@ahca.myflorida.com

Office of Fair Hearings

The Office of Fair Hearings has been successfully established and provides fair hearings for Medicaid recipients who wish to challenge the denial, reduction, or termination of their Medicaid services.

LAURA GALLAGHER, ACTING CHIEF FAIR HEARING COUNSEL

Assistant: Tonyalyn Herring
OfficeOfFairHearings@ahca.myflorida.com