Mark S. Kennedy is the founder of Kennedy Attorney & Counselors at Law, a health law firm in Dallas, Texas. The firm's practice is focused on health law and health care provider regulatory compliance. Mark has handled a wide array of cases and has broad-based experience. He formerly was Assistant Regional Counsel to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He served nine years in the Dallas Region and was the lead litigation attorney for the 5-state region. He represented the Health Care Financing Administration (now Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, "CMS"), the Inspector General, and other Departmental Agencies in the federal trial and appellate courts and various administrative tribunals. Mark has represented the government in many cases concerning Medicare and Medicaid involving payment and reimbursement disputes, fraud and abuse enforcement, health and safety compliance, and provider bankruptcy. Prior to his work with HHS, Mark was associate counsel for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee. In private practice, Mark's depth of knowledge in health care regulation has proven to be an invaluable asset in successfully representing clients in a wide array of civil and regulatory matters. His background and experience provide him a unique understanding of government decision-making and procedures. Mark's broad-based health care regulation background has brought him numerous honors including the HHS General Counsel's Excellence in Legal Services Award (1992). He was selected to serve as a representative to the North Texas Health Care Fraud Working Group and as faculty of the National Health Lawyers Association. Mark is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Oklahoma Bar Association, American Health Lawyers Association, and participates in other State and Local professional associations. He also is a member of the Dallas Bar Association and was elected to its Executive Health Council.