John W. Jones Jr.

John W. Jones Jr.

PartnerCo-Leader Healthcare Private Equity, Chair Healthcare Regulatory and Compliance
John W. Jones Jr.
Philadelphia
+1 445 207 7802

John W. Jones is a partner in the Private Equity group at Goodwin, a Co-Leader of the firm’s Healthcare Private Equity practice, and Chair of the Healthcare Regulatory and Compliance practice. He joined the firm in 2023.

John focuses his practice on healthcare private equity and strategic M&A and complex federal and state healthcare regulatory matters. He represents financial sponsors and strategics on a wide range of corporate, M&A, regulatory, structure, governance and compliance matters. Clients with a stake in the healthcare industry rely on John to navigate their most important deals and complex issues. Recognized for his significant expertise and 20+ years of experience in the healthcare M&A industry, John was named Healthcare M&A lawyer of the year by America M&A Atlas Awards in 2019.

John’s clients include private equity firms, strategics (including public and private healthcare companies), providers and suppliers, wholesalers and distributors, pharmaceutical companies, group purchasing organizations and cooperatives, post-acute and alternate site providers (including pharmacies, rehab, home health and hospice), physician groups and physician practice management companies in all healthcare subsectors, senior living organizations, national health systems, academic medical centers, faculty practice plans, IT companies and vendors. He advises clients on corporate planning, finance, and structuring of transactions, including mergers, acquisitions (including platform add-ons and roll-up acquisitions) and dispositions, joint ventures, restructuring and reorganizations, collaborations, partnering arrangements, and strategic alliances.

John counsels healthcare companies throughout the medical and pharmaceutical supply chain on transactions as well advises clients on complex audits and white-collar investigations. John has handled transactions ranging in size from several million to more than $3 billion, and his experience handling white collar matters — including audits and investigations — helps clients to anticipate and minimize deal risk. He has significant experience handling regulatory issues arising under fraud and abuse laws (including the federal Anti-Kickback Statute), Stark, civil monetary penalties law, False Claims Act, healthcare fraud statutes, HIPAA and privacy and security, reimbursement, state laws, including CPOM, fee splitting, licensing, credentialing and state Board issues and mini anti-referral and anti-fraud and abuse laws and other laws that impact healthcare clients and M&A transactions.

John also handles the full range of traditional healthcare and managed care and payor issues such as hospital-physician relations, nonprofit and reserved power issues, attorney general and orphan’s court issues and procedures, certificates of need and licensure, patient rights issues, including care access and delivery issues and reimbursement and payor issues. Providers and suppliers rely on John to interface with some of the top managed care companies and PBMs on some of the most transformative and challenging payment issues including, value-based care and risk share arrangements. John helped establish the first national Medicare Part D PSAO and regularly negotiates agreements with the top five PBMs and payors in the country as well as handling PBM audits and disputes. John is also recognized as one of the nation’s legal leaders with respect to payment and regulatory issues impacting alternate site and at home care providers, group purchasing organizations, and supply chain participants.

Representative Matters

  • $3.1 billion sale of a national assisted living company*
  • $1 billion sale of a national long-term care pharmacy chain to a private equity sponsor*
  • $1 billion+ sale of a group purchasing organization*
  • $750 million+ equity investment in an outpatient pharmacy management company*
  • $500 million+ acquisition of an inpatient pharmacy management company*
  • Sale of cannabis company to multinational public cannabis company*
  • $500 million+ merger of national oncology groups*
  • $300 million+ acquisition and consolidation of staffing company*
  • $500 million+ acquisition of a national pharmacy*
  • $500 million+ recapitalization of specialty and LTC pharmacies*
  • $500 million+ sale of medical device company to a financial sponsor*
  • $400 million+ financial sponsor investment in a PBM*
  • $500 million+ financial sponsor acquisition of veterinary practices and roll-up*
  • $250 million+ group purchasing organization roll-ups**
  • Several complex, $1billion+ REIT, skilled nursing facility and ALF acquisitions in Texas and Louisiana*
  • $200 million+ acquisition of specialty pharmacy by a financial sponsor*
  • $100 million+ financial sponsor acquisition of home care company and subsequent roll-up*
  • $100 million+ physical therapy acquisition and roll-ups*
  • $100 million+ sale of specialty pharmacy to a financial sponsor*
  • $150 million+ sale of behavioral health pharmacy to a financial sponsor*
  • $100 million+ sale of children’s dental platform to financial sponsor*
  • $100 million+ acquisition of retail pharmacy chain by a strategic*
  • $50 million+ sale of revenue cycle management company to financial sponsor*
  • Multi-million dollar health system physician roll-ups*
  • Cleveland Clinic’s formation of the first clinically based GPO*
  • Cancer hospital disposition of cancer center*
  • Complex supply chain and GPO strategic transaction for Walgreens*
  • Senior Care Centers (TX) in several complex, $100 million+ strategic transactions in the skilled nursing facility and post-acute care space, including pharmacy and home health*
  • $100 million+ sale of a urology practice management company*
  • $125 million+ sale of a rehabilitation provider*
  • Private equity sponsor’s investment in a radiology services company*
  • $100 million+ acquisition of ambulance services company*
  • Multiple physician joint ventures with a national dialysis provider*
  • $100 million+ sale of dental practice management company*
  • $150 million+ consolidation and sale of OB/GYN practice management company*
  • $100 million+ merger of national pharmacies*
  • $25 million+ acquisition of telepharmacy/health company by a financial sponsor*
  • Complex specialty pharma and supply chain transaction for Novartis*
  • Significant national and regional health systems affiliations and dispositions*
  • Supply chain, GPO and PSAO transactions for AmerisourceBergen*
  • Advised physician groups (including orthopedics, dermatology, behavioral health, dental, radiology, urology, podiatry, primary care, oncology, emergency medicine, gastroenterology, fertility, women’s health, dialysis, nursing, veterinary, ophthalmology, pain management, and ENT) in several $100 million+ physician practice management deals with financial sponsors and strategics*
  • Complex supply chain transaction for Mayo Clinic*
  • Several $50 million+ provider/supplier acquisitions and dispositions*
  • Formation of national GPO among 5 health systems*
  • Affiliation between largest national children’s hospital GPO and national GPO
  •  Counseled senior care, personal care, CCRCs, independent living, ALFs and group homes on strategic transactions and regulatory matters*

  • Counseling largest national outpatient pharmacy management company on equity investment by Welsh Carson and Walgreen Co.*
  • Counseling one of the largest institutional pharmacies on sale transaction*
  • Counseling financial sponsors and strategic investors on mergers, acquisitions and dispositions and complex federal and state health care regulatory issues impacting M&A transactions*
  • Counseling private equity sponsor in connection with acquisition of Comprehensive Pharmacy Services*
  • Counseling private equity fund regarding exit strategies and disposition of equity interest in managed care organization joint venture*
  • Counseling private equity fund on healthcare regulatory issues impacting disposition of equity interest in group purchasing organization*
  • Counseling private equity fund on healthcare regulatory issues impacting acquisition of third-party administrator and underwriting and claims services company add-on*
  • Establishing buy-sell arrangements for various corporations and partnerships and other strategics, including all participants in the medical and pharmaceutical supply chain*
  • Counseling Summit Health in its combination with WellSpan*
  • Counseling hospitals on affiliations, acquisitions, and dispositions, including the affiliation of Hanover Healthcare PLUS, a community healthcare network in central Pennsylvania that includes the 93-bed Hanover Hospital, in its affiliation with UPMC Pinnacle, the largest health system in the state*
  • Counseling national and regional health systems, physician groups, long-term care facilities, and other providers on regulatory matters, including fraud and abuse, Stark, facility licensure and operations, reimbursement, including Medicare and Medicaid payment, managed care contracting, physician credentialing and termination, and contract issues, including exclusive contracts*
  • Counseling medical device manufacturer of healthcare regulatory issues in connection with initial public offering*
  • Counseling physician and non-physician investors in multispecialty ASC private placement*
  • Advising healthcare staffing company regarding structure, formation and contractual issues, as well as healthcare regulatory and malpractice matters*
  • Counseling second largest dialysis provider in the world on payment and reimbursement issues under government and commercial payment programs*
  • Advising physician groups in establishing independent physician association, hospital-physician joint ventures, provider networks, multiservice organizations, and ancillary service corporations*
  • Counseling pharmaceutical manufacturers regarding fraud and abuse issues, including those presented under sales and marketing arrangements, consulting agreements, and arrangements with healthcare professionals*
  • Advising ASCs, specialty hospitals and outpatient diagnostic centers on regulatory compliance issues under federal and state fraud and abuse laws (including the federal Anti-Kickback Statute), anti-referral laws (including Stark), licensure and securities laws arising from physician and non-physician, including hospital, ownership of these centers and related real estate acquired through a private offering of partnership interests*
  • Advising product developer on healthcare regulatory issues through acquisition, private placement, public offering, and commercialization matters*
  • Counseling suppliers and vendors in connection with fraud and abuse and healthcare regulatory issues impacting their businesses and arrangements with other healthcare organizations and individual providers*
  • Advising hospitals and other healthcare organizations in connection with establishing and/or joining group purchasing organizations*
  • Advising public medical transcription services company on healthcare regulatory issues impacting its business, including issues under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and civil monetary penalties law*
  • Counseling rehabilitation center on formation and structural issues and state and federal healthcare regulations, including fraud and abuse, anti-referral laws, professional licensure regulations, and fee splitting statutes*
  • Representing hospitals and health systems in connection with managed care payment issues, standard of care, and utilization review procedures*
  • Assisting health systems, physicians and other providers in formulating and executing managed care business strategies, purchase and sale of physician practices, formation and operation of ancillary joint ventures, and mergers and acquisitions*
  • Advising lenders in connection with certain healthcare regulatory issues (including Stark, fraud and abuse, and HIPAA) impacting acquisitions and joint ventures*
  • Counseling largest long-term care pharmacy GPO on fraud and abuse issues, safe harbor regulations, and regulatory issues impacting its relationships with other members in the medical supply chain, including manufacturers, suppliers, and pharmacies*
  • Advising Medicare Part D pharmacy network manager on rebate, discount and PDP issues under Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003*
  • Counseling multispecialty physician group on development of specialty hospital and private placement*
  • Counseling national retail and long-term care pharmacy chain regarding state and federal healthcare regulatory issues impacting its business and negotiate and draft agreements with vendors and suppliers*
  • Counseling private multisite radiology practice on federal and state fraud and abuse, Stark, fee splitting, licensure and government and private payor reimbursement issues*
  • Advising providers, including hospitals, physician groups, and medical device companies on billing and claims issues, draft corporate compliance programs and procedures, and assist with implementing plan and monitoring compliance*
  • Advising manufacturers, medical device companies, physician practice groups, hospitals, and other providers and suppliers on the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark (and safe harbors) in connection with marketing programs, physician recruitment deals and discount, and rebate arrangements*
  • Counseling nonprofit hospital on disposition of its equity interest in cancer center*
  • Structuring strategic alliances, partnering arrangements and collaborations both in traditional healthcare and life sciences space*
  • Advising startups and emerging healthcare businesses on corporate formation, structure, governance and compliance issues*
  • Advising specialty multi physician groups on fraud and abuse and marketing guidelines, including structuring plans and programs under civil monetary penalties law and federal Anti-Kickback Statute*

  • Counseling biotech and manufacturers in life sciences space on wholesale distribution and GPO contracting*
  • Counseling biotechnology companies on strategic alliances and partnering arrangements with “big pharma”*
  • Counseling academic institutions, research organizations and biotechnology companies on clinical research issues*
  • Counseling research sponsors in connection with clinical trials, research and development procedures, and compliance with FDA and HIPAA regulations*
  • Drafting clinical trial documents and agreements, including master services agreements, clinical study agreements, protocols, agreements with CROs, confidentiality agreements, informed consent, and authorization forms*
  • Counseling emerging life science business on raising funds in private placement and additional rounds of financing*
  • Advising research organizations on indemnification, regulatory compliance, and safe harbor issues under fraud and abuse and anti-referral laws*

  • Advising physician network on data use rights and monetization with pharma manufacturers*
  • Advising healthcare systems, providers and vendors in connection with interpretation and implementation of HIPAA privacy, security and transaction and code set regulations, including development of privacy policies, notices, authorizations, and business associate and data use agreements*
  • Assisting software vendors in structuring and developing tools for transactions and claims processing and electronically exchanging protected health information in compliance with HIPAA and development of direct data entry systems*
  • Assisting in structuring and developing of systems (including debit card payment systems) for healthcare payment incompliance with HIPAA*
  • Counseling hospitals and health systems, providers and suppliers on e-commerce issues, including healthcare regulatory issues (such as fraud and abuse) impacting web-site development and hosting arrangements*
  • Advising parties concerning complex commercial transactions involving research and development, product launch, and product life cycle*
  • Advising vendors on development and commercialization of technology innovations, including disease management, charity care, prescription drug plan, and electronic health records tools*
  • Structuring business process outsourcing transactions, including accounting, billing, and practice management*
  • Advising software vendors on HIPAA and state law privacy and confidentiality compliance issues impacting electronic health records and the nuances presented by HIV/AIDS, mental health, and drug and alcohol records*
  • Assisting CROs and product and device manufacturers in development of protocols, research, and investigator agreements and informed consent and authorizations in compliance with HIPAA*
  • Counseling educational institutions regarding obligations under HIPAA privacy regulations*
  • Advising healthcare systems on privacy and security aspects of computer systems, networks, and data, including HIPAA review and drafting policies and procedures in connection with use of technology*

* Denotes experience prior to joining Goodwin.

Professional Experience

John is an avid writer and speaker and is looked to nationally for his opinion on healthcare M&A and complex regulatory matters.

He is a former member of the adjunct faculty at Drexel University Kline School of Law and established and taught the Health Law Practicum in the Health Law Concentration to upper-level students.

John worked as a law clerk and as a health policy intern during law school at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, where he co-wrote “Department of Health - Powers and Duties under Pennsylvania Law” (rev. 1996).

Credentials

Education

JD1997

The Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law

(associate editor, Dickinson Journal of International Law;
D. Arthur Magaziner Human Services Award
Jack M. Mumford Memorial Health Law Scholarship
Monroe E. Trout Law and Medicine Award
Excellence for the Future, Consumer Protection Award
Excellence for the Future, State Securities Regulation Award)

MSW1997

University of Pennsylvania

BA1993

University of Delaware

(cum laude)

Admissions

Bars

  • Pennsylvania

Courts

  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Recognition & Awards

  • USA Private Equity Deal of the Year (InTandem Capital Partners acquires OrthoNebraska), Americas and Global Markets M&A Atlas Awards, 2024
  • Chambers USA 2023: Band 2, Healthcare
  • Health Services Deal of the Year, 2022
  • Deal of the Year Mid-Market, 2021
  • Pharmacy Services Deal of the Year, 2021
  • “Best of the Bar,” Philadelphia Business Journal, 2021
  • USA Deal of the Year, 2020
  • Healthcare M&A Lawyer of the Year, America M&A Atlas Awards, 2019
  • USA Private Equity Deal of the Year, 2019
  • Health Services Deal of the Year, 2018

Publications

  • Co-Author, “California Assembly Bill 3129, Regulating Private Equity- and Hedge Fund-backed Healthcare Transactions, Awaiting Governor’s Approval,” Goodwin Client Alert, September 5, 2024
  • Panelist, “Healthcare Deals: Poised for Recovery,” Global Growth & Deals Forum, January 30, 2024
  • Co-Author, “California OHCA Publishes Final Regulations Regarding Healthcare Transaction Filing Requirements and Review Process,” Goodwin Client Alert, January 22, 2024
  • Panelist, “Hot Topics Impacting Healthcare Transactions”, 42nd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference 2024, January 10, 2024
  • Panelist, “Navigating Complex Healthcare Transactions in a Challenging Deal Market”, 42nd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference 2024, January 9, 2024
  • Co-Author, “Additional Disclosure Required: CMS Implements Substantial Changes to Reporting Skilled Nursing Facility Ownership Information,” Goodwin Client Alert, December 1, 2023
  • Co-Author, “Cybersecurity Toolkit for Healthcare and Public Health Sector,” Goodwin Client Alert, November 21, 2023
  • Speaker, “Long-Term Care Pharmacy Services to At-Home LTC Patients,” ASHP 2022 Midyear Clinical Meeting & Exhibition, December 7, 2022
  • Speaker, “Mergers and Acquisitions and the Regulatory Landscape in the Post-Acute Provider Space,” Premier Continuum 2022 National Meeting, November 14, 2022
  • Speaker, “Long-Term Care Pharmacy Services to At-Home LTC Patients,” American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) 2022 Annual Meeting & Exhibition, November 5, 2022
  • Panelist, “Let’s Make a Deal: Ensuring a Smooth Transaction,” National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP) Annual Meeting and Expo, September 19, 2022
  • Speaker, “Where Are the Best Healthcare Deals Today?,” ACG NY Healthcare Conference, June 22, 2022
  • Moderator, “Long Term M&A Mindset: Buy, Sell or Exit?” LTC 100 Leadership Conference 2022, May 24, 2022
  • Panelist, “Healthcare: Specialty Practices,” USA Growth & Deals, 4th Annual Forum, May 4, 2022
  • Panelist, “Healthcare M&A,” 13th Annual Americas M&A Atlas Growth & Deals Forum, January 26, 2022
  • Speaker, “Strategies and Legal Issues Concerning Senior Living and Post-Acute Mergers and Acquisitions,” Oregon Healthcare Association (OHCA) Annual Convention, November 10, 2021
  • Moderator, “Hospital & Other Providers Roundtable,” 13th Annual Investment and M&A Opportunities in Healthcare Conference, September 20, 2021
  • Panelist, “State of the Healthcare M&A Industry,” 13th Annual Investment and M&A Opportunities in Healthcare Conference, September 20, 2021
  • Panelist, “Smartest M&A and Development Strategies in the COVID SNF Bust,” LTC 100 Leadership Conference, May 9-12, 2021
  • Speaker, “Deals Outlook: Healthcare Trends,” Global M&A Network: USA Growth & Deals Annual Intelligence Forum, May 25-26, 2021
  • Moderator, “Track 2: Investors Panel: Where are investors placing their bets?” ACG New York 13th Annual Healthcare Conference, February 25-26, 2021
  • Speaker, “Compliance Issues Facing Hospital-Based Specialty Pharmacies,” American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear 2020 Clinical Meeting and Exposition, December 6-10, 2020
  • Speaker, “Sector Review: Healthcare M&A,” Americas Growth and Deals Forum, November 16, 2020
  • Speaker, “Specialty Pharmacy Services to At-Home Patients,” NASP 5th Annual Specialty Law Conference, September 14, 2020
  • Speaker, The Oregon Healthcare Association Board of Directors Retreat, July 15, 2020
  • Conference Planner, ACG 12th Annual Healthcare Conference, February 27, 2020
  • Speaker, “Private Equity: Deals, Strategists and Value Creation,” Global M&A Network’s Americas Growth and Deals 11th Intelligence Forum, October 24, 2019
  • Speaker, “Compliance Issues Facing Hospital-Based Specialty Pharmacies,” NASP Fourth Annual Specialty Pharmacy Law Conference, September 12, 2019
  • Presenter, “Current State of the DSO Market,” Webinar Co-hosted by Provident Healthcare Partners and Pepper Hamilton, April 25, 2019
  • Speaker, “Stark Law and the Anti-Kickback Statute: Challenges, Pitfalls and Safe Harbors,” The Knowledge Group Webcast, April 2, 2019
  • Co-Author, “Healthcare M&A Activity Remains Immune to COVID-19,” Middle Market Growth, Winter 2021
  • Co-Author, “Protecting Your Company From Increased Scrutiny After Release of ARCOS Opioid Data,” Pepper Hamilton Client Alert, August 22, 2019
  • Co-Author, “HHS Proposes ‘Sweeping’ Changes to Pharmacy Drug Pricing,” Pepper Hamilton Client Alert, February 7, 2019.
  • Author, “Healthcare Attracts Corporates and PE,” Middle Market Growth, May/June 2018
  • Co-Author, “OIG Issues HHS Fiscal Year 2016 Work Plan,” Pepper Hamilton Client Alert, November 17, 2015
  • Quoted, “Hospitals Contracting for Specialty Pharmacy Services Face Compliance Issues,” Specialty Pharmacy Continuum, February 23, 2021