"Typically, the 'what' is always the same - it's the 'how' that matters. I listen and learn to understand my clients’ objectives, and I move those forward at sensible, appropriate costs."

Howard Pierce counsels both health care third-party payers and property/casualty insurers in cases involving a variety of provider claim over-payment matters throughout the United States. He represents some of the largest health care payers, self-funded organizations, stop loss carriers, Taft Hartley Benefit Funds, and property/casualty insurers in healthcare provider overpayment and cost-containment matters. He has extensive national experience representing whistleblowers in fraud and abuse cases (qui-tam litigation). Howard provides an experienced, specialized, size-tailored and discrete cost-sensitive alternative to most big law firms. He focuses on health care cost containment and false claim whistleblower matters.

Howard’s practice is distinguished by a progressive approach to understanding clients’ business and legal challenges and by a proactive focus on successful solutions compatible with clients’ business and cost objectives. It is an approach that has earned him relationships with clients throughout the United States and the respect of peers.

Over the last three decades, Howard’s practice has involved sophisticated investigations that have been conducted outside the formal process of civil discovery, and the effective use of proprietary technologically advanced data algorithms design and cutting-edge analytical liability and damage analysis. He has negotiated a number of eight-figure settlements with national health care providers, both public and non-public. He also represents whistle-blowers in provider healthcare qui tam/False Claim Act lawsuits. Howard’s anti-fraud efforts and unique approach were featured on 60 Minutes.

Howard’s anti-fraud matters have involved psychiatric hospitals, national and regional hospital chains, homecare providers, mail order pharmacies, clinical laboratories, national dialysis providers, national medical groups, urgent care companies, and regional dental groups. He represents property/casualty insurers in state-based investigations against medical providers, national medical equipment manufacturers and distributors, and others. He has also represented payers in individual cases involving questionable activity by regional or small/health care provider groups. He works closely with prosecutors and investigators around the country in pursuing criminal penalties for fraudulent providers and others committing fraud and has successfully represented defrauded insurance companies at sentencing under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act (18 U.S.C. § 3663A).

Howard spent 16 years as a federal agent, the last 10 of which were as a supervisory investigator with the Office of Inspector General, United States Department of Health and Human Services (recipient of Special Achievement Award from the United States Department of Justice). He then went on to create and lead the group health claims deterrents and detection component of The Hartford Life Insurance Company (Corporate Quality Award Recipient) and was also a corporate officer and Corporate Director of Investigations at Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company. He was outside litigation counsel for MetraHealth Medicare DMERC Region A, Fraud and Abuse Unit (1993-1995) and general counsel for the New England Anti-Fraud Association (1994-2014).

Howard taught at the University of Connecticut School of Law as a Trial Practice Instructor (1996–2002) and frequently provides educational seminars to attorneys and those in business professions regarding paid claims provider overpayment data mining and healthcare fraud, abuse, and insurance fraud issues. His professional affiliations include membership in the Taxpayers Against Fraud Education Fund and the International Claim Association’s Fraud and Risk Management Committee. Formerly, he was co-chair of the American Bar Association, Health Care Fraud and Abuse Sub-committee, member of the ABA Health Law Litigation Section, and on the Executive Committee Computer Laws Section of the Connecticut Bar Association.

Howard is a retired United States Army Reserve Infantry Officer who also served as an enlisted member of the United States Marine Corps. He serves as a member of the Military Officers Association of America. Howard has maintained a large community presence on various committees and boards. Throughout the years he served as a member on the Anti-Defamation League’s Regional Civil Rights Committee (2007-2014) and as President at Congregation Beth Israel (2005-2007) where he has been a member on the Board of Trustees since 1996. He is also a member of Leadership Greater Hartford. He was the 2000 recipient of the National Multiple Sclerosis Corporate Achievers Award and holds a “Distinguished-High Ethical Standing” rating from Martindale-Hubble and has been recognized by Connecticut Super Lawyers® in the area of Healthcare Law. Outside of work, Howard enjoys spending time with his family and their golden, River.