- Represented a managed care company in arbitrations and lawsuits throughout the country brought by providers challenging drug sourcing requirements.
- Represented a managed care company in antitrust litigation involving allegations of price fixing and market monopolization.
- Secured the dismissal with prejudice at summary judgment of $150 million in claims brought by a hospital against a Medicaid managed care organization for out-of-network services.
- Represented a medical device manufacturer in a False Claims Act investigation involving alleged kickbacks provided by sales representatives to physician consultants, negotiating a settlement below the manufacturer’s cost of defense.
- Obtained the dismissal with prejudice of a False Claims Act case brought against a radiology practice. The relator asserted a novel legal theory over Medicare requirements for radiology that the court concluded did not meet the standards for falsity and materiality.
- Represented a nursing home operator in a False Claims Act investigation involving alleged upcoding. The government declined to intervene, and the case was dismiss under the False Claims Act’s first-to-file bar.
- Represented an operator of skilled nursing facilities in a False Claims Act investigation about improper accounting of bad debt.
- Represented the operator of behavioral health hospitals in a False Claims Act investigation that resulted in DOJ declination and whistleblower dismissal of claims.
- Represented a pain management clinic in a False Claims Act investigation into alleged improper opioid prescribing practices. The DOJ declined to intervene and the whistleblower voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit.
- Represented one of the nation’s largest health care services companies in massive, parallel criminal and civil proceedings related to alleged violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute.
Partner,
- Phone: +1 404 881 7434
- Email: matt.dowell@alston.com
Matthew helps health care companies and other clients manage difficult litigation and investigations. Matthew has handled complex government investigations with dozens of witnesses, compelled arbitration against almost 20,000 class members and supervises a team that processes thousands of subpoenas each year for a Fortune 50 company.
- Represented multiple physicians, executives, and other individuals in False Claims Act investigations relating to alleged violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, unnecessary laboratory testing, Medicare Advantage plans, and other issues.
- Managed the processing of thousands of subpoenas each year for a major international package handling company.
- Counsel to one of the nation’s largest pharmacy benefits managers in several cases involving any-willing-provider laws. Obtained complete dismissal of claims in state appellate court and federal district court.
- Obtained a complete victory in Oregon Supreme Court for one of the nation’s largest long-term care insurers in an important case that precluded the plaintiffs from suing insurers under state elder-abuse laws.
- Represented a major pharmacy chain in litigation involving the alleged disclosure of confidential health information.
- Represented a health plan in litigation involving an alleged data breach that resulted in the voluntary dismissal of all claims.
- Compelled arbitration against more than 18,000 class members while representing the nation’s largest flooring manufacturer in multidistrict antitrust litigation.
- Advised multinational companies on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act liability.
- Represented an independent auditor in a nationwide review of allegedly improper foreclosure practices by mortgage servicers.
- Assisted a major online automobile advertiser in ensuring its practices complied with a patchwork of state regulations governing automobile sales.
Matt Dowell focuses his practice on government investigations, health care litigation, and other complex litigation matters. Matt has conducted wide-ranging internal investigations and worked on criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings related to alleged violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, False Claims Act, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and antitrust and securities laws. Matt routinely represents clients under investigation by the Department of Justice, the HHS Office of Inspector General, and state attorneys general. Matt has also represented clients in state and federal courts in complex matters involving health care regulations and payer-provider disputes.
In 2014, the U.S. Department of State recognized Matt for his service with the Hague Convention Attorney Network, a group of lawyers that provides pro bono legal services to parents whose children have been abducted to the U.S. Matt tried two cases under the Hague Convention in federal court and secured the return of children to their parents in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Mexico.
Matt received his J.D., with honors, from Emory University in 2011, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif and served as an articles editor on the Emory Law Journal. In law school, he interned for at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia and with a superior court judge. Matt previously worked as an analyst for a trade organization in Washington, D.C.
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Advisories February 12, 2025False Claims Act Advisory | False Claims Act FY 2024 Update: Increase in Overall Recoveries, Decrease in Whistleblower Awards – Constitutional Questions Abound in FY 2025Our False Claims Act Team highlights key FCA enforcement trends in 2024, including the continued focus on health care fraud by the Department of Justice (DOJ).Advisories February 12, 2025False Claims Act Advisory | False Claims Act FY 2024 Update: Increase in Overall Recoveries, Decrease in Whistleblower Awards – Constitutional Questions Abound in FY 2025Our False Claims Act Team highlights key FCA enforcement trends in 2024, including the continued focus on health care fraud by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
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Advisories March 7, 2024False Claims Act Advisory | DOJ Reports Record Number of New False Claims Act Matters, Recoveries for 2023Our False Claims Act (FCA) Team examines the Department of Justice’s increased focus on enforcement of the FCA, especially in health care matters.Advisories March 7, 2024False Claims Act Advisory | DOJ Reports Record Number of New False Claims Act Matters, Recoveries for 2023Our False Claims Act (FCA) Team examines the Department of Justice’s increased focus on enforcement of the FCA, especially in health care matters.
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Advisories February 16, 2023White Collar, Government & Internal Investigations / Health Care Litigation Advisory: FCA Recoveries Drop, but Signs Point to Increased Activity in 2023 and BeyondOur White Collar, Government & Internal Investigations and Health Care Litigation groups review the Department of Justice’s False Claims Act enforcement efforts from 2022 and look forward to what comes next.Advisories February 16, 2023White Collar, Government & Internal Investigations / Health Care Litigation Advisory: FCA Recoveries Drop, but Signs Point to Increased Activity in 2023 and BeyondOur White Collar, Government & Internal Investigations and Health Care Litigation groups review the Department of Justice’s False Claims Act enforcement efforts from 2022 and look forward to what comes next.
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Speaking Engagement October 28, 2022State Bar Georgia Advanced Health Law Seminar 2022Matt Dowell will speak on the panel “Fraud and Abuse Update” at this CLE seminar hosted by the State Bar of Georgia.Speaking Engagement October 28, 2022State Bar Georgia Advanced Health Law Seminar 2022Matt Dowell will speak on the panel “Fraud and Abuse Update” at this CLE seminar hosted by the State Bar of Georgia.
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Advisories September 7, 2022White Collar, Government & Internal Investigations Advisory: Second Circuit Presents U.S. Companies Historic Opportunity to Defend Against FCPA LiabilityThe Second Circuit has made the government’s formerly straightforward task of assigning vicarious liability to a corporate principal under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act considerably harder. Our White Collar, Government & Internal Investigations Team delves into this potent new FCPA defense and how U.S. companies should use it.Advisories September 7, 2022White Collar, Government & Internal Investigations Advisory: Second Circuit Presents U.S. Companies Historic Opportunity to Defend Against FCPA LiabilityThe Second Circuit has made the government’s formerly straightforward task of assigning vicarious liability to a corporate principal under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act considerably harder. Our White Collar, Government & Internal Investigations Team delves into this potent new FCPA defense and how U.S. companies should use it.
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General Publications March 15, 2022“Waning Success on Limiting the Impact of Guidance Documents in Enforcement Actions and False Claims Act Litigation,” American Health Law Association, March 15, 2022.Although it can be difficult to stay abreast of myriad state and federal statutes and regulations, providers face steep consequences for improperly billing the government for health care services. Compliance is made even more complex due to the proliferation of sub-regulatory guidance by government agencies and their contractors. This article discusses the role of guidance documents in False Claims Act litigation and healthcare enforcement proceedings, including recent developments from the Biden administration.General Publications March 15, 2022“Waning Success on Limiting the Impact of Guidance Documents in Enforcement Actions and False Claims Act Litigation,” American Health Law Association, March 15, 2022.Although it can be difficult to stay abreast of myriad state and federal statutes and regulations, providers face steep consequences for improperly billing the government for health care services. Compliance is made even more complex due to the proliferation of sub-regulatory guidance by government agencies and their contractors. This article discusses the role of guidance documents in False Claims Act litigation and healthcare enforcement proceedings, including recent developments from the Biden administration.
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Press Release January 6, 2022Alston & Bird Elects 15 New PartnersAlston & Bird has announced the election of 15 attorneys to its partnership, effective January 1, 2022.Press Release January 6, 2022Alston & Bird Elects 15 New PartnersAlston & Bird has announced the election of 15 attorneys to its partnership, effective January 1, 2022.
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General Publications May 24, 2021“Mixed Success on Limiting the Impact of Guidance Documents in Enforcement Actions and False Claims Act Litigation,” American Health Law Association, May 24, 2021.Providers face steep consequences for improperly billing the government for health care services. This article discusses the numerous state and federal billing regulations that healthcare providers must comply with and what enforcement actions the industry can expect from the Biden administration.General Publications May 24, 2021“Mixed Success on Limiting the Impact of Guidance Documents in Enforcement Actions and False Claims Act Litigation,” American Health Law Association, May 24, 2021.Providers face steep consequences for improperly billing the government for health care services. This article discusses the numerous state and federal billing regulations that healthcare providers must comply with and what enforcement actions the industry can expect from the Biden administration.
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In the News April 16, 2021Law360 | In Case You Missed It: Hottest Firms and Stories on Law360Jenny Kramer, Jody Hunt, and Matt Dowell’s byline article on health care enforcement is noted in the top 10 most-read expert analyses by Law360.In the News April 16, 2021Law360 | In Case You Missed It: Hottest Firms and Stories on Law360Jenny Kramer, Jody Hunt, and Matt Dowell’s byline article on health care enforcement is noted in the top 10 most-read expert analyses by Law360.
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General Publications April 12, 2021“Where Health Care Enforcement Is Headed Under Biden,” Law360, April 12, 2021.
This article outlines how the Biden Administration has signaled a more robust federal role in enforcement in pandemic- and health-care-related fraud and other areas.
General Publications April 12, 2021“Where Health Care Enforcement Is Headed Under Biden,” Law360, April 12, 2021.This article outlines how the Biden Administration has signaled a more robust federal role in enforcement in pandemic- and health-care-related fraud and other areas.
Bar Admissions
- Georgia
Education
- Emory University (J.D., 2011)
- Johns Hopkins University (B.A., 2006)
- Institut d’Études Politiques (Diplôme du Programme International, 2005)
Memberships
- Georgia Bar Association
- Atlanta Bar Association
- U.S. Department of State Hague Convention Attorney Network