Guidance on Practice and Ethical Issues

The Medical Association’s Office of General Counsel can help guide members on certain practice and ethical issues.  The Office is comprised of the General Counsel, Cheairs Porter, and Paralegal, Angela Barentine.  The General Counsel is the chief legal advisor to the Board of Censors, and provides legal advice daily to the Executive Director.

Mr. Porter, a Montgomery native, started as General Counsel of the Medical Association in December 2012.  He currently has over 23 years of related legal experience, including an advanced legal degree in health law and substantial practice in regulatory health care matters.

Ms. Barentine, a Milbrook native, graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2002 with a B.S. from Auburn University.  She began work with the Medical Association in April 2015.  She has a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Health Care, and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management and Leadership.  Ms. Barentine has 20 years of related experience.

While the Office is very busy handling a wide mix of contracts, business issues, legislative, administrative law (agency) matters and matters coming from various departments, as well as staffing the Council on Medical Services, it also can provide general guidance on the law in particular areas, such as:

• Separation from a practice;
• Starting a practice;
• Medical records policy;
• HIPAA issues;
• Certain prescription drug matters;
• Overpayments;
• Ethics;
• Medicaid; and
• Some billing and charging issues.

If you are searching for general guidance, please feel free to contact Cheairs Porter at (334) 954-2540 or Angela Barentine at (334) 954-2541 for assistance.