Steve Simas is the founder of Simas & Associates, and specializes in administrative, government, healthcare, and employment law. He has represented clients before state and local government agencies since 1990, and has tried over 100 contested adjudicatory hearings in administrative matters under the California Administrative Procedure Act, in Superior Court and in Federal Court.
Mr. Simas represents physicians, physical therapists, nurses, engineers, real estate brokers, contractors, attorneys, and most other professionals regulated and licensed by the State of California. Since 1990, he has represented a variety of healthcare providers, including physicians, in the areas of licensing and regulatory disputes, medical staff credentialing, health plan provider member disputes and employment disputes.
Specific Experience in Healthcare Law
Throughout his career, Steve Simas has practiced healthcare and administrative law commencing immediately upon graduation from law school when he joined the Sacramento healthcare and administrative law firm Turner and Sullivan. Mr. Simas began representing physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals and continues to do so to this day. While serving as a Deputy Attorney General, in 1996, Mr. Simas argued before the California Supreme Court in a notable decision entitled Paris v. Zolin (1996) 12 Cal.4th 839) in which the Court was construing a section of the Administrative Procedure Act involving the enforcement of subpoenas in administrative licensing hearings. Focusing on both administrative adjudication by state licensing boards and other healthcare tribunals, Mr. Simas also has over 20 years experience in both prosecuting and defending petitions for writ of mandate involving legal challenges to the final decision of an administrative agency or body.
Since the time Steve left the Office of the Attorney General in 2001, his practice has focused extensively on healthcare law in several areas. In 2001, he joined Nossaman LLP where he practiced for two years before founding Simas & Associates, Ltd. Steve has represented hundreds of healthcare professionals, including physicians, in a variety of legal matters ranging from investigations by the Medical Board of California, Medicare and Medi-Cal, contested disciplinary actions brought by the Medical Board of California and other healthcare licensing agencies, and in medical staff privileges hearings, and disputes with health insurers regarding provider status.
Steve is a member of the California Society for Healthcare Attorneys and has completed the June 2, 2012 Hearing Officer Training.
Specific Experience in Medical Staff Hearings
Steve Simas has been involved in medical staff hearings since 1990, and has focused his practice extensively on representing physicians before the Medical Board and in medical staff hearings since returning to private practice in 2001. He has served as the physician’s counsel numerous times, including in medical staff hearings tried to conclusion, and has settled and resolved several medical staff cases throughout Northern and Central California. Finally, Steve has represented physicians in challenging the final determination of the medical staff by filing petitions for writ of mandate in the Superior Court.
Other Relevant Experience
Steve Simas has defended healthcare professionals in administrative hearings since 1990, which has given him extensive experience in presenting medical evidence, utilizing experts, and developing knowledge of the delivery of healthcare services. In addition, Steve represents the California Physical Therapy Association and the California Registered Veterinary Technicians Association in regulatory issues involving scope of practice, the delivery of healthcare services and related issues. In fact, Steve served as expert witness in United States District Court regarding the scope of practice of chiropractors, and testified as an expert in Orange County Superior Court regarding the scope of physical therapy practice. In addition, Steve serves as a Hearing Officer and presides over contested administrative hearings before the San Luis Obispo County Civil Service Commission and has presided over proceedings in the Sacramento Superior Court as a temporary judge in the Small Claims and Traffic Court Divisions.