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Jose Vela Jr.

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fax +1 832.397.3504

For more than 20 years as a federal prosecutor, Jose Vela investigated and prosecuted healthcare fraud. Today, he helps healthcare providers and organizations protect their licenses, reputations, and businesses from government investigations, enforcement actions, and private payor disputes.

His practice spans the full spectrum of healthcare enforcement matters, including grand jury subpoenas, Civil Investigative Demands, OIG subpoenas, search warrants, whistleblower complaints, False Claims Act lawsuits, criminal healthcare fraud investigations, overpayment determinations, payment suspensions, enrollment revocations, exclusions, recoupment actions, self-disclosures, and reimbursement disputes involving government and private payors.

As an Assistant United States Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, Jose led complex investigations involving Medicare, Medicaid, and other federally funded healthcare programs. He directed and coordinated special agents, investigators, and auditors from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCU), giving him firsthand insight into how government agencies investigate fraud, evaluate evidence, assess risk, and pursue enforcement actions.

Jose also served as lead counsel for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in disputes involving Medicare overpayments, claim denials, payment suspensions, enrollment actions, and recoupment proceedings. He understands how CMS investigates billing practices, identifies alleged overpayments, suspends payments, revokes enrollments, and defends those decisions through the administrative appeals process.

Jose is a frequent author and speaker on healthcare fraud enforcement, False Claims Act litigation, government investigations, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, and emerging issues affecting the healthcare industry.

In addition to his legal career, Jose served for 28 years in the United States Army and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. A veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, he held leadership positions at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels, including serving as Director of Plans for a major Army command responsible for planning and coordinating operations affecting more than 22,500 soldiers stationed worldwide. His military service reflects the same leadership, strategic thinking, and mission-focused approach that he brings to representing clients today.

Education

LL.M., University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas, 2008, Health Law
J.D., University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1992
B.S., University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, 1987, Civil Engineering
B.A., University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, 1987, Government & International Relations

Recognitions

Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Member, Texas Bar College

Service Award (3 awards), U.S. Department of Justice

Volunteer Service Award, U.S. Department of Justice

2015 Big Money Wins, No. 4 Settlement in the United States & No. 1 Settlement in Texas (Health Care False Claims Act), The National Law Journal

Army Meritorious Medal (2 awards), U.S. Army

Army Commendation Medal (4 awards), U.S. Army

Army Superior Unit Award, U.S. Army

Armed Forces Reserve Medal (M Device), U.S. Army

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, U.S. Army

National Defense Service Medal (Bronze Service Star), U.S. Army

Order of De Fluery Medal, U.S. Army Engineer Association

Outstanding Leadership Award, Student Body President, University of Michigan Law School

U.S. Army R.O.T.C., Student Liaison – University Board of Trustees, University of Notre Dame

Memberships

American Bar Association, Health Law Section, Editorial Board – eSource, Litigation Section, Business Law Section, Criminal Justice Section

American Health Law Association

Chicago Bar Association

Hispanic National Bar Association

Houston Bar Association, Health Law Section

Illinois State Bar Association, Health Law Section

State Bar of Texas, Health Law Section

Languages

English, Spanish

State Bar Licenses

Illinois, Texas

Court Admissions

U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, Armed Services
U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
U.S. District Ct., N.D. of Illinois
U.S. District Ct., E.D. of Michigan
U.S. District Ct., E.D. of Texas
U.S. District Ct., N.D. of Texas
U.S. District Ct., S.D. of Texas
U.S. District Ct., W.D. of Texas

Presentations

  • Under the Knife: Current Government Enforcement Trends Against Private Investment in Physician Practices Under Federal and State Healthcare Fraud Laws, Baylor College of Medicine: Orthopedic Surgery Grand Rounds in Texas (August 2025)
  • Risky Business: Physician Relationships With Private Investors and Current Government Enforcement Trends, TexMed 2025: Texas Medical Association’s Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas (May 2025)
  • Fraud and Enforcement Trends for 2020 and Beyond, CBI: 10th Annual Life Sciences West Coast Compliance Congress in San Francisco, California (October 2019)
  • Preserving Privilege & Avoiding Common Mistakes in Internal Investigations, RILA Retail Law Conference 2018 in Austin, Texas (October 2018)
  • The Medical Staff: On the Front Line of Healthcare Compliance, 2018 GHSMSS Annual Conference in Houston, Texas (September 2018)
  • The New Low-Volume Appeals Settlement Option, Health Law Section C.L.E., Houston Bar Association in Houston, Texas (July 2018)
  • Medicare Fraud: What Every CRNA Should Know, TxANA 2018 Practice Management & Governance Summit in Austin, Texas (January 2018)
  • Department of Justice Civil Health Care Fraud Update, 2017 TAHFA & HFMA South Texas Fall Symposium in San Antonio, Texas (October 2017)
  • Perspectives from Washington – What Can We Expect?, CBI: PAP Legal Update / Navigate Legal Challenges and Opportunities to Build Sustainable Patient Programs in Arlington, Virginia (September 2017)
  • The Civil False Claims Act, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010), U.S. Attorney’s Office Annual CLE Conference (September 2011)

Publications

  • Medicare Part D: An Uncertain Prescription for Reducing Drug Pricing Fraud, Health Law Perspectives, University of Houston Law Center (April 2006)

Media

Experience

  • Represented healthcare providers, executives, and healthcare organizations in Department of Justice investigations involving alleged healthcare fraud, False Claims Act violations, controlled substance issues, and reimbursement disputes.
  • Defended healthcare providers responding to Civil Investigative Demands, grand jury subpoenas, OIG subpoenas, search warrants, and other federal and state enforcement actions.
  • Represented healthcare providers in Medicare and Medicaid administrative appeals involving overpayment determinations, payment suspensions, enrollment revocations, enrollment denials, exclusions, recoupment actions, and reimbursement disputes.
  • Conducted internal investigations involving billing and coding practices, medical necessity, physician compensation arrangements, referral relationships, Stark Law compliance, and Anti-Kickback Statute issues.
  • Advised healthcare providers and organizations regarding self-disclosures, repayment obligations, corrective action plans, and responses to government inquiries.
  • Defended healthcare providers and organizations against whistleblower allegations and False Claims Act lawsuits involving federal healthcare programs.
  • Represented physicians, physician groups, hospitals, behavioral health providers, home health agencies, hospices, pharmacies, laboratories, and other healthcare organizations in audits, investigations, and enforcement matters.
  • Counseled healthcare organizations and investors regarding regulatory, reimbursement, and enforcement risks arising from acquisitions, investments, joint ventures, and other strategic transactions.
  • Advised healthcare providers and organizations regarding government and private payor reimbursement disputes, audits, and recoupment actions.
  • Represented healthcare clients in federal and state court litigation, arbitration proceedings, and administrative enforcement actions involving healthcare reimbursement, fraud and abuse, and regulatory compliance issues.

Military Service

Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Retired

  • Chief of Plans / Chief Compliance Officer, G3, Major U.S. Army Command
    Led and managed the development, preparation, and publication of military orders, plans, and directives to 5 Divisions and 15 Brigades with 22,500 soldiers.
  • Executive Officer (Chief of Staff), U.S. Army Division
    Planned, prepared, and supported more than 180 joint military battle staff exercises involving more than 550 Army Reserve and National Guard units and more than 17,500 soldiers.
  • Company Commander (CEO), U.S. Army Garrison Support Unit
    Led, managed, and trained 350 soldiers in support of 30,000 soldiers, and 8,000 Army R.O.T.C. Cadets stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington.
  • Platoon Leader, U.S. Army Engineer Company (Combat Heavy)
    Led, managed, and trained 300 soldiers and managed $2 million in heavy engineer equipment, in support of engineer construction projects at Army National Guard Bases.

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