Connie focuses on regulatory and reimbursement issues, audits, medical reviews, corporate compliance, fraud and abuse investigations and sanctions, Medicare survey and certification, administrative and federal litigation, transactions, and Medicare and Medicaid issues. Her clients include all types of health care providers, such as hospitals, hospital-based and free-standing palliative care programs, home health agencies, hospices, physician practices, nursing homes, institutions for the developmentally disabled, laboratories, adult homes, and other health care providers. Since 2008, Chambers and Partners has recognized Connie as a leading health care lawyer. In 2011 Legal 500 recognized Connie by stating “adept at understanding the scope of the problem, and in designing and revising strategies to address the problems at hand. Raffa is very knowledgeable on all areas of federal and state laws ... and provides superb analysis and sound advice.”

Before joining Arent Fox in 1995, Connie served 15 years with the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as senior trial attorney and assistant regional counsel in the Office of General Counsel, and as staff attorney for the Office of the Inspector General. She represented HHS in federal district and circuit courts and administrative hearings, and was appointed special assistant US attorney in the Eastern, Southern, and Northern Districts of New York and the District of Puerto Rico.

While in these positions, Connie specialized in Medicare reimbursement, survey and certification, Inspector General audits, investigations and sanctions, Medicaid state plan compliance, Medicaid disallowances and reimbursement, the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act, Peer Review Organizations, and grant issues for Head Start and the Administration on Aging.

Connie was also an assistant district attorney for New York County, the office that is the basis for the “Law and Order” television show, where she prosecuted felony and misdemeanor cases and conducted grand jury investigations.

Connie serves on the board of trustees and the governance committee of the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York State (HPCANY). She is special counsel to HPCANY, and on its executive, palliative care, and public policy committees. Connie also serves on the public policy committee and formerly the regulatory committee of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, the Alzheimer's Project Advisory Group, the National Hospice Task Force Access Committee, and the Hospice Consequence of Illness Task Force.

Connie holds membership in numerous associations including: the Hogan-Morgenthau Association; National Health Lawyers Association; American Bar Association; New York Bar Association; National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization; National Association of Home Care and Hospice; New York Home Care Association; Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York State; and Partnership for Caring.

In 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012, Chambers USA recognized Connie as a leading health care lawyer.

In 2011, Connie was recognized by Legal 500 for her extensive knowledge in all areas of both federal and state laws that pertain to hospices.

In 2009 Connie was recognized in the New York edition of Super Lawyers for her work in health care. She has lectured on a variety of topics in the health law arena and has been the subject and author of extensive articles on the field of health care law.

Publications include:

• “CMS Outlines Its Vision of ACOs and the Shared Savings Program,” Arent Fox Alert; April 2011
• “CMS Issues Final Regulations Clarifying the 36-Month Change of Ownership Rule for Home Health Agencies,” Arent Fox Alert; November 2010
• “Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC): The Essentials,” Arent Fox Alert; October 2010
• “Medicare Claims Appeals Process,” Arent Fox Alert; June 2010
• “NY Medicaid Inspector General Commences Third Party Liability (TPL) Audits,” Arent Fox Alert; September 2009
• “New Enforcement Powers and Incentives Aimed at Medicaid Fraud Enacted By the Deficit Reduction Act,” Arent Fox Alert; September 2009
• “Compliance Plan: Plan To Respond To Investigations,” Arent Fox Alert; September 2009
• “Red Flag Rules: Obligations of Health Care Providers,” Arent Fox Alert; May 2009
• “CMS Releases Five-Star Quality Rating System for Certified Long-Term Care Facilities,” Arent Fox Alert; February 2009
• “New Compliance Program Regulations Proposed by the New York Office of Medicaid Inspector General,” Arent Fox Alert; January 2009
• “New Enforcement Powers and Incentives Aimed At Medicaid Fraud Enacted by the DRA,” Journal of Health Care Compliance; July-August 2008
• “The New Office of the Medicaid Inspector General: What Are They Up To?,” New York State Bar Association Health Law Journal - Special Edition: Legal Issues in Home Health Care; July 2008, co-written with Rachel Hold-Weiss, RPA-C, J.D.
• “Discharge Planning Issues in Hospitals: Steering to Preferred Certified Home Health Agencies and the Risks of Providing Free Discharge Planning Services to Hospitals,” New York State Bar Association Health Law Journal - Special Edition: Legal Issues in Home Health Care, Vol. 13, No. 2; Spring 2008
• “Choosing A Good Death: Palliative Care Options and Legal Requirements,” Caring Magazine, Vol. XXVII, No.4; April 2008
• “Legal Issues to Consider in Creating a Healthcare Business Model,” Arent Fox Alert; February 2007
• “The New Expedited Appeals Process,” Newsline; August 2005
• “What’s New in Medicare Claims Appeals Process?Changes Made by BIPA and MMA2003,” Newsline; April 2005
• “The Impact of Sentencing Guidelines on the Health Care Field and Beyond,” The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, Vol. 12, No. 9; September 2004

Connie's upcoming and recent speaking engagements include:

• National Association for Home Care and Hospice – Annual Meeting & Exposition, “The Hospice/Nursing Home Partnership in Caring for the Terminally Ill,” and “Legal Aspects of Marketing for Home Health Agencies and Hospices: Advantages and Consequences, and How PPACA has Impacted the Rules,” co-presenting with Rachel Hold-Weiss, RPA-C, JD, Orlando, Florida; October 22-25, 2012
• Compliance Officers Immersion: “Post Acute Care: Hospice, Home Health Agencies, LTC/SNF,” Sponsored by Deloitte, co-presenting with Rachel Hold-Weiss, RPA-C, JD, Tampa, Florida; October 19, 2012
• Alabama Hospice Organization Conference: “Mapping the Future – Regulatory and Compliance Issues in Hospice and Palliative Care,” Montgomery, Alabama; October 9, 2012
• New England Home Care Conference & Trade Show, “Recovery Audit Contractors and Other Contractors: Targeted Risk Areas and Compliance Strategies in Home Care,” and “Legal Aspects of Marketing: Advantages and Consequences for Home Health Agencies and Hospices and Impact of the Affordable Care Act,” co-presenting with Rachel Hold-Weiss, RPA-C, JD, Mashantucket, Connecticut; May 31-June 2, 2012
• Hospice & Palliative Care Association of New York State 32nd Annual Interdisciplinary Seminar and Meeting, “Palliative Care Law and Creating a Physician Part B Group,” co-presenting with Rachel Hold-Weiss, RPA-C, JD, Albany, New York; May 10, 2012
• Home Care Association of New York – Annual Membership Conference, “Jeopardy: Avoiding Compliance Pitfalls and Enhancing Your Organization’s Compliance Program,” Saratoga, New York; May 9, 2012
• Health Care Compliance Association Compliance Institute, “Compliance Risks for Home Health, Hospice, and Hospice/Nursing Home Relationships,” co-presenting with Rachel Hold-Weiss, RPA-C, JD, Las Vegas, Nevada; May 2, 2012
• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization 27th Management and Leadership Conference, “Legal Aspects of Marketing: Advantages, Consequences, and How the Affordable Care Act has Impacted the Rules,” co-presenting with Rachel Hold-Weiss, RPA-C, JD, National Harbor, Maryland; March 30, 2012
• National Association for Home Care and Hospice 31st Annual Meeting & Exposition, “Legal Aspects of Marketing – Legal Issues for Home Health Agencies and Hospice,” co-presenting with Rachel Hold-Weiss, RPA-C, JD, Washington, DC; March 28, 2012
• Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship – “Choosing A Good Death - Palliative Care & Legal Requirements,” and “Overview of Federal & New York State Hospice Regulations,” New York Presbyterian Hospital, March 1, 2012
• Hospice & Palliative Care Association of New York State 31st Annual Interdisciplinary Seminar and Meeting, “Palliative Care Programs: The Original Accountable Care Organization,” as well as “Hospice/Nursing Home Partnership in Caring for the Terminally Ill Patient,” co-presented with Rachel Hold-Weiss, RPA-C, JD; Albany, New York; May 19, 2011
• Health Care Compliance Association’s 15th Annual Compliance Institute, “Home Health Compliance and Marketing Practices under Florida and Federal Law,” Lake Buena Vista, Florida; April 11, 2011
• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization 26th Management and Leadership Conference, “Update on Legal Aspects of Marketing: Advantages and Consequences and How PPACA Impacts the Rules,” and “Hot Topics in Medicare Appeals, RAC Appeals, ZPIC Investigations and ADRs,” National Harbor, Maryland; April 8-9, 2011
• New Jersey Hospice and Palliative Care Organization 13th Annual Conference, "Choosing a Good Death: Compliance Issues for Palliative Care Programs," as well as "Targeted Compliance Areas in Hospice: What You Can Do to Eliminate or Mitigate Risk," and "Hospice Physician, Nurse Practitioner and Other Billing Issues - How to Get Paid," Eatontown, New Jersey; November 11, 2010
• Ohio Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Annual Conference, “Palliative Care Partnerships,” Columbus, Ohio; November 9, 2010
• Alabama Hospice Organization 26th Annual Conference, “Legal Aspects of Marketing,” co-presented with Rachel Hold-Weiss, RPA-C, JD; Montgomery, Alabama; October 13, 2010
• National Association of Home Care and Hospice 29th Annual Meeting and Exposition, “The Hospice/Nursing Home Partnership in Caring for the Terminally Ill,” Dallas, Texas; October 5, 2010
• Maryland National Capital Home Care Association’s Annual Meeting, “Legal Aspects of Marketing,” Ellicott City, Maryland; September 16, 2010
• American Bar Association, “Screening for Excluded Persons and the New PPACA Refund Requirements,” Teleconference; August 18, 2010
• Home Care Association of New York, “Cost Report Issues,” Saratoga Springs, New York; August 18, 2010
• Florida Hospices and Palliative Care, “Choosing a Good Death – Palliative Care Legal issues,” Webinar; July 1, 2010
• Corporate Research Group, “Palliative Care Program Legal Issues for Hospitals,” Webinar; June 18, 2010
• Ohio, Michigan and Indiana Hospice & Palliative Care and Home Care Organizations, “Recovery Audit Contractors and Compliance Strategies,” Webinar, May 26, 2010
• Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York State 30th Annual Interdisciplinary Seminar and Meeting, “Hospice Physician, Nurse Practitioner and Other Billing Issues,” “Recovery Audit Contractors” and “Legal Aspects of Marketing,” Albany, New York; May 13-14, 2010
• Northern new England Home Care Conference, "Recovery Audit Contractors and Other Contractors: What You Need to Know to Survive” and “Targeted Risk Areas and Compliance Strategies in Home Care,” South Portland, Maine; May 6, 2010
• NHPCO's 25th Management and Leadership Conference, “Choosing a Good Death: Compliance Issues for Palliative Care Programs,” and “Legal Aspects of Marketing: Advantages & Consequences,” Washington, DC; April 22-23, 2010
• Health Care Compliance Association 2010 Compliance Institute, “Hospice and Nursing Home Partnership: How to Get It Right,” Dallas, Texas; April 20, 2010
• Home Care Association of New York State, “Home Health Compliance: What You Need to Know,” Webinar; April 14-15, 2010
• Ohio, Michigan and Indiana Hospice & Palliative Care and Home Care Organizations, “Legal Aspects of Marketing: Advantages and Consequences,” Webinar; April 8, 2010

On June 5, 2000, Connie was profiled in The Wall Street Journal in a front page article for her work on behalf of a New York-based hospice accused of fraud for caring for patients who the government argued were not terminally ill. Connie has written the “Legal Clinic” column for Home Healthcare Today, and her articles on palliative care have been published in Caring magazine, NHPCO Newsline and The Reporter. She has appeared on the radio talk show “Lifelines” which broadcasts in Las Vegas, Nevada on health care issues.

Connie was honored with the Carol Selinske Founder’s Award from the New York State Hospice Association for her “exemplary leadership in local, New York, and national hospice efforts.” She also received eight awards during her public service with HHS, including the Health Care Financing Administration Administrator’s Citation and the Office of the General Counsel Superior Achievement Award.

Connie speaks fluent Sicilian. She studied clowning and regularly performs for nonprofits to assist in fundraising. Connie is also a former member of the Brooklyn Philharmonia Chorus. She enjoys hiking, biking, visiting national parks, bird watching, and photography. A train enthusiast, she has traveled cross-country on three different routes with Amtrak. She is also interested in the Arctic and Antarctica and hopes to visit both places. Connie traveled to Churchill, Canada with her husband to learn from the experience of visiting polar bears in their native habitat.