Practice Areas
Heather Erb provides legal counsel to nonprofit organizations in the areas of 501(c)(3) formation and maintenance, corporate governance, contracting, government relations, and litigation. Heather delivers legal solutions that enable nonprofit corporations to better serve their missions in a meaningful manner while at the same time sustaining the legal health of their organizations.
Heather Erb specializes in health care matters including Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) implementation and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) training and compliance. She has also represented tribal governments, organizations, and Indian health care programs in matters related to the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) including issues regarding Indian health care providers and insurance carriers.
Heather Erb proudly serves tribal governments and Indian organizations in their efforts to maintain and enforce tribal sovereignty, strengthen government-to-government relations, and fulfill their mission to serve the needs of the communities they represent. Heather has extensive experience in drafting tribal code and administrative policies and procedures, government relations with state and federal entities, tribal consultation, tribal court development, as well as representing tribes in tribal housing, education, and health care matters. Heather has advised the American Indian Health Commission in their collaborative efforts with the Washington Health Benefit Exchange in implementing the American Indian and Alaska Native provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA). Heather has also drafted extensive revisions to the Washington Administrative Code in order to better protect and serve the interests of tribal governments and Indian health care providers, including urban Indian health organizations.
Heather Erb has negotiated, drafted, and revised numerous contracts for organizations. These contracts include agreements with state and federal entities, agreements for information technology services, construction contracts, as well as contracts with other businesses including those in the health care industry. Heather ensures that a final contract will best serve the client’s needs today as well as safeguard and protect their future legal and financial interests.
Over the last several years, Heather Erb has represented tribal organizations in relations with both state and federal government. Heather has drafted numerous revisions to proposed Codes of Federal Regulation and the Washington Administrative Code to ensure that the regulations better serve and protect the interests of the organizations she represents. Another focus of her practice has included drafting effective tribal consultation policy documents.
Her experience in this area includes representing organizations in their interaction and consultation with the following governmental divisions:
» United States Congress
» Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
» Health and Human Services (HHS)
» Indian Health Services (IHS)
» Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
» Washington Health Benefit Exchange/Washington Healthplanfinder
» Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
» Washington Department of Health (DOH)
» Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC)
Heather Erb’s litigation experience includes over thirty-five jury trials and extensive motion practice. While Heather has the litigation skills needed to successfully represent her clients in trial, her focus is on advising clients, drafting contracts, and negotiating settlement agreements (when appropriate) that will allow clients to avoid the time and expense of litigation. She also understands the stress and disruption that preparing for litigation may bring to an individual or an organization. It is her philosophy that a lawyer’s job is to minimize anxiety for the client, so the client can better focus on living life or fulfilling the mission of their organization.