Joseph L. Rivet, Esq. - Your Healthcare Reimbursement Partner
Getting Providers Paid Through Effective Reimbursement Strategies
Rivet Health Law, PLC specializes in turning your denied claims into recovered revenue. We fight insurance denials, manage accounts receivable recovery, and handle complex claims that other firms won’t touch – including motor vehicle accidents, workers’ compensation, and third-party insurance disputes.
Our Commitment is Simple:
Our denial management services operate on a contingency-based fee structure, meaning we only get paid when you get paid.
Core Services
- Claims Denial Recovery: Joe has helped providers successfully recover previously denied claims
- Accounts Receivable Management: Systematic recovery of outstanding balances
- Payor Audit Defense: Protecting practices from overpayment demands
- Complex Claims Recovery: MVA, workers’ comp, and third-party insurance claims
- Contract Negotiation: Ensuring fair terms with insurance companies
- Surprise Billing Arbitration: Maximizing out-of-network reimbursements
Joe Rivet knows the insurance game from both sides. Before becoming an attorney, he led the fraud, waste, and abuse divisions at two large health plans, investigating providers and training other auditors. He knows every red flag, every audit trigger, and exactly how payers think.
The Insider Advantage:
- 25+ years of hands-on healthcare experience before entering law
- Former payer investigator who now defends providers
- Led fraud and abuse divisions at two large health plans
- Served as lead instructor at the U.S. Department of Justice Medicaid Integrity Institute
- Outside counsel for billing companies
Professional Recognition:
- Super Lawyers Rising Star in Health Law
- Best Lawyers “One to Watch”
- Top Attorneys in American – 2026
- Leaders in Law Class of 2024 and 2025 – Michigan Lawyers Weekly
- Selected at Top Lawyers 2025 in healthcare law – Grand Rapids Magazine
- Recognized as the “King of Claims”
Joe's background makes him an expert at anticipating payer strategies, identifying
weaknesses in their denials, and crafting appeals that speak their language.
Proven Track Record
Joe has successfully defended practices against federal audits (Recovery Audit Contractor, Target Probe and Educate), state investigations, and private payer audits from Aetna, WellCare, Centene, and many others. His success shows his deep understanding of both clinical documentation and regulatory requirements.
Education
- Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, JD
- Baker College, Health Administration, BS
Bar Admission
- Arizona
- Idaho
- Michigan
- U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts District of ldaho
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Affiliations
- American Bar Association (ABA)
- American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA)
- Grand Rapids Bar Association Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA)
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American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)
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Institute of Internal Controls (IIC)
Credentials
- Certified Coding Specialist – Physician Based (CCS-P)
- Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC)
- Certified Evaluation and Management Coder (CEMC)
- Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
- Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA)
- Certified Internal Controls Auditor (CICA)
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Certified in Healthcare Research Compliance (CHRC)
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Certified in Healthcare Privacy Compliance (CHPC)
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Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP)
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Certified Ambulance Coder (CAC) Certified Ambulance Compliance Officer (CACO)
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AHIMA-Approved ICD-10-CM Certified Trainer Artificial Intelligence Professional in Healthcare Compliance (AIP-HC™ )
Publications
- Michigan and Federal Surprise billing Legislation: Protection for Consumers, Increased Burdens for Providers, and Boon for Payors, State Bar of Michigan, March 2022 – coauthor.
- Fighting Incorrect Medical Bills: Is It a Disadvantage to Be a Woman?, Health Law Connections, June 2022 – article
- 5 Things To Consider Before Signing a Physician Employment Agreement, Medical Economics, July 6, 2021 – article
- Surprise Billing 2.0, Michigan Revenue Cycle Association, November 12, 2021 – presenter
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Surprise Billing Mandates – What You Need to Know to Comply with State and Federal Law, December 2021 – webinar co-presenter
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Navigating Third Party Appeals Successfully, American Medical Billing Association, October 15, 2020 – presenter
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CMS Interim Final Rule in a Nutshell, National Association of Healthcare Revenue Integrity (NAHRI), webinar April 2020, – presenter
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Special Edition: COVID-19 Telehealth Coding and Documentation, Michigan Medical Group Management Association (MGMA®), webinar March 2020 – presenter
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HIPAA Enforcement: Increased Risk Landscape, Michigan Medical Group Management Association (MGMA®), webinar March 2020 – presenter
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Clarifying New Guidance for Pressure Ulcers, Deep Tissue Damage, Revenue Cycle Advisor, January 10, 2020 – article
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The Anatomy of the ICD-10-PCS Code, Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists, Vol. 12, Issue 134, November 5, 2019 – article
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Sepsis: Start with the ICD-10-CM Documentation Basics, JustCoding Inpatient, HCPro, February, 20, 2019 – article
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FY 2020 Guidelines Updates: Stay Current with Skin Ulcer Reporting, JustCoding Inpatient, HCPro, October 2, 2019 – article
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Refresh your Knowledge with ICD-10-PCS Coding Basics, JustCoding Inpatient, HCPro, October 16, 2019 – article
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Break Down 2020 IPPS Policies and ICD-10-PCS Reporting Guidelines, JustCoding Inpatient, HCPro, August 7, 2019 – article
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Medicare Overpayment Final Rule: Guidelines for Avoiding FCA Liability, Compliance Today, Health Care Compliance Association, December 2016 – article
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Medical Billing Companies Can Be False Claims Targets, Healthcare Business Monthly, American Academy of Professional Coders, November 15, 2016 – article
- Are Auditors, Billers, and Coders Liable for False Claims?, Healthcare Business Monthly, American Academy of Professional Coders, May 1, 2016 – article
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Auditing Evaluation and Management Services: A Step-by-Step Guide to Accurate Coding, Reimbursement, and Compliance, Second Edition, HCPro, 2011 – book
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E/M Coding Pocket Guide for Physician Practices, HCPro, September 29, 2006 – pocket guide
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