Benjamin Lipschitz Named General Counsel And Interim Compliance Officer For START Treatment & Recovery Centers

Benjamin Lipschitz has been named general counsel and interim compliance officer for START Treatment & Recovery Centers, a non-profit and New York’s largest independent drug treatment agency.

The agency has treated more than 50,000 New Yorkers from Harlem to the Hudson since it was founded 51-years ago.

“Benjamin Lipschitz’s experience providing legal counsel and strategic advice to companies in the non-profit and healthcare arena will ensure that START maintains strong relationships in the private and government sector, as well as legal, regulatory and contractual compliance, best practices and risk management,” says Lawrence S. Brown Jr., MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAM, START’s CEO. “We are delighted to have him on board.”

As general counsel, Lipschitz provides legal support to the agency that includes interpreting applicable laws and regulations and conducting contract negotiations. His extensive experience in healthcare law and compliance includes work in information technology, privacy and security issues, and fraud and abuse. His expertise includes identification of legal and compliance issues, including Stark, anti-kickback, exclusions from Federal healthcare programs, corporate practice of medicine, state licensing, Medicare and Medicaid, as well as other regulatory and corporate policy issues

As interim compliance officer, he will chair START’s Compliance and Incident Review Committees, and ensure agency compliance of services, facilities, staff, and patients.

Prior to joining START, Lipschitz served as general counsel for an India-based holistic wellness startup, Veria Lifestyle, Inc., DBA YO1 Center. There, he ensured legal and regulatory compliance and effective contracts, intellectual property protection, and a strong operating foundation for $150 million-dollar health and wellness startup, located in upstate New York, as well as legal counsel for its affiliated media entities.

Before that, he provided support as information technology counsel at NYU Langone Health in New York City, working with this group of hospitals, medical schools, physician partners, and research facilities. He also worked as counsel for two rural hospitals at Medstar Health in Maryland, and as general counsel for Platinum Marketing Partners, a healthcare consulting firm.

Lipschitz started his legal career as an information technology attorney with the City of New York, supporting city agencies and working with its private partners to preserve public revenue, public safety, and quality of life, while ensuring legal, regulatory, and contractual compliance.

He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration in accounting from Pace University in New York, and his juris doctor from New York Law School.

START has treated over 50,000 New Yorkers throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan since it was founded in 1969. Its goal is to provide the highest quality of compassionate, comprehensive, evidence-based healthcare and social services; education of the public concerning the maintenance of healthy lifestyles; and cutting-edge behavioral, biomedical and healthcare services research.

Its community-based treatment programs for adults and adolescents use individual and group counseling with medical and behavioral health professionals to treat patients; some of its clinics offer short-term, outpatient detoxification and a drug-free chemical dependency program for other non-opiate addictions. Its outpatient services and programs for people seeking quality treatment for drug addiction and rehabilitation include comprehensive medical care and specialized HIV services; behavioral health and vocational services; and medical case management.

For more information, visit www.startny.org

Photo credit: Benjamin Lipschitz, START Treatment & Recovery Centers.