While serving as a Captain in the Army JAG Corps in the 1980’s, Michael L. Silhol was tasked with providing legal guidance to Darnall Army Medical Center at Ft. Cavazos, Texas. While this was a bit outside his normal duties as a JAG officer, Michael soon found a calling in helping those who help others. After completing his service to his country, Michael continued working with health care providers, specializing in health law.
Michael has since served as in-house counsel to the nation’s largest hospital operator, and well as General Counsel for a publicly traded diagnostic imaging company and General Counsel at Parkland Hospital, one of the largest public and academic medical centers in the country.
Michael has written and spoken extensively on health care legal issues for over 25 years. He is board certified in Health Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. In recognition of his many years of service and leadership in health law, Michael was named a Fellow of the American Health Law Association (AHLA) in 2017. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer since 2014, a Best Lawyer by D Magazine, and was named top Dallas corporate counsel by the Dallas Business Journal in 2009.
Michael served on the AHLA Board of Directors from 2007 – 2013. Michael also served on the Board of Governors of the Federation of American Hospitals, one of Washington, DC’s most respected and influential health policy and advocacy organizations. From 1994 to 2001, he was on the Board of Directors of AFS – USA, Inc., a leader in intercultural learning that offers international exchange programs in more than 40 countries around the world.
When not assisting clients with their matters, Michael enjoys spending time on his ranch in Costa Rica raising Brahman cattle, with a few Holsteins thrown in for some good cheese-making.
Credentials & Experience
Learn more about your compliance partner.
Education
- Vanderbilt University, B.A. (1983)
- University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D. (1985)
Admissions
- State Bar of Texas
- State Bar of New Mexico
Honors
- Fellow, American Health Law Association
- Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers List, by Thomson Reuters (2014-2023)
- Selected in Best Lawyer in Dallas in Health Care, by D Magazine (2016, 2019-2021, 2023)
Associations
- American Bar Association, Health Law Section
- American Health Law Association; Board of Directors (2007 – 2013)
- Dallas Bar Association, Health Law Section
- State Bar of Texas, Health Law Section
Publications
- Author, “How to Confront Medicare and Medicaid Payment Audits,” Dallas Medical Journal, May 2016
- Author, “Stringent New Health Privacy Legislation Enacted in Texas Will Present Difficult Implementation Challenges and Increased Enforcement Activity,” BNA Health Law Reporter, August 4, 2011
- Co-Author, “Ten Things You Wanted to Know About Internal Investigations, but Were Afraid to Ask,” Health Lawyers News, May 2006
- Author, “Inside/Outside Counsel Relationships in the New Age of Independence,” Health Lawyers News, May 2005
- Author, “Controversies Over Confidentiality: Public Citizen Sets Peer Review Records Free,” Health Law Digest, August 2003
- Author, “Payment for Physician Administration Services: Navigating Around the Edge of Deep Waters,” Health Lawyers News, May 2003
- Author, “Communicating Through the Looking Glass: How In-House and Outside Counsel View One Another,” Health Lawyer News, April 2001
Presentations
- Speaker, “Understanding the New Texas Law Regarding Balance Billing – SB1264,” Dallas Bar Association, Health Law Section (2020)
- Speaker, “Fraud and Compliance in the New World: Anti-Kickback, Stark and Related Issues Under Health Care Reform,” American Health Law Association and Health Care Compliance Association Fraud and Compliance Forum (2010)
- Speaker, “Health Care Reform – Its Impact on Hospitals and Physicians,” Cumberland Law School and Health Law Section of the Alabama State Bar (2010)
- Speaker, “Driving Provider Integration: Implications for Hospitals and Health Systems of the Patient Protection and Accountability Act of 2010,” American Health Law Association’s Annual Meeting (2010)
- Speaker, “Transforming the U.S. Health Care System: Implications for Hospitals and Health Systems of the Patient Protection and Accountability Act of 2010,” American Health Law Association’s Health Reform Program – D.C. (2010)
- Speaker, “Transforming the U.S. Health Care System: Implications for Hospitals and Health Systems of the Patient Protection and Accountability Act of 2010,” American Health Law Association’s Reform Program – Chicago (2010)
- Speaker, “Legal Ethics: How Ethical Are the Realities of Physician Contracting?” American Health Law Association – Physicians and Physician Organizations and Hospital and Health Systems Law Institutes (2004)
- Speaker, “The New Role of Medicare Quality Improvement Organizations,” State Bar of Texas and Texas Hospital Association – Texas Health Law Conference (2003)
- Speaker, “How is HIPAA Working?” Int’l Ass’n of Privacy Professionals Privacy and Data Security Academy (2003)
- Speaker, “Operating the Larger In-House Counsel Office,” American Health Law Association In-House Counsel Meeting (2003)
- Speaker, “Security and Privacy of Protected Health Information,” American Bar Association and the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units Annual National Institute on Health Care Fraud (2003)
- Speaker, “HIPAA at the Finish Line – Problems, Conflicts and Enforcement,” American Bar Association Health Law Section’s Annual Mid-Year Conference (2003)
- Speaker, “Advanced Hospital Contracting Issues,” American Health Law Association – Hospitals and Health Systems Law Institute (2002)
- Speaker, “HIPAA Issues for Lawyers,” Texas Lawyer Roundtable (2002)
- Speaker, “Hospital/Physician Joint Venture Opportunities,” American Health Law Association -Hospitals and Health Systems Law Institute (2001)
