Carolyn Buppert, JD, MSN, is an attorney who focuses on the legal issues affecting medical practices and nurse practitioners. She is the author of eight books and an instructional CD. Her clients include hospitals, health systems, physician and nurse practitioner practices, a health insurance company, nursing homes, schools of nursing and a certification organization. She is a frequent contributor to The Journal for Nurse Practitioners and Medscape.com. Links to her many articles and books can be found on her website, www.buppert.com. She lectures extensively on avoiding malpractice, negotiating contracts, how to avoid legal pitfalls when prescribing, and how to comply with federal regulations on billing and coding, HIPAA, and hospital relationships with physician practices. She practiced as a nurse practitioner for 16 years before devoting her efforts full time to law. She lives and practices as an attorney in Portland, OR.