Thomas W. Hess

Of Counsel

Annually appearing on the Best Lawyers list, as well as the Ohio Super Lawyers list, Tom has more than 40 years of experience representing assisted living facilities, durable medical equipment companies, home health agencies, hospice providers, hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies, physicians and other licensed health care providers before state, federal and administrative courts across the country. He is a past member of the firm’s Board of Directors and immediate past chair of the Government Relations and Health Care Industry practice groups.

Leveraging extensive experience with a thorough understanding of the issues facing the health care industry, Tom takes a practical, yet aggressive, approach to help clients meet their needs while also mitigating risk. Within the constantly-evolving industry, he guides clients through myriad challenges, including certificate of need, health care fraud investigations, as well as issues related to Medicare and Medicaid audits, overpayments, certifications, exclusions and reimbursement. Additionally, he has assisted clients with the acquisition and disposition of health care facilities and practices, demonstrating a knowledge of not only the industry’s distinctive operations but also of traditional business transactions. Understanding that complex health care reform initiatives have dramatically impacted the industry’s operations, Tom, a former assistant attorney general in Ohio, utilizes his familiarity with the regulatory agencies and their procedures to provide clients with the insight they need to confidently move forward.

A frequent speaker on health care issues throughout the country, he uses his experience to provide clients with knowledgeable and efficient counsel in a constantly-evolving industry.

Credentials

Education

Capital University School of Law (J.D., 1976)

Ohio University (B.S.Ed., cum laude, 1973)

Bar admissions

  • Ohio

Court admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio

Affiliations and memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • Columbus Bar Association, Health Law Committee, past chairperson
  • American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery (2024-present)
    • Board of Directors
    • Governance Committee
    • Standard and Credentials Committee
  • American Board of Medical Specialties, past member
    • Board of Directors (2014-2024)
    • Accountability and Resolution Committee, chair (2020-2022)
    • Governance Committee (2020-2023)
  • American Health Law Association, LTC-SIR Advisor Editorial Board, past member
  • Ohio Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators, Board of Directors, past member, vice chairman
  • Arthritis Foundation of Central Ohio, Board of Trustees, past member
  • American Federation for Aging Research Ohio Chapter, Board of Trustees, past member
  • Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine and Pharmacy Foundation, Board of Directors, past member
  • University of Cincinnati, College of Allied Health Sciences, adjunct professor

Distinctions

  • National Law Review, “Go-To Thought Leader” (2020)
  • Best Lawyers® (1995 – present)
    • “Lawyer of the Year” in Columbus for Administrative/Regulatory Law (2018)
    • Administrative/Regulatory and Health Care Law
  • Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
  • Ohio Super Lawyers® (2004 – present)
  • Top Lawyers by Columbus CEO magazine
  • Mentor of the Year, Dinsmore (2015)

Career Highlights
  • Advised a Large Nursing Home Through a Medicare Audit Appeal

    Dinsmore advised a large Ohio nursing home through a three stages of a Medicare audit appeal in connection with physical therapy services. Our attorneys represented the client before an administrative law judge and reduced a multi-million dollar Medicare overpayment to less than $15,000.

Publications
  • October 25, 2022

    Feds Announce More Aggressive Enforcement of Poor Performing Nursing Homes

  • November 25, 2020

    Can Employers Mandate Employees to Take a COVID-19 Vaccine?

  • June 4, 2020

    Mandatory COVID-19 Testing for Ohio Nursing Homes

  • June 4, 2020

    CMS Announces Enhanced Surveys for Nursing Homes to be Completed by July 31, 2020

  • March 25, 2020

    CMS Announces New Targeted Plan for Health Care Facility Inspection

  • March 16, 2020

    Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Control in Nursing Homes

News
  • August 21, 2025

    260 Dinsmore Attorneys Listed as 2026 Best Lawyers®, Ones to Watch

  • August 15, 2024

    250+ Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2025 Best Lawyers ®, Ones to Watch

  • August 17, 2023

    200+ Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2024 Best Lawyers®, “Ones to Watch”

  • December 29, 2022

    Ohio Super Lawyers Honors 36 Dinsmore Attorneys

  • August 18, 2022

    2023 Best Lawyers® List Recognizes 190 Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys

  • December 30, 2021

    44 Dinsmore Attorneys Named Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

  • August 19, 2021

    Best Lawyers® Recognizes 191 Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys

  • August 20, 2020

    Best Lawyers® Recognizes 180 Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys

Events
  • February 10, 2023

    Ohio’s Advance Directives – Columbus Bar Association

  • March 3, 2022

    Compliance Issues: Incidents, Investigations, Reporting, Resident Rights, Agreements, Abuse & Neglect; Ohio Health Care Association

  • July 30, 2020

    2020 Legal Update-Ohio Health Care Association

  • March 12, 2020

    “National Perspective on Senior Housing,” Urban Land Institute-Cincinnati