National Law Journal Names Barnes & Thornburg’s Mark Rust as Health Care Trailblazer

CHICAGO – The National Law Journal has named Barnes & Thornburg partner Mark Rust as one of its 2021 Health Care/Life Sciences Trailblazers for his 40-year career in writing about and counseling clients on transactional, regulatory, and medical legal issues.

Rust, who is immediate past chair of the firm’s national healthcare practice group, was recognized for his pioneering spirit and passion for health care and medical law, noting he started out as a health care investigative journalist. 

Rust has dedicated his legal career to delivering unique perspective and depth to his clients, which have included hospitals and hospital-physician joint ventures; multi-specialty clinics; large radiology, anesthesiology and cardiology groups; medical staffs; healthcare management companies; and managed care organizations, including provider-sponsored insurance companies and HMOs. He routinely advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, contract formation and negotiation, and regulatory issues.

During his career, Rust has filed an appearance before the U.S. Supreme Court on three occasions – each of which ended in victories for his client. One representation involved an Illinois insurer startup in a case against the U.S. government regarding  the Affordable Care Act, and another involved his client, a patient, suing an insurer and the question of who decides what is medically necessary – insurers or independent medical authorities.

He has testified before the U.S. Congress and several state legislatures on healthcare delivery and managed care. Rust has received numerous accolades for his legal work, being listed as a notable healthcare counselor in Chambers USA, Top Healthcare Lawyers of Illinois, Illinois Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America. Rust also has been a go-to voice in the healthcare industry by practicing in or writing about law and healthcare in publications from USA Today to the Journal of the American Bar Association.

Prior to his legal career, Rust served as a national legal affairs reporter and business editor for the American Medical News.

With more than 700 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from offices in Atlanta, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, New York, Ohio, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, Texas and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com or on Twitter @BTLawNews.