Alma L. Saravia

Scores of New Jersey healthcare professionals have turned to Alma L. Saravia for counsel on issues ranging from licensure and disciplinary matters, including those before the Board of Medical Examiners, to complex litigation matters. Her clients include physicians, nurses, chiropractors, hospitals, medical staffs, nursing homes and other healthcare organizations. She also frequently defends healthcare providers facing insurance fraud investigations or demands for repayment by insurers.

Ms. Saravia is highly regarded in the field of healthcare law, both in the public and private sector. She is a former member of the Board of Medical Examiners and Ms. Saravia is one of the State’s most experienced attorneys in representing healthcare professionals before the licensing boards. 

Working alongside government officials, Ms. Saravia is actively involved in shaping several aspects of New Jersey’s proposed adult-use cannabis bill and the amended Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. Since the legalization of medical marijuana in the state of New Jersey in 2010, Ms. Saravia has been a guiding force for physicians and their rights under the bill, and she has recently added regulatory guidance for alternative treatment centers (ATCs) and applicants in the cannabusiness industry to her practice. Her extensive experience and relationships with the members of the New Jersey legislature have proven beneficial to her practice, and is considered a go-to legal source to members of the media for commentary on the evolving medical marijuana legislation in New Jersey.

Throughout her career, she has affected and effected on the progress of healthcare law in the state as a lobbyist, as the former chairperson of and director of various governmental agencies, and as the catalyst for important legislative changes. Among other significant pieces of legislation, she is credited with spearheading the enactment of the state’s joint negotiation law, which allowed physicians and dentists to engage in joint negotiations with managed care entities. Ms. Saravia also served as special counsel for clients in drafting healthcare regulations and legislation. 

A frequent lecturer and author, Ms. Saravia regularly presents on topics including telemedicine credentialing and privileging, medical staff bylaws, physician representation and The Affordable Care Act. She co-authored an article for the New Jersey Law Journal focused on New Jersey's recent "crack down" on physicians who allegedly over prescribe pain medications and it highlighted strategies and thoughts on policy issues. She also co-authored a chapter in the Health Care Dispute Resolution Manual titled, “External Review of Health Plan Decisions.” Ms. Saravia is a long-time columnist for the Camden County Medical Society “Bulletin.” 

An advocate for women, Ms. Saravia serves on the Eagleton Institute of Politics, Senator Wynona Lipman Chair in Women’s in Political Leadership Committee. She authored an article on “Life Lessons in Leadership” to coincide with the Senator Wynona M. Lipman lecture by Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to President Barack Obama. She is also on the Board of Directors of Pam’s List, a New Jersey fundraising network dedicated to promoting opportunities for democratic women candidates for office. 

Ms. Saravia attended Rutgers University where she received a B.A. in 1975 and an M.S.W. in Social Policy Analysis in 1979. She earned her J.D. degree from Rutgers University School of Law-Camden in 1986. 

• Negotiated numerous Consent Orders with healthcare licensing boards
• Represented physicians in medical staff credentialing matters
• Counseled hospitals’ medical staffs
• Defended providers facing insurance fraud investigations or demands for repayment by insurers 
• Appealed regulations unlawfully restricting certified registered nurse anesthetists’ right to practice
• Served as special counsel in the drafting of health care regulations and legislation
• Appealed the imposition of medical protocols imposed upon physicians treating patients injured in an automobile accident

• Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, New Jersey Law Journal, 2019
• Named to InsiderNJ's Insider 100: Cannabis Power List, 2019
• Top Attorney List, SJ Magazine, 2010, 2014, 2017 & 2019
• 2006 Burlington County Outstanding Women of the Year Award, Category of Law
• Awesome Attorney List, South Jersey Magazine, 2004

A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolades are based can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. 

• American Bar Association
  • Member, Medical Staff, Credentialing and Peer Review Committee
• Burlington County Bar Association
• Camden County Bar Association
  • Former Member, Health Care Law Committee 
• New Jersey State Bar Association
  • Former Chairperson, Health and Hospital Law Section

• Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University
  • Member, Senator Wynona Lipman Chair in Women’s Political Leadership Advisory Committee
• Pam's List
• Member, Board of Directors
• Friends of the Library Company of Burlington
• President, Board of Directors
• Rutgers Alfredo Santiago Endowed Scholarship's Leadership Award, Rutgers/LEAP Academy Charter Schools, 2012
• Institute for Nursing, 2005 EPIC Award Winner
• Family Service Organization (Mount Holly, NJ) - Listed on “Wall of Recognition” and room in facility bears name