About Michelle "Missy" Apodaca

Missy Apodaca helps health care providers plan for and accomplish long-term objectives while tackling the challenges of day-to-day operations. With experience as top in-house counsel for a health plan and years in private practice advising on emerging health care trends, Missy brings a combination of business savvy and legal experience her clients need. Missy's clients include hospitals and health systems, physician practices, health care providers and technology companies working in the health care space.

The tough advocate health care providers trust

Missy served as the vice president of advocacy, legal and public policy at the Texas Hospital Association. She also served as in-house legal counsel and compliance officer for a Texas health maintenance organization and as a legislative aide in both the Texas State Senate and the US House of Representatives. This breadth and depth of experience serves as a strong foundation for Missy's zealous advocacy for her clients.

Missy's payor experience is invaluable for her physician and provider clients. Missy also advises clients on regulatory and licensure issues involving the Texas Department of Insurance, Texas Department of Health Services, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Medical Board and the Texas Pharmacy Board. She helps with the licensure of health maintenance organizations, third-party administrators, health care collaborative organizations and accountable care organizations, discount health care programs, acute care hospitals, Texas nonprofit health corporations (5.01a), and behavioral health care facilities and units. She also helps clients secure Medicare provider-based status and federally qualified health center (FQHC)/look-alike funding, and on FQHC operational matters.

Missy is a frequent and respected speaker at national health law and policy conferences.

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Practice Focus

  • Health care law
  • Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care and commercial health insurance
  • Developing and negotiating alternative payment arrangements
  • Negotiation of managed care contracts
  • Regulatory and licensure issues for facilities and health plans
  • Telemedicine and telehealth

News

Publications

Quick Reads

Presentations and Events

Practices
Bar Admissions
  • Texas
Community Involvements
  • American Bar Association, former member, Health Section Governing Council; former co-chair, Washington Health Law Summit
  • Hispanic National Bar Association
  • Hispanic Bar Association
  • Austin Health Lawyers Association
  • Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy, Board Member
  • Leadership Texas, Graduate
  • Leadership El Paso, Graduate
  • Leadership Austin, Affiliate
  • Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, former chair, Government Relations and Medicaid Tax Force
  • Seton Fifty, former board member
  • Children's Advocacy Centers & Women of Courage, former member, Board of Directors
  • Junior League of El Paso and Austin, former member
  • Keep Austin Beautiful, former member, Board of Directors
  • Caring Family Network, former member, Board of Directors
  • YMCA of El Paso, former member, Board of Directors
Recognitions
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • Best Lawyers in America
    Health Care Law, 2025
  • Chambers USA
    Healthcare, 2020–2025
  • The Legal 500 United States
    Recommended Attorney, 2025
Award Methodologies