The People Behind Empower
Compliance is the foundation every healthcare organization needs but few get right.
The Empower leadership team has spent decades building that foundation for hospitals, physician practices, and health systems nationwide. Our expertise spans audit defense, regulatory strategy, and operational compliance, so your organization can focus on care.
Mitchell Brie, CHC
President
Mitchell is the founder of Empower Healthcare & Compliance and brings over 25 years of experience across all facets of healthcare performance and compliance. A nationally recognized speaker at healthcare, law, and compliance events, he is an industry authority in audit defense, due diligence in healthcare acquisitions, and building compliance foundations for organizations of all sizes. Mitchell leads Empower's vision that compliance is not a cost center but a strategic asset that drives revenue protection and organizational integrity.
Lorraine Ludwigsen, CP, CPC, CPCO, CHCC, CHCO
Chief Operating Officer & Chief Compliance Officer
Lorraine brings a full-spectrum perspective to healthcare compliance, with a career spanning small community hospitals to larger health systems in NJ and NYC. She has worked directly with the OIG on fraud, waste, and abuse matters and as an IRO; collaborated with the AMA on CPT revisions; and has successfully petitioned CMS for payment and policy modifications. As COO and CCO, she oversees operational efficiency and compliance program development, drawing on deep expertise across risk, coding, auditing, revenue cycle, credentialing, and regulatory strategy.
James Tudor, CPC, PCA
Director of Audit Defense
James is a seasoned audit defense professional with firsthand experience on more than 80 ALJ cases. His background spans healthcare billing compliance, coding, auditing, clinical documentation improvement, and revenue cycle operations. James leads Empower's audit defense practice, guiding providers through complex audit challenges with a results-driven approach backed by deep technical expertise.