Applicants may apply for this position by submitting a resume/ CV to the following email address: mgmtrecruit@cookcountyhhs.org . When submitting a resume/CV by email, you must include the job title and posting number in the subject line of your email.
JOB SUMMARY
The Senior Counsel, Health Plan Services provides day-to-day legal support with a substantial focus on contract drafting and negotiation of vendor contracts, provider arrangements and plan regulatory addenda for Cook County Health (CCH). The Senior Counsel, Health Plan Services participates in oversight and governance meetings as requested by Health Plan Services leadership. Additionally, the Senior Counsel, Health Plan Services offers advice and guidance to CCH Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, executive and medical leadership and CCH managers on legal issues arising in the operation of Health Plan Services and its various services lines and CCH managed care initiatives.
This position is exempt from Career Service under the CCH Personnel Rules.
Minimum Qualifications
- Graduation from an accredited School of Law with a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree
- A current and active license (in good standing) to practice law in the State of Illinois
- Five (5) years of experience as an attorney giving legal counsel and representation to health care entities, health care providers and health plans through a law firm or in-house setting
- Prior experience working with and knowledge of State Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans, including the state and federal regulations applicable to those plans.
Preferred Qualifications
- Three (3) years of experience as an attorney representing health plan clients
- Prior experience implementing or supporting an existing Medicare-Medicaid Plan
- Prior experience and knowledge of commercial health plan products
- Prior experience with governmental contracting and/or local rules and ordinances affecting Cook County
- Prior experience with negotiating third-party administrator, pharmacy, technology and other vendor agreements
- Prior experience with and knowledge of federal fraud, waste, and abuse laws
General Administrative Responsibilities
Collective Bargaining
- Review applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements and consult with Labor Relations to generate management proposals
- Participate in collective bargaining negotiations, caucus discussions and working meetings
Discipline
- Document, recommend and effectuate discipline at all levels
- Work closely with labor relations and/or labor counsel to effectuate and enforce applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements
- Initiate, authorize and complete disciplinary action pursuant to CCH system rules, policies, procedures and provision of applicable collective bargaining agreements
Supervision
- Direct and effectuate CCH management policies and practices
- Access and proficiently navigate CCH records system to obtain and review information necessary to execute provisions of applicable collective bargaining agreements
Management
- Contribute to the management of CCH staff and CCH' systemic development and success
- Discuss and develop CCH system policy and procedure
- Consistently use independent judgment to identify operational staffing issues and needs and perform the following functions as necessary; hire, transfer, suspend, layoff, recall, promote, discharge, assign, direct or discipline employees pursuant to applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements
- Work with Labor Relations to discern past practice when necessary
Typical Duties
- Provides advice, guidance, and assistance to CCH Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Executive Officer, Health Plan services, executive and medical leadership and CCH managers.
- Reviews, drafts, and advises on managed care agreements and contracts and related operational documents such as scopes of work and requests for proposals.
- Researches laws, regulations, rules, policies and guidelines affecting health plans and units of local government.
- Drafts template agreements and provides continuous improvement of standard form agreements and legal processes.
- Develops and ensures compliance with CCH procurement policies and internal contract review and tracking processes.
- Collaborates with General Counsel in analyzing complex transactions and to identify legal issues that may impact County providers and its hospitals system.
- Collaborates with General Counsel to engage and manage outside counsel.
- Oversees the work of other CCH attorneys to the extent they are engaged to perform Health Plan Services work.
- Performs other matters as assigned by the General Counsel.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics
- Knowledge of local, state and federal laws and regulations applicable to health plan products
- Excellent client management and problem-solving skills with a capacity to make decisions and give advice, which demonstrates an understanding of overall business objectives
- Ability to draft agreements with and without existing templates
- Ability to execute multiple time-sensitive contracts and other assignments with minimal supervision and with short deadlines
- Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and manage a high volume of work
VETERAN PREFERENCE
PLEASE READ
When applying for employment with the Cook County Health & Hospitals System, preference is given to honorably discharged Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for not less than 6 months of continuous service
To take advantage of this preference a Veteran must :
- Meet the minimum qualifications for the position.
- Identify self as a Veteran on the employment application by answering yes to the question by answering yes to the question, "Are you a Military Veteran?"
- Attach a copy of their DD 214, DD 215 or NGB 22 (Notice of Separation at time of application filing. Please note: If you have multiple DD214s, 215s, or NGB 22S, Please submit the one with the latest date. Coast Guard must submit a certified copy of the military separation from either the Department of Transportation (Before 9/11) or the Department of Homeland Security (After 9/11). Discharge papers must list and Honorable Discharge Status. Discharge papers not listing an Honorable Discharge Status are not acceptable
OR
- A copy of a valid State ID Card or Driver's License which identifies the holder of the ID as a Veteran, may also be attached to the application at time of filing.
If items are not attached, you will not be eligible for Veteran Preference
VETERANS MUST PROVIDE ORIGINAL APPLICABLE DISCHARGE PAPERS OR APPLICABLE STATE ID CARD OR DRIVER'S LICENSE AT TIME OF INTERVIEW.
BENEFITS PACKAGE
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
- Basic Term Life Insurance
- Pension Plan
- Deferred Compensation Program
- Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time
- You may also qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
For further information on our excellent benefits package, please click on the following link: http://www.cookcountyrisk.com/
MUST MEET ALL REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AT TIME OF APPLICATION FILING.
*Degrees awarded outside of the United States with the exception of those awarded in one of the United States' territories and Canada must be credentialed by an approved U. S. credential evaluation service belonging to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Original credentialing documents must be presented at time of interview.
*Please note all offers of employment are contingent upon the following conditions: satisfactory professional & employment references, healthcare and criminal background checks, appropriate licensure/certifications and the successful completion of a physical and pre-employment drug screen.
*CCHHS is strictly prohibited from conditioning, basing or knowingly prejudicing or affecting any term or aspect of County employment or hiring upon or because of any political reason or factor.
COOK COUNTY HEALTH & HOSPITALS SYSTEM IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
