Job Descriptions

The Office of Counsel to the Inspector General seeks two attorneys: (1) an Associate Counsel or Senior Counsel with the Administrative and Civil Remedies Branch; and (2) an Associate Counsel or Senior Counsel with the Industry Guidance Branch.  The job description specific to each position is below.

Administrative and Civil Remedies Branch

The Administrative and Civil Remedies Branch (ACRB) monitors the compliance of providers under integrity agreements, represents OIG in administrative and civil fraud enforcement actions, and defends the Inspector General in administrative appeals of exclusions.  Specifically, ACRB staff negotiate and monitor Corporate Integrity Agreements that impose integrity obligations on parties alleged to have engaged in fraudulent conduct. ACRB attorneys may also work with the Department of Justice to develop and pursue False Claims Act cases against health care providers and others that defraud the Government.  

OIG is seeking an experienced health care attorney to serve in ACRB.  This is an excepted service position.  The duties of the position will primarily include representing OIG in monitoring compliance of parties under integrity agreements.  The attorney will critically evaluate integrity agreement submissions to assess a party’s adherence to its integrity obligations and communicate on a regular basis both orally and in writing with the parties to the integrity agreement.  The attorney will perform on-site visits to parties under integrity agreements to verify compliance, resolve integrity agreement disclosures of potential fraud, negotiate amendments to integrity agreements, contribute to compliance guidance and work products, and represent OIG in compliance-related speaking engagements.

The position may also include representing OIG in administrative and civil fraud enforcement actions, defending the Inspector General in administrative appeals of exclusions, and resolving self-disclosures made through the OIG Self-Disclosure Protocol.  OCIG attorneys also perform other duties as assigned. 

Interested candidates should send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample in a single pdf file to ACRB.Resumes@oig.hhs.gov.

Industry Guidance Branch

The Industry Guidance Branch (IGB) drafts regulations, advisory opinions, and guidance documents that address the application of certain OIG authorities to cutting-edge health care transactions and financial arrangements.  OCIG is seeking one attorney to serve in IGB.  The position will be either Associate Counsel (GS-12/13) or Senior Counsel (GS-14), depending on the attorney’s level of experience.  The duties of the position will include:

• Reviewing and analyzing advisory opinion requests and drafting advisory opinions.
• Drafting safe harbor regulations, compliance program guidance, special fraud alerts, and special advisory bulletins.
• Developing and promoting OIG policies and guidance regarding the Federal anti-kickback statute.
• Advising OIG staff and other government officials on the application of the Federal fraud and abuse laws.
• Responding to questions and issues from industry representatives regarding compliance with the Federal fraud and abuse laws.

The attorney may also be called upon to perform other duties, including assisting with the investigation and litigation of cases involving allegations of false claims, kickbacks, and violations of the physician self-referral law.

Interested candidates should send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample in a single pdf file to IGB.Resumes@oig.hhs.gov.   

Application Deadline

This announcement will be open until 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time on August 5, 2022.  Applications must be submitted by that time in order to be considered.

Salary

Administrative and Civil Remedies Branch

GS-13/14: please see General Schedule (opm.gov) for locality-specific salaries.

This position is being advertised at the GS-13/14 level.  All attorney positions within OCIG have promotional potential to the GS-15 level.

Industry Guidance Branch

This position is being advertised at the GS-12-14 level; please see General Schedule (opm.gov) for locality-specific salaries.  All attorney positions within OCIG have promotional potential to the GS-15 level.

Travel

Occasional travel may be required.

Location/Relocation expenses

Location negotiable.  Your position may be eligible for workplace flexibilities that may include remote work or telework options, and/or flexible work scheduling.  These flexibilities may be requested in accordance with agency policy.  Relocation expenses will not be paid. 

OIG Employment Policies

For male applicants born after December 31, 1959, the applicant must have registered with Selective Service.

The applicant must submit to and pass a background investigation.

OIG is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.  Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination based on color, race, religion, national origin, politics, marital status, disability (physical or mental), age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a parent, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, on the basis of personal favoritism, or any non-merit factor.  OIG welcomes and encourages applications from persons with disabilities.  OIG is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit.  This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate.  If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency.  Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, OIG considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring.  Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must indicate their preference in their cover letter or resume and they must submit supporting documentation (e.g., DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) which verifies their eligibility for preference.  Although the “point” system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s)).  Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service-connected disabilities or receipt of non-service-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that his or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).  

Qualifications

Administrative and Civil Remedies Branch

All candidates should have at least four years of experience in health care compliance and health care fraud and abuse law.  Prior experience as a compliance professional is preferred.  Candidates should possess strong writing, advocacy, and negotiation skills. 

Applicants must be graduates of a full course of study in a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association and be a member in good standing of the bar of a state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.  Applicants must be U.S. citizens.

Industry Guidance Branch

Candidates for the position must have at least 2 years of legal experience.  Each candidate must demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as the ability to analyze complex and novel legal questions.  Health law experience and familiarity with the Federal anti-kickback statute and other Federal fraud and abuse laws are a plus.  Knowledge and experience litigating criminal, civil, or administrative cases, including cases involving OIG’s administrative sanction authorities, also will be considered. 

Applicants must be graduates of a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association and be a member in good standing of the bar of a state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.  Applicants must be U.S. citizens.  This is an excepted service position.