Staff Attorney

Location:

Avera Health

Worker Type:

Regular

Work Shift:

Day Shift (United States of America)

Position Highlights

You Belong at Avera

Be part of a multidisciplinary team built with compassion and the goal of Moving Health Forward for you and our patients. Work where you matter.

A Brief Overview

Responsible for protecting the legal interest and rights of all Avera entities as well as informing entity personnel of their legal responsibilities.

What you will do

• Legal Structure Transformation: Develop project substance and strategy recommendations, e.g. supply chain, finance/treasury/investments expense reduction, veteran’s services, etc. Build, lead and maintain effective project partnerships with key cross functional leaders and project team members. Write project reports, updates, implementation plans, as well as establishing ongoing evaluations of project goal(s) and successful implementation measurable(s).
• Contracts: Drafting: for services/products sold by Avera Health entities, and health professionals agreements, agreements shall be drafted after consultation with administration personnel and appropriate negotiations with the agreement forwarded to administration for approval and execution. All agreements must comport with federal, state and local laws/regulations. Review: Requested by administration personnel, contracts offered by vendors are to be reviewed for clarity, desired results, legality and minimalization of liability of exposure.
• Labor Law: Respond to personnel relations issues, provide legal opinions and guidance. Personnel Policies: Review personnel policies and procedures for legally protective provisions. Employment Applications: Review for clarity and legality. Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity: Review Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity policies and management conduct for legal compliance.
• Corporate Law: Articles of Incorporation: Review and update Avera Health entity corporation Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Minutes: Review and redraft corporation and institution committee minutes to comply with intent and legal requirements. Hospital Bylaws: Conduct periodic legal review and modifications of hospital bylaws to ensure compliance with federal, state and local laws as well as accreditation body requirements. Medical Staff Bylaws: Legal review of assistance to administration to facilitate changes in Medical Staff Bylaws necessitated by law changes.
• Medical Staff Issues Peer Review: Assist administration in peer review procedures and corrective action, suspension, restriction, reduction or denial of staff privilege activities. Credentialing: Assist administration in legal compliance of credentialing procedures. Quality Assurance: Assist with review of current quality assurance procedures, including interpretation of computer generated reports, advice as to further investigation and compliance with policies, procedures of accrediting entity standards.
• Tax: Employee Benefits: Review and evaluate employee benefits for legal compliance with IRS, ERISA, COBRA and other applicable legal requirements. State Tax Exemption: Assist in preserving state tax exemption and challenging denials for exemption. 501(c)(3): Ensure compliance with Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) and advise regarding inurement problems.
• Medicare/Medicaid Reimbursement: Legal research, administrative appeal and other assistance necessary to obtain prompt and proper reimbursement. Fraud and Abuse/ Stark anti-self-referral: Legal review and advice in all contracting areas to avoid criminal and civil liability/penalties.
• Education Seminars: Present educational seminars to facilities upon their request regarding changes in health law as applicable to the audience.
• Local Legal Counsel Liaison: Case Management: As directed make determinations regarding initiation and defense of lawsuits affecting Avera Health entities. Case Supervision: If a case is referred to outside counsel, actively supervise, consult and recommend specific sources of action to resolve the controversy that is most beneficial to the Avera Health.

Essential Qualifications

The individual must be able to work the hours specified. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily including having visual acuity adequate to perform position duties and the ability to communicate effectively with others, hear, understand and distinguish speech and other sounds. These requirements and those listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions, as long as the accommodations do not cause undue hardship to the employer.

Required Education, License/Certification, or Work Experience:

• Doctorate (PHD) Juris Doctorate
• Attorney License - Board of Law Examiners

Expectations and Standards

• Commitment to the daily application of Avera’s mission, vision, core values, and social principles to serve patients, their families, and our community.
• Promote Avera’s values of compassion, hospitality, and stewardship.
• Uphold Avera’s standards of Communication, Attitude, Responsiveness, and Engagement (CARE) with enthusiasm and sincerity.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Work effectively in a team environment, coordinating work flow with other team members and ensuring a productive and efficient environment.
• Comply with safety principles, laws, regulations, and standards associated with, but not limited to, CMS, The Joint Commission, DHHS, and OSHA if applicable.

Benefits You Need & Then Some

Avera is proud to offer a wide range of benefits to qualifying part-time and full-time employees. We support you with opportunities to help live balanced, healthy lives. Benefits are designed to meet needs of today and into the future.

• PTO front-loaded for eligible hires

• Free health insurance options, for full-time single coverage on Avera High Deductible Health Plan

• Up to 5% employer matching contribution for retirement

• Career development guided by hands-on training and mentorship

Avera is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-605-504-4444 or send an email to talent@avera.org.