Senior Associate Healthcare Counsel, 2023-934

Job Detail

Job Title:Senior Associate Healthcare Counsel

Department:Office of General Counsel

Location:Farmington

FTE%:1

Shift

Search #:2023-934

Closing Date:

Recruiter:Smith, Joyce

 SENIOR ASSOCIATE HEALTHCARE COUNSEL

 POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) at UConn Health is hiring a full-time attorney. This position is located in Farmington, CT. OGC seeks a seasoned health care attorney with previous experience at a teaching hospital or an academic medical center, and with deep regulatory, compliance, and related business expertise. The attorney will provide counsel to both administrative and clinical staff, including senior executives, on matters of law and implications of business and policy decisions. This role requires an understanding of – and ability to anticipate issues related to – fully integrated academic medical centers and public agencies, with responsibilities including but not limited to the following areas:

transactional drafting and review, particularly focused on agreements related to managed care, pharmacy (including 340B), joint ventures, strategic affiliations, and a variety of other healthcare issues, often involving the University of Connecticut Health Center Finance Corporation (“UCHCFC”);

 

advice and counsel on complex inter-agency interactions, negotiations, and agreements with agencies at both the state and federal levels;

 

advice and counsel on sophisticated medical staff and physician employment issues in an academic setting;

 

federal and state regulatory aspects of health law including HIPAA, Stark, anti-kickback, fraud and abuse, contract drafting/review, compliance, licensure and accreditation and transactional matters;

 

policy development and implementation, necessitating collaboration with a wide range of internal stakeholders, including established governance groups, to align existing policies and create new policies and processes to support compliance with emerging healthcare laws and regulations; and

 

assistance with government relations activities, including assessment of the effects of proposed legislation and regulation on the institution and its affiliated entities, including participation in professional organizations to follow developments in the legal or regulatory landscape that may impact the institution and its affiliated entities.

 

 

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

Responsibilities include, without limitation:

Legal advice on matters relating to the entirety of UConn Health’s managed care contracting, payor appeals and accountable care organizations.

Legal and related strategic advice and counsel to UConn Health management, including but not limited to policy development; business transactions; the formation, operation and dissolution of joint ventures and other business affiliations; inter-agency partnerships, arrangements, and agreements; ensuring that all such ventures preserve and protect UConn Health’s financial interest and status as a state agency, appropriately address data governance, ownership, use, privacy, and cybersecurity issues, and avoid antitrust and health care fraud and abuse risk.

Legal representation for UConn Health in connection with various clinical contracts, as needed. This would include a myriad of contractual arrangements including state and federal contracts, purchase agreements, service agreements, software license agreements, and pharmacy agreements (including 340B).

Work hand-in-hand with a wide range of internal stakeholders, including established governance groups, to create new policies and processes to support compliance with all aspects of the healthcare legal and regulatory framework, as well as all requirements unique to UConn Health’s status as an agency of the state of Connecticut.

When appropriate, overseeing the assignment of work to outside law firms, and monitoring each outside firm’s quality and cost-effectiveness.

Responsible for keeping up to date on, and for assessing the potential impact on UConn Health, changes in federal and state law and regulations including but not limited to managed care contracting, and making recommendations to senior management about applicable changes in legislation.

Must be available after hours on a rotating basis one week each month, including holidays and weekends.

Performing other duties as assigned.

 KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITY:

Deep knowledge of issues related to clinical practice and patient care, including informed consent, health care quality and safety, and other regulatory requirements, including but not limited to Stark, Anti-Kickback, FCA, and all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

Strong knowledge of managed care and MAO contracting, related provider, payer and patient interests, and applicable federal and state regulation(s); expertise in 340b and contract pharmacy issues, DSH status, and complex legal/regulatory and political frameworks governing hospitals and physician practices.

Excellent research, writing, oral and interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate, collaborate and interact effectively with clients at all levels of the organization.

Demonstrated legal and ethical stature, maturity, competence, and confidence to operate with credibility at the executive level as well as a professional history of maintaining objectivity while driving appropriate outcomes, managing multiple stakeholder agendas, and promoting high client service standards.

Ability to develop strong external relationships and networks with governmental/regulatory entities and local, state and federal constituents within the healthcare industry.

Excellent negotiation skills.

Excellent organizational and project management skills.

Ability to maintain confidential information, materials, and files.

Ability to manage multiple priorities and responsibilities with various deadlines.

Ability to find creative, innovative solutions to complex legal issues.

Ability to effect process change to achieve optimal efficiency.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Must have a J.D. from an ABA-accredited school.

Current member of Connecticut bar.

Minimum of ten years’ legal experience with patient care, clinical issues, and other health care laws and regulations.

Minimum of three years’ experience as in-house counsel at a teaching hospital, with demonstrated experience providing strategic legal advice and counsel in connection with its (1) contracts with managed care organizations and 340B/pharmacy issues; (2) policy development and alignment; and (3) inter-agency negotiations and agreements.

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience as member of leadership team with responsibility for managing a department within a multi-disciplinary health provider organization, including but not limited to an academic medical center.

Experience working for an agency of the state of Connecticut, or another state.

   

Apply for this position