General Attorney GS-15 - Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Division - (Telework)

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is currently seeking applications for a General Attorney position in its Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Division.

Who May Apply: This vacancy announcement is open to all US Citizens and may be used to fill multiple positions.

Duty Station: Washington, DC or Baltimore, MD (Flexible telework is available)

Pay Scale: GS-0905-15

Salary Range: $163,964 - $191,900

Open Period: Open Until Filled

Job Summary:

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking an experienced attorney to join its Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Division, Program Integrity Group. CMS Division staff attorneys provide a broad range of legal services for several HHS programs and clients on issues that affect millions of Americans and regularly garner significant news coverage. The Division's clients and programs include Medicare, Medicaid, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO), and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).

OGC is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. At OGC, diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of who we are. We're always growing our network of people, programs, and tools to allow our staff to do their best work. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. OGC is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

For additional information about OGC's mission, please visit our website at: http://www.hhs.gov/ogc/index.html

Duties:

This is a General Attorney position in the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Division, Program Integrity Group. Program Integrity (PI) Group attorneys provide legal advice on policies, regulations, and guidance issued by CMS, the nation's largest healthcare payer. An attorney in the PI group will serve primarily to:

  • Counsel the program integrity and financial management components of CMS on issues relating to fraud and abuse, CMMI models, Medicare Secondary Payer, survey and certification under Part A, and plan sponsor violations of Parts C and D requirements.
  • Provide legal guidance on proposed regulations issued by CMS on initiatives designed to combat fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid programs, and review CMS responses to inquiries from members of Congress; GAO reports; and reports and audits by HHS's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) relating to issues of fraud, waste and abuse.
  • Work with the OIG and the Department of Justice to protect and preserve the financial integrity of the Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP programs, as well as insurance affordability programs created under the Affordable Care Act, and provide litigation support to DOJ and the Office of Counsel to the Inspector General (OCIG) in affirmative cases brought under the False Claims Act.

This position offers significant responsibility and opportunity to engage in work on unique and groundbreaking matters, requiring creative legal thinking, the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, and strong communication skills. Attorneys will have direct client contact and interact with colleagues throughout OGC and other government offices.

Ideal candidates will have strong academic credentials, contract drafting and review skills and/or significant regulatory and administrative law experience, demonstrated ability to work under competing deadlines, and superb writing, communication, and analytical skills. Experience or familiarity with Medicare, CMMI models, Medicare Parts D and B drug issues, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and health insurance regulation is desirable. We strongly prefer candidates with at least 5 years of legal experience.

This position will be filled at the GS-15 level ($163,964 - $191,900) depending on experience and qualifications. The position will be in Washington, DC or Baltimore, MD. Reimbursement for relocation expenses is not available.

Qualifications Required:

Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the position qualifications listed on this announcement. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

At the GS-15: Applicants at the GS-15 level must have at least four years of professional legal experience with one year of experience equivalent to the GS-14 level. Applicants at the GS-15 level must also have a demonstrated ability to work independently with minimum levels of supervision.

The following are required qualifications:

  • You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited ABA law school.
  • Have at least four years of experience after law school as a practicing attorney.
  • Proof that bar status is active, in good standing and eligible to practice in the highest court of a State, U. S. commonwealth, U. S. territory, or the District of Columbia.
  • Strong academic credentials.
  • Administrative law experience, particularly regulatory experience and/or experience in contract/agreement drafting and review.
  • Exemplary legal writing, analytical, and communication skills.

Conditions of Employment:

  • Must maintain active bar membership in good standing and the eligibility to practice law in the highest court of a state, territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia throughout employment in the Office of the General Counsel.
  • Upon final job offer from HHS OHR, the successful candidate must submit official law school transcripts.
  • Security and Background Requirements: If not previously completed, a background security investigation will be required for all appointees. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements may be grounds for appropriate personnel action. In addition, if hired, a background security reinvestigation or supplemental investigation may be required at a later time. Applicants are also advised that all information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation. False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection and/or appropriate disciplinary action.
  • E-Verify: If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System. Federal law requires DHS to use the E-Verify System to verify employment eligibility of all new hires and as a condition of continued employment obligates the new hire to take affirmative steps to resolve any discrepancies identified by the system. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is an E-Verify Participant.
  • Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
  • Financial disclosure statement may be required.
  • Two-year trial period may be required.
  • Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid.
  • This position is not in a bargaining unit.
  • Multiple selections may be made from this announcement.
  • Telework Eligible: Yes - as determined by the agency policy.

In accordance with Executive Order 12564 of September 14, 1986, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is A Drug-Free Federal Workplace. The Federal government, as the largest employer in the Nation, can and should show the way towards achieving drug-free workplaces through programs designed to offer drug users a helping hand, and at the same time demonstrating to drug users and potential drug users that drugs will not be tolerated in the Federal workplace. The use of illegal drugs, on or off duty, by Federal employees is inconsistent not only with the law-abiding behavior expected of all citizens, but also with the special trust placed in such employees as servants of the public. Applicants tentatively selected for this position may be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and be subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug testing upon hiring. If required to submit to urinalysis, the appointment to the position will be contingent upon a negative applicant drug test result. In order to demonstrate commitment to the HHS goal of a drug-free workplace and to set an example for other Federal employees, employees not in a testing designated position may volunteer for unannounced random testing by notifying their Drug-free Federal Workplace Program Point of Contact upon hiring.

Instructions To Apply:

Please submit the following documents to CMSDRecruitment@hhs.gov, with a copy to Don.Parker@hhs.gov and Trenita.McDowell@hhs.gov. Please indicate in the cover letter that you are applying for the Program Integrity position. Before selecting any candidate, we will request three references and will contact those references upon permission of the candidate. This is an open and continuous announcement. We will review resumes on a rolling basis and continue to review resumes until all vacancies are filled. We will conduct interviews by telephone, WebEx, or other video conferencing platform.

  • Cover letter addressed to the Office of the General Counsel Hiring Official detailing your interest in the position and highlighting any relevant experience.
  • Resume (must include education, including name of undergraduate and law school, degree received, and date graduated; date admitted to bar and jurisdiction; a general description of all past employment relevant to the practice of law, including dates of employment).
  • Proof that bar status is active, in good standing and eligible to practice in a state, territory of the US, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
  • Legal writing sample (5-10 pages preferred).
  • Names and contact information for at least three professional references.
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