Health Attorney

The Community Service Society (CSS) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that has been at the forefront of public policy innovations that support low-income New Yorkers for more than 170 years. CSS’s Health Initiatives Department runs a number of statewide programs that help New Yorkers find and use their health insurance or otherwise access health care, including: Community Health Advocates (CHA); the Community Health Access to Addiction and Mental Healthcare Project (CHAMP); the Independent Consumer Advocacy Network (ICAN); and several enrollment assistance programs. These services are free for New York health care consumers and small businesses. It also coordinates the Health Care for All New York Campaign, a coalition of 170 groups dedicated to securing quality, affordable coverage for all New Yorkers. CHA serves over 30,000 New Yorkers a year—saving them over $30 million annually in health costs—through a live-answer helpline and a network of community-based organizations.

CSS seeks to hire a Health Attorney to provide consumer assistance to people who need assistance with navigating their health coverage, appealing denials of care and negotiating medical debt.

Job Responsibilities:

• Write appeals and complaints and provide hearing representation to clients appealing denials of health insurance coverage.
• Represent consumers in medical debt court actions and negotiations with providers and debt collectors.
• Provide information, education, advice, and navigational services to beneficiaries on how to successfully utilize health insurance and/or care.
• Conduct legal and policy research as needed on health insurance policy, benefits, laws and other health consumer rights and responsibilities.
• Develop cutting edge legal strategies and policy remedies that address consumer health coverage needs, with a potential specialization in dental coverage and other areas of under-insurance.
• Respond to live calls from consumers, family members or providers on the CHA Helpline.
• Provide training and presentations to beneficiaries, family members, advocates, providers and others, as needed.
• Prepare training materials and fact sheets, as needed.
• Maintain thorough case records of services provided, advice, appeals and/or referrals.
• Help identify systemic trends or practices that adversely affect clients and work closely with senior CSS staff and other appropriate stakeholders.
• Other responsibilities identified by Supervisor.

Job Qualifications:

• Law degree, admission to the bar strongly preferred.
• A minimum of two years’ experience providing assistance to consumers and/or advocates on health insurance, or health care access issues.
• Experience with courtroom or hearing advocacy preferred.
• Experience writing appeals required.
• Ability to speak, type and write clearly, concisely, persuasively and keep detailed notes of all communications.
• Demonstrated expertise in conducting legal research and analysis.
• Written and spoken fluency in Spanish or a language other than English strongly preferred.

Salary and Benefits: The annual salary range for this position is $88,946.00. Community Service Society provides a comprehensive employee benefits package including health, dental, and vision coverage, life, AD&D, and long-term disability insurance, annual performance-based bonus, 403b retirement savings plan, defined benefit retirement plan, flexible spending accounts, commuter benefits plan, EAP, and more in addition to paid holidays, vacation, sick, and personal days.

CSS currently offers a hybrid work environment requiring onsite work at CSS’ office at least two days per week and three days per week remote work.

***Interested applicants should provide a cover letter and resume at the time of application submission***