Health Care Advocate IDD

CENTER FOR INDEPENDENCE OF THE DISABLED IN NEW YORK

POSITION: HEALTH CARE ADVOCATE - IDD

SALARY: $71,000

The Center for Independence of the Disabled in New York (CIDNY) is the leading organization serving and representing people with disabilities in New York City. CIDNY's mission is the removal of barriers to full integration of people with disabilities. CIDNY helps people with disabilities to gain the skills and obtain the services they need to live independently in the community. CIDNY advocates for fair and effective policies that improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. CIDNY is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Description:

The Health Care Advocate - IDD will assist individuals with disabilities as they transition into and navigate Fully Integrated Duals Advantage plans for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (FIDA-IDD). FIDA-IDD is a new program created to provide coordinated care for individuals with IDD who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligible). FIDA-IDD focuses on individuals who receive long-term care and IDD service needs. FIDA-IDD will offer more opportunities for individuals to direct their own services, be involved in care planning, and live independently in the community.

Reports to: Director of Consumer Services

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide direct in person consumer assistance, advocacy, and education for FIDA-IDD participants/caregivers by explaining enrollment and disenrollment, benefits, coverage and access rules and procedures, member rights and responsibilities, and appeals. Information will also be provided through distribution of written material.
• Assist participants/caregivers with raising and resolving quality of care and quality of life issues. Train other community based organization advocates on these and other issues, and prepare do it yourself template materials for participants/caregivers to use.
• Assist participants/caregivers with accessing records from the FIDA-IDD plan.
• Explain the grievance and appeal process, and assist participants/caregivers in resolving problems and issues using skilled negotiation techniques and providing assistance in filing grievances and appeals when informal problem resolution proves unsuccessful.
• Provide outreach and education presentations to consumers, family members, caregivers, advocates, and providers and hearing officers, etc. Assist with developing and maintaining an outreach and education campaign that will include written materials, audio, posters, ads, presentations, videos, and paid advertising. Outreach venues will include Developmental Disabilities Planning Councils, Public schools, independent living centers, IDD providers and Associations, The New York State Rehabilitation Association, the Self Advocacy Association of New York(SANYS), New York Self-Determination Coalition, area law schools that assist people with ID, guardianship agencies, DDRO Staff; Support Brokers; and other relevant groups.
• Set up meetings and maintain regular communication with Partners Health Plan, the managed care organization that will be administering FIDA-IDD.
• Participate in the State Stakeholder process and plan participant advisory committees.
• Assist with developing materials, include advocate trainings, consumer presentation templates, facts sheets for consumer, web-based materials, and the Advocates Guide, and continually review these materials.
• Comply with all requirements established by NY State Department of Health for obtaining consent, ensuring access to records, coordinating contacts with plans, coordinating referrals, and for ensuring confidentiality, and protect against inappropriate disclosures of identifying information.
• Ensure all significant client data and service provision details are current and accurate, and that they are documented in a timely manner into CIDNY’s and the contracted provider’s databases.
• Maintain quality assurance procedures established. Conduct quality assurance reviews of cases, using case notes and information reports in the database, of five to ten percent of randomly selected cases.
• Attend Agency's in-service training and unit meetings as well as any other agency-related activities. Conduct trainings regarding client education, navigational and appeal services, consumer rights and responsibilities.
• Identify systemic trends or practices that affect people with disabilities and work closely with other stakeholders to design a systematic response. Assist in preparation of reports concerning the program. Research as required.

Qualifications

Education and/or experience required:

• Attorney or paralegal, or Masters Degree with 3 or more years in a similar position in the health care advocacy field.
• Experience working with people who need health care navigation assistance in managed care plans.
• Experience working with the IDD community and thorough knowledge of OPWDD services and supports, including self-direction.
• Personal experience with disability a plus.

Skills, Licenses, and/or competencies required:

• Juris Doctor (JD) required.
• Knowledge of health care coverage information, IDD services/supports, eligibility rules, and resources information.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, knowledge of social service delivery systems, knowledge of government/benefits resources, good organizational, and communication skills;
• Strong advocacy skills and effective communication skills required.
• Individual must have time management skills to maintain individual/community outreaches, caseload, documentation and administrative requirements;
• In addition, the ability to work well independently as well as part of a team;
• Must be computer literate of basic Microsoft Programs;
• Research skills and knowledge of Medicare and Medicaid law and policy desired. Knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act preferred.
• Bilingual skills a plus.
• Ability to drive a plus—some travel in downstate region.
• Respectful and comfortable with persons from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.

Position Specifics:

• Location: CIDNY's Manhattan Office: 1010 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 301, New York, NY, 10018.
• Salary: $71,000 annually.
• Shift: 9:00 am till 5:00 pm.
• Monday – Friday.
• Hybrid Schedule.
• Benefits available: Medical, paid time off, Sick pay, Paid holidays, Dental, Life insurance, Vision, and 403B plan.

CIDNY conforms to all laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal employment opportunities and affirmative action. We strongly encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply to all our job openings. We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, genetic information and testing, family and medical leave, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We prohibit retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer or the government or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint or otherwise oppose discrimination.

MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF COVID-19 VACCINATION AND BOOSTER.

How to Apply:

Please send a thoughtful cover letter and resume to Massiel Felix, Director of Consumer Services. Please use the job title as the email header. The cover letter should include your work history and other relevant life experience, and it should clarify what transferable skills you bring to the posted job description. No application will be considered without this cover letter. Do not send by fax.

Please use the job title as the email header. NO PHONE CALLS, PLEASE.