Associate General Counsel

Interested in a career with both meaning and growth? Whether your abilities are in direct patient care or one of the many other areas of healthcare administration and support, everyone at Parkland works together to fulfill our mission: the health and well-being of individuals and communities entrusted to our care. By joining Parkland, you become part of a diverse healthcare legacy that’s served our community for more than 125 years. Put your skills to work with us, seek opportunities to learn and join a talented team where patient care is more than a job. It’s our passion.

Primary Purpose:

Serves as in house attorney primarily assigned to the Parkland Community Health Plan (PCHP), a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), that is an affiliate of Parkland Health (Parkland) by providing strategic legal advice about various corporate issues, drafting contracts and documents, negotiating professional services agreements between PCHP and its business partners, assisting with regulatory compliance and all legal aspects of managed care operations. Provides counsel on general business issues. May also provide legal advice and counsel to certain Parkland departments as assigned by the Chief Legal Officer.

Minimum Specifications:

Education

• Must be a graduate of an accredited law school.

Experience

• Must have a minimum of eight (8) years of law practice experience with a preference toward managed care, healthcare industry transactions, regulatory investigations, litigation, healthcare industry and/or governmental entity vendor/commercial contracts, health plan operations, provider/payor issues, HMO operations and/or risk management functions.

Equivalent Education and/or Experience

• May have an equivalent combination of education and experience to substitute for the experience requirements.

Certification/Registration/Licensure

• Must have a current Texas license to practice law in good standing; OR must pursue “Admission without Examination” based on reciprocity as outlined by the most recent standards established by the State Bar of Texas resulting in receipt of a Texas law license within 9 months of hire date.
• Must maintain good standing as a licensed attorney with the State Bar of Texas or an equivalent state bar association after admission.

Skills or Special Abilities:

• Must be able to effectively communicate with all levels of PCHP and Parkland system personnel.
• Must be a good team player, able to work well with colleagues and other departments, and to coordinate effectively with internal and outside legal counsel in appropriate circumstances.
• Must have good investigative skills.
• Must be organized, detail oriented and have excellent oral and written communication and negotiation skills.
• Must have critical thinking and practical strategy skills as applied to managed care, HMO, and hospital/ healthcare business.
• Must be able to quickly analyze operational information and provide first-line legal advice.
• Must participate in 24/7 attorney on-call rotation schedule (currently, one week every 7-8 weeks).
• Must be willing to learn new areas of managed care, healthcare operations and law sufficient to support an HMO, as well as an innovative, dynamic academic medical center.
• Must effectively manage outside counsel, Legal Affairs paralegals, and other staff.

Responsibilities:

1. Ability to understand the legal framework associated with an HMO such as the specific rules, networks, care coordination and administrative processes.
2. Negotiates, drafts, and interprets a wide variety of contracts for managed care providers,

behavioral health, vision care and pharmacy benefits, vendors, and other agreements in such a  manner as to obtain

terms and conditions that are favorable for the PCHP organization.

1. Provides counsel to internal PCHP teams on legal matters impacting their contracts and areas of responsibility.
2. Reviews and drafts governance documents, including various committee and policy documents in accordance with state and federal laws, regulations, and accreditation standards.
3. May manage litigation against PCHP, including developing legal strategies, pre-litigation investigations, document preservation and discovery practice, preparing for and attending key meetings, mediations, depositions, trial, and appellate proceedings.
4. May advise on credentialing, regulatory, compliance, public law, and procurement matters.
5. Advises on and oversees internal PCHP investigations, grievances, and appeals related to compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
6. Advises PCHP’s Board within assigned areas of responsibility.
7. Analyzes and reviews contracts, including agreements for clinical services, managed care and commercial payor relationships, complex transactions including key business arrangements, purchasing, business associate agreements, professional services, research affiliation, and other documents related to the operations of an HMO affiliated with a large public, safety net, academic health system.
8. Analyzes system entities’ operational arrangements to ensure compliance with applicable laws.
9. Manages and coordinates with outside counsel as needed, ensures timely review of their invoices and expenses in accordance with Parkland’s Outside Counsel Guidelines.
10. May advise on responses to public information requests and related proceedings.
11. Maintains knowledge of relevant legal developments in state and federal laws and regulations, and healthcare industry trends relevant to assigned functional areas.
12. Supports PCHP’s government relations functions as needed.
13. Using analytical, problem-solving, and communications skills and good judgment, identifies potential solutions to legal and other problems. Implements timely decisions independently, or after appropriate consultation with Legal Affairs, PCHP, or Parkland system leadership.
14. Responds to requests for information and legal guidance.
15. Provides counsel and case/matter coordination for PCHP to ensure timely and effective legal intervention/representation. Works closely with PCHP personnel, and outside counsel, as appropriate, regarding matter/case due diligence, preparation and/or handling. With regarding to disputes or claims, as applicable, works closely with PCHP personnel, and outside counsel, as appropriate, regarding case investigation, discovery, strategy, and trial developments. Answers inquiries, schedules conferences, and maintains files and related communications to advance matters/cases appropriately while providing overall matter/case coordination.
16. Reviews legal documents and advises PCHP on policies, internal and external correspondence and other business activities as needed to ensure efficient, organized PCHP operations and legal/regulatory compliance.
17. Provides strategic advice and guidance, and assists in implementing necessary practices, procedures, and/or policies to promote effective, efficient, and compliant activities that minimize legal and regulatory risk to PCHP.
18. Keeps supervisor informed of strategic and important activities and matters and proactively aligns with supervisor, as appropriate, on matters of strategy and importance to areas of responsibility.
19. Serves on and/or staffs PCHP and Parkland system committees as selected or assigned.
20. Maintains a positive working relationship with PCHP and Parkland employees and management, vendors, representatives of other HMOs, hospitals, outside counsel, government representatives and other professionals to ensure optimal communication and cooperation among all PCHP service providers.
21. Seeks advice and guidance as needed to ensure proper understanding regarding duties and areas of responsibility.
22. Maintains regular, in-person communications with clients and stakeholders as they may desire to ensure operational awareness and dedicated legal support.
23. Works with Legal Affairs staff to ensure timely entry of relevant information in matter management system with corresponding audit responses and legal holds when appropriate.

Job Accountabilities:

1. Identifies and analyzes the design of jobs, work processes, workflows, etc. for the area and implements appropriate changes to improve effectiveness, productivity, and efficiency that support the overall goals of the Legal Affairs department, Parkland, and PCHP.
2. Stays abreast of the latest developments, advancements, and trends in the field by attending seminars/workshops, reading professional journals, actively participating in professional organizations, and/or maintaining certification or licensure. Integrates knowledge gained into current work practices.
3. Maintains knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws, and guidelines that impact the area. Develops effective internal controls designed to promote adherence with applicable laws, accreditation agency requirements, and federal, state, and private health plans. Seeks advice and guidance as needed to ensure proper understanding.
4. Develops, implements, monitors, and revises annual goals and objectives for the department that support the missions and objectives of Parkland.
5. Selects, trains, schedules, motivates, supervises, and evaluates employees making recommendations for disciplinary actions up to and including termination, to ensure maximum utilization of individual and group capabilities. Ensures that assigned employees receive opportunities to further their knowledge.

Parkland Health and Hospital System prohibits discrimination based on age (40 or over), race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, disability, national origin, marital status, political belief, or veteran status. As part of our commitment to our patients and employees’ wellness, Parkland Health is a tobacco and smoke-free campus.