AAG - Social & Health Services Division's Health Care Authority Section, Tumwater

State of Washington•Thurston County – Tumwater, WA

14d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Attorney General’s Office’s Social and Health Services Division in Tumwater, WA has an immediate opening for an Assistant Attorney General (AAG) in the Healthcare Authority Section. Our team of 44 attorneys and 28 professional staff works at the heart of Washington’s social safety net. We provide legal support for five state agencies, including the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Health Care Authority (HCA), to provide benefits, protection, and care to some of our state’s most vulnerable and disenfranchised residents. Our cases range from large federal court class action cases to individual administrative appeals. Our recent cases include challenges to state employee health benefits programs and a challenge to the adequacy of the state’s mental health services. We also handle a wide range of legal matters, including: Seeking protections for vulnerable adults at risk of abuse or neglect; Defending lawsuits brought by legal advocacy groups organizations on behalf of Medicaid recipients and individuals with disabilities; Complex civil rights challenges by residents of the Special Commitment Center for sexually violent predators; Civil and felony commitment hearings and trials; Contract disputes with medical providers and managed care organizations; and Appeals related to eligibility for medical services. Our division is dedicated to fostering a positive and supportive workplace. We prioritize employee growth through a culture that recognizes hard work and provides active support for career advancement. Regular social events help us connect and strengthen our collaborative team dynamic - join us!

Requirements

Graduated from a law school accredited by the ABA or completed the WSBA's Rule 6 Law Clerk Program
Licensed to practice law in Washington State. (Applicants who meet the other stated qualifications and are actively pursuing admission will also be considered.)
Committed to public service as demonstrated by an applicant's background, talents, attitude, and enthusiasm for public law practice.

Nice To Haves

Excellent analytical and writing skills
Desire to have a practice involving both client advice and litigation

Responsibilities

The Health Care Authority section of the SHO Division advises and represents the programs administered by the Washington Health Care Authority (HCA), including Medicaid, Public Employee Benefits, School Employee Benefits, and community mental health and recovery programs.
The section also provides legal support to Washington's Health Benefit Exchange.
The section represents both the HCA and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) in litigation, in which they partner as co-defendants with regard to programs involving both agencies.
An attorney interested in this position should possess excellent analytical and writing skills, and a desire to have a practice involving both client advice and litigation.
Issues that commonly arise in representing the Medicaid program include client eligibility, covered benefits, recovery of state funds from responsible third parties, audits of Medicaid providers (physicians, pharmacists, durable medical equipment providers, dentists, hospitals, etc.), privacy, contract disputes with Medicaid providers, and implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
Medicaid litigation commonly involves disputes regarding payment rates for and contractual issues with Medicaid-contracted health care providers.
Issues that commonly arise in representing the Public Employee Benefits and School Employee Benefits programs include member eligibility, covered benefits, complex contract procurement, public disclosure, privacy, and open public meetings.
Community mental health and recovery program advice and litigation often involve situations where individuals are subject to the involuntary treatment act or need access to mental health or substance use disorder services.
Attorneys in the Health Care Authority section appear in state and federal courts litigating different types of lawsuits including class actions and administrative litigation.
In addition to the primary assignment, other work may be available representing HCA or DSHS, depending on interest and client priorities.
Typical daily work for this position may include administrative litigation regarding client benefits, working on a multi-attorney litigation team to defend agency action, and conducting research to provide options-based legal advice to clients.