Associate General Counsel - Hospital Operations

Overview

Prime Healthcare is an award-winning health system headquartered in Ontario, California. Prime Healthcare operates 45 hospitals and has more than 300 outpatient locations in 14 states providing more than 2.6 million patient visits annually. It is one of the nation’s leading health systems with nearly 50,000 employees and physicians. Fourteen of the Prime Healthcare hospitals are members of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity. Prime Healthcare is actively seeking new members to join our corporate team!

Company is an equal employment opportunity employer. Company prohibits discrimination against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (subject to applicable law), disability, military status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. The Company also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. Know Your Rights: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/EEOC_KnowYourRights_screen_reader_10_20.pdf

Responsibilities

The Associate General Counsel-Hospital Operations is a senior member of the Prime legal team. The AGC provides legal and strategic advice and counsel to hospital C-suites, Corporate Department Heads and Senior Management, and reviews and drafts documents related to the highly-regulated business of healthcare. The AGC must be able to work in a fast paced, high pressure environment, and meet high priority/short turn-around time deadlines as they arise. The AGC is expected to supervise, mentor and develop more junior members of the legal department as assigned by the General Counsel. The AGC will possess in-depth knowledge of and facility with complex laws and regulations, including, but not limited to the Stark Law, the Antikickback Statute (and various state-law equivalents), EMTALA, Medicare, the Medicaid State Operations Manual, HIPAA/HiTech, etc. The AGC works closely with the Corporate Compliance Officer as needed to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the Corporate Compliance Plan and the Code of Conduct. The AGC conducts investigations as directed by the General Counsel, and leads ad hoc teams as needed. The AGC structures and reviews physician arrangements to comply with applicable laws (although the AGC is not required to be an employment law expert, the AGC must be sensitive to employment law related issues when negotiating/drafting physician/midlevel and other provider employment and/or independent contractor agreements, and will work closely with in-house and outside employment law counsel on such matters.) The AGC will appropriately supervise outside counsel when referring work thereto; the AGC is expected to refer out only such matters that warrant referral (whether due to special expertise, economy/efficiency issues, or the need for high priority/rapid turn-around time handling during times of high work volume). The AGC assists in promoting efficiency by developing and drafting template forms, policies, instructional materials and other tools and resources. The AGC provides training presentations to hospital and corporate personnel as requested by other department heads or at the direction of the General Counsel.

Qualifications

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, TRAINING

Required qualifications:

1.    Degree from an ABA accredited law school

2.    Admission in good standing to the bar of the highest court of at least one State; if not admitted in California, eligible for CA Registered In House Counsel status.

3.    At least five (5) and preferably eight (8) years of progressively more responsible experience providing legal and regulatory advice and counsel to hospital and healthcare facility clients.

4.    In-depth knowledge of and facility with complex laws and regulations, including, but not limited to the Stark Law, the Antikickback Statute (and various state-law equivalents), EMTALA, Medicare, the Medicaid State Operations Manual, HIPAA/HiTech, etc.

5.    Substantial understanding of hospital and physician reimbursement mechanisms.

6.    Significant experience in negotiating, drafting and reviewing agreements with physicians, physician groups, and/or the immediate family members of physicians, as well as other business partners (i.e., hospitals, nursing homes, SNFs, lab service providers, imaging centers, ambulance services, etc.)

7.    Understanding of healthcare revenue cycle matters, including collection and third-party liability issues

8.    Understanding of medical staff matters, including bylaws, medical staff corrective action, and peer review.

9.    Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills essential.

10.  Strong client relations and team building skills.

11.  Ability to work both individually with a minimum of supervision, and within a team.