Office of Counsel Attorney Positions
Office of Counsel to the Inspector General
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) supports the mission of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) in protecting the health of Americans and providing essential human services. OIG's 1,600 dedicated professionals promote the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of HHS programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Head Start. The integrity of these programs is evaluated for success, and any fraud, waste or abuse is addressed by OIG.
With a staff of more than 75 professionals, the Office of Counsel to the Inspector General (OCIG) provides all legal services for OIG. The office is divided into three branches: Administrative and Civil Remedies, Advice, and Industry Guidance.
- Administrative and Civil Remedies Branch
- The Administrative and Civil Remedies Branch (ACRB) represents OIG in all administrative and civil fraud enforcement actions, monitors the compliance of providers under integrity agreements, and defends OIG in administrative appeals. ACRB attorneys initiate and litigate actions seeking civil monetary penalties and the exclusion of health care providers from participating in Federal health care programs because of fraudulent or abusive conduct. In addition, ACRB attorneys work with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop and pursue False Claims Act cases against healthcare providers that defraud the Government. In appropriate cases, ACRB attorneys negotiate and monitor Corporate Integrity Agreements (CIAs) that impose integrity obligations on providers alleged to have engaged in fraudulent conduct.
- Advice Branch
- The Advice Branch provides day-to-day legal counsel and representation to OIG on a broad array of issues arising in the exercise of OIG's responsibilities. Advice Branch attorneys serving in this "in-house counsel" role handle a wide range of topics, including employment issues, internal inquiries, ethics, information disclosure and privacy, contracts, constitutional tort claims, subpoenas, law enforcement questions, the scope and exercise of the Inspector General's authorities and responsibilities, budget and appropriations, and legal reviews of audits, evaluations and other written products created by other OIG components.
- Industry Guidance Branch
- The Industry Guidance Branch (IGB) issues advisory opinions, special fraud alerts, special advisory bulletins, and other guidance to health care providers and others on the application of the fraud and abuse statutes to health care business arrangements; engages in outreach activities to promote industry compliance with the fraud and abuse statutes; drafts "safe harbor" and other regulations related to these statutes; provides technical assistance to government officials about the fraud and abuse statutes; and serves as an in-house resource for OIG staff, including investigators and auditors, on the anti-kickback statute, the civil monetary penalties provisions related to beneficiary inducements and gainsharing, the Physician Self-Referral (Stark) Law, and health care business practices.
Job Openings
The Office of Counsel to the Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services, seeks an experienced health care attorney for its Industry Guidance Branch. The position is at a grade commensurate with experience. The position is located in Washington, DC. Relocation expenses will not be reimbursed.
Industry Guidance Branch
The Office of Counsel to the Inspector General seeks an experienced health care attorney to prepare advisory opinions, regulations, and guidance documents that address the lawfulness of cutting-edge health care transactions and arrangements under OIG authorities. Potential candidates must have experience with: the anti-kickback statute and other Federal fraud and abuse laws; evolving alternative payment models; complex health care business transactions; and the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Knowledge and experience litigating criminal, civil, or administrative cases, including cases involving OIG's administrative sanction authorities also will be considered. The position requires excellent written and oral communication skills. The attorney's duties would include:
- Reviewing and analyzing advisory opinion requests and drafting advisory opinions.
- Drafting safe harbor regulations, compliance program guidance, fraud alerts, and special advisory bulletins.
- Working in coordination with CMS to draft waivers of certain fraud and abuse laws for various alternative payment models.
- Developing and promoting OIG policies and guidance regarding the anti-kickback statute.
- Advising OIG staff and other government officials on the application of the fraud and abuse laws.
- Responding to questions and issues from industry representatives regarding compliance with the Federal fraud and abuse laws.
The attorney may also be called upon to perform other duties, including assisting with the investigation and litigation of cases involving allegations of false claims, kickbacks, and Stark law violations.
Submit a resume and writing sample (preferably analyzing Federal health care fraud and abuse laws or addressing related compliance matters) by January 27, 2017, to: IGB.Resumes@oig.hhs.gov. To the extent that a writing sample does not represent solely the work product of the applicant, the specific contributions of others should be identified.
Contact Information
Heather Westphal
330 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 5527
Washington, DC 20201
Phone: (202) 619-0335
Fax: (202) 205-9758
Email: IGB.Resumes@oig.hhs.gov
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