Assistant Counsel, NS - Health Bureau

New York State Department of Financial Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

The New York State Department of Financial Services seeks to build an equitable, transparent, and resilient financial system. This legal role focuses on health insurance regulation, policy analysis, and compliance investigations, with opportunities to engage industry stakeholders and guide regulatory implementation.

Admitted to the NYS bar with at least 4 years post-bar experience in finance/banking, you will draft regulations, oversee medical-necessity reviews, and supervise staff within the

Qualifications

• Licensed attorney admitted to the New York State bar in good standing.
• At least 4 years of post-bar legal experience in the finance or banking industry.

Responsibilities

• Oversee health insurance initiatives and special projects, including proposals to expand access and affordability.
• Review and comment on legislative proposals related to health insurance and facilitate implementation with SAPA-compliant regulations.
• Evaluate health insurance contracts for compliance with federal and state law; including dental, long-term care, and paid family leave.
• Develop and revise health insurance product outlines and checklists detailing statutory requirements.
• Oversee the review process for insurer medical-necessity determinations and protections against surprise bills.
• Conduct compliance investigations and draft concise memoranda and consent orders.
• Prepare legal memoranda and conduct research for special reports.
• Meet with health insurance industry representatives, trade groups, and other agencies to discuss policy and market issues.
• Train and supervise staff within the legal section of the Health Bureau.

Skills

Legal analysis

Regulatory drafting

Policy analysis

Stakeholder communication

Job description

Duties Description

The New York State Department of Financial Services seeks to build an equitable, transparent, and resilient financial system that benefits individuals and supports business. Through engagement, data-driven regulation and policy, and operational excellence, the Department and its employees are responsible for empowering consumers and protecting them from financial harm; ensuring the health of the entities we regulate; driving economic growth in New York through responsible innovation; and preserving the stability of the global financial system.

Duties

• Oversee health insurance initiatives and special projects including proposals to expand access to and affordability of health insurance coverage, primary care, and mental health and substance use disorder treatment parity;
• Review, analyze, and comment on legislative proposals relating to health insurance, and after legislation is enacted, facilitate implementation by drafting regulations demonstrating knowledge of the State Administrative Procedure Act (SAPA) requirements for rulemaking and issue circular letters;
• Evaluate health insurance contracts as well as dental, long-term care, accident, disability, travel, and paid family leave contracts, for compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations;
• Develop and revise health insurance product outlines and checklists detailing statutory requirements;
• Oversee review of the process and timeframes that insurers use to make medical necessity decisions and implement protections relating to surprise medical bills;
• Conduct compliance investigations, including related to mental health and substance use disorder parity, analyze the results of such investigations, prepare concise and effective written memoranda on the findings, and draft consent orders;
• Implement network adequacy standards and oversee network adequacy reviews;
• Research and prepare special reports and draft legal memoranda with an ability to produce a high-quality written work product;
• Meet with representatives of the health insurance industry, trade groups, and other governmental agencies to discuss public policy, market and product issues, and other initiatives, and effectively communicate the Department’s position;
• Participate in task forces and workgroups with the health insurance industry, interested parties, or other governmental agencies; and
• Train and supervise staff within the legal section of the Department’s Health Bureau.

Minimum Qualifications

• Admission to the New York State bar in good standing;
• At least 4 years of post-bar legal experience in the finance or banking industry;

Additional Comments

Please note that a change in negotiating unit may affect your salary, insurance and other benefits.

Salary: $120,471 - $152,238 (salary commensurate with experience)

Positions located within the New York City metropolitan area, as well as Suffolk, Nassau, Rockland, and Westchester Counties, are also eligible to receive an additional $4,150 annual downstate adjustment.

Appointment Status: This is an appointment to a position in the exempt jurisdictional class.

Appointment to this position is pending Governor Appointment’s Office and Division of Budget approval.