Closing Date: 25th March, 2024
Description:
Summary:The County Services Section of the Civil Division has an opening for a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney (DPA) interested in representing the Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD) of the King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS). The applicant must have experience in Medicaid law, contracting with managed care organizations and governmental agencies, including regulatory issues frequently encountered by governmental agencies and other intermediary entities when contracting for behavioral health care. Ideal applicants should have expertise on Medicaid law related to risk sharing and public/private partnership business structures.
One of BHRD's core business roles is as a backbone entity and lead contractor for the King County Integrated Care Network and is responsible for deploying a wide variety of services including crisis services, mental health treatment, substance use disorder treatment, and diversion and reentry services through contracts with a network of community behavioral health providers. Generally speaking, BHRD's services cover King County residents who are Medicaid eligible or low income. The selected applicant must support BHRD's mission to provide equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, and connected to community by ensuring people with mental health and substance use disorders receive the services they need.
The work associated with this position will be performed in a hybrid fashion including teleworking, complemented with onsite work (minimum of two days per week) and meetings as needed. Frequency of onsite work will vary based on business and operational needs. Employees must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
We value diversity and strive to hire a workforce that reflects the community that we serve. It is essential to our mission that we create and maintain an office that is diverse and inclusive. All PAO employees are expected to participate in PAO equity work and attend equity trainings and discussions. PAO employees are expected to comply with race, equity, and social justice (RESJ) principles, and to work with PAO colleagues and management to identify opportunities for improvement.
Job Duties:
The attorney will be part of the County Services section of the PAO. This six-lawyer section provides advise and representation to many core county departments such as Public Health, the Sheriff, the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, the Assessor, Records and Licensing Services, the PAO and DCHS. The attorney will be part of the County Services team and must be ready to engage in a fast-paced, diverse and challenging legal practice. The attorney's practice will focus on the BHRD of DCHS and the attorney will be expected to maintain an office location with BRHD as well as the PAO.
The attorney will also sit as part of BHRD's Executive Leadership Team and provide representation to BHRD on a range of issues including Medicaid and other health insurance law, regulatory compliance, public records, and contracts. The attorney will also be responsible for advising on the recently passed Crisis Care Centers Levy. This Levy is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform how people experiencing behavioral health crises can access specialized behavioral health care. This nine-year property tax levy will create a countywide network of five crisis care centers, restore residential treatment capacity, and strengthen King County's community behavioral health workforce. Finally, the attorney will also be responsible for advising mental health professionals who evaluate persons with behavioral health disorders for involuntary detention.
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills:
- Over 5 years of experience practicing Medicaid law, and contracting with managed care organizations and governmental entities.
- Enthusiasm, initiative, and an ability to successfully lead a team on complex matters.
- Outstanding analytical abilities.
- Excellent legal research and writing skills are critical.
- Demonstrated commitment to race, equity, and social justice, including continued development of personal cultural humility/competence and active participation in PAO RESJ work, attending trainings and discussions.
Special Requirements:
- Member in good standing with the Washington State Bar.
- Must submit to a criminal history check.
- U.S. Citizenship (per RCW 36.27 and 29A.04 and Article VI of the WA Constitution).
