Staff Attorney

RIPIN, Inc.

Job Posting Staff Attorney About RIPIN: RIPIN deploys a peer model to support people with special healthcare and education needs across the whole lifespan. Founded in 1991 by a group of parents of children with special needs, RIPIN continues to be peer-led: a majority of our board and more than three-fourths of our staff are parents or caretakers of loved ones with special needs.

RIPIN’s peer professionals now help more than 45,000 Rhode Islanders every year navigate healthcare, schools, and other support systems.

Job Summary:

The Staff Attorney will primarily serve clients who reach RIPIN through its health insurance consumer assistance call center. Every year, the consumer assistance program supports about three thousand Rhode Islanders who need help navigating barriers to access health care and/or health insurance. The program supports Rhode Islanders with any type of health insurance – including Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurance – as well as the uninsured.

RIPIN takes a holistic approach, also addressing problems like food and housing that drive health and education outcomes. Services are available free of charge to all Rhode Islanders. Most program staff are non-attorney Community Health Workers. The Staff Attorney will handle complex cases that benefit from legal attention and, in partnership with the Senior Attorney, will provide support, training, and resources to other program staff and community partners.

The Staff Attorney will also support RIPIN’s health policy agenda.

Essential Functions:

Provide direct services to a caseload of clients who need help accessing healthcare, health insurance or related supports.

Represent clients in health insurance appeals and state agency fair hearings. Assist clients with other complex healthcare access problems.

Conduct legal research in support of formal and informal dispute resolution on behalf of clients with health care and health insurance access challenges.

Provide training, support, and guidance to other program staff (non-lawyers) to assist them with their caseloads.

Produce written resource materials to be used by consumers, other advocates, and colleagues for individual case support, systemic advocacy, and special projects.

Assist with maintaining and updating an online resource hub for consumers and consumer advocates to understand, obtain, and utilize health insurance.

Conduct policy research, writing, and advocacy to advance the interests of healthcare consumers.

Represent RIPIN and the interests of consumers in various policy commissions and committees, in meetings with other advocates, and in meetings with State officials.

Work effectively and flexibly with a diverse team of colleagues to serve Rhode Islanders.

Accept other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Demonstrated commitment to RIPIN’s mission

Some knowledge of and/or interest in healthcare and/or health insurance strongly preferred

High level of interpersonal skills and excellent oral and written communication skills

Affinity for providing direct services to low income or other vulnerable populations

Proficiency in statutory and regulatory legal research

Strong leadership and communication skills allowing for professional interaction with consumers, professionals, RIPIN colleagues, and partners

Ability to effectively work independently and in collaboration with multiple staff and programs.

Proficiency in Spanish preferred but not required

Education and Experience:

Juris Doctor degree

Proficiency in statutory and regulatory legal research

Rhode Island bar membership strongly preferred (If not currently a member of the RI bar, applicant must be qualified and willing to pursue RI bar membership immediately following hire)
Proficien…