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Counsel / Assistant Division Director

CT Office of the State Comptroller

in Remote / Hartford CT

The State of Connecticut, Office of the State Comptroller (OSC), is an agency whose mission is to provide accounting and financial services, to administer employee and retiree benefits, to develop accounting policy and exercise accounting oversight, and to prepare financial reports for the state, federal and municipal governments and the public. 

We are recruiting for a full-time Assistant Division Director/Counsel to report directly to the Division Director of the Health Policy and Benefits Division.  On a day-to-day basis, the individual filling this position will be responsible for the providing legal advice and fiduciary oversight for the Healthcare Policy Division, which administers benefits for 250,000+ members.  Duties include ensuring compliance with state and federal laws (Internal Revenue Code, COBRA, HIPAA and Affordable Care Act, etc.),  identifying processes/practices that need to be revised due to accommodate regulatory changes, procuring and contracting with vendors required to administer employee benefits administered by the agency, participating in planning and oversight of new projects and policy changes associated with the health plans and other employee benefits, preparing all-agency memoranda to communicate policies or program changes, and the administration and oversight of retiree health fund contributions and state employee unemployment.

Examples of Duties:

• Provide legal advice and fiduciary oversight for Healthcare Policy Division which administers benefits for 250,000+ members.  Ensure compliance with state and federal laws (Internal Revenue Code, COBRA, HIPAA and Affordable Care Act, etc.).  Provide legal guidance related to the interpretation of collective bargaining and state statute benefit eligibility stipulations.
• Identify processes/practices that need to be revised due to accommodate regulatory changes. Recommend and analyze proposed legislation. Investigate potential fraud or misuse of plan benefits.  Prepare all-agency memoranda to communicate policies or program changes. 
• Participate in competitive procurements (RFP) for medical, dental, pharmacy and related services, supplemental benefits program, value-based healthcare administration, and flexible spending account programs as needed. Draft requirements and prepare contracts for all selected vendors.  
• Maintain plan documents for medical and pharmacy benefits offered by State and CT Partnership Program.  Review eligibility of applicants to join Partnership Plan, prepare contracts for all non-state public employers joining plan.
• Stay current on legal and regulatory requirements for administration of employee health plans.  Create and maintain plan documents on all IRS-regulated Section 125 plans, work with external vendors and agency staff to resolve benefit delivery or administrative issues; work with labor/management representatives on implementation of collective bargaining agreements and health plan initiatives. 
• Maintain operational compliance with state and federal laws/regulations and collective bargaining agreements affecting our health plans (including HIPAA, ACA, IRC, COBRA, SEBAC).   Ensure that carriers are operating in accordance with such laws, regulations and collective bargaining agreements. 
• Respond to Freedom of Information Act requests and subpoenas.  Interpret legal decisions, statutes and collective bargaining agreements; assist staff with employee benefits law compliance; negotiate vendor contracts, disclosure agreements, and prepare RFPs.
• Implement changes in law and benefit administration as required, such as CARES Act and other legislation introduced in response to COVID-19 pandemic.
• Participate in Agency responses to legislative requests to address feasibility of modifying eligibility rules for providing state health benefits to adjunct faculty members.
• Engage in negotiations for renewal/extension of contracts for medical/pharmacy benefits.  Review audit results and participate in post-audit negotiations with vendors.
• Oversee program for collection and refund of Retiree Health Fund contributions.  Update policies, audit of agency compliance with requirements for enrollments, exemptions and processing of refunds.   
• Collaborate with CORE-CT, Retirement and Payroll Divisions to design and implement process revisions.  Assist with compilation of data for State’s GASB reporting.
• Supervise supplemental benefits program (12 vendors), update contracts and resolve problems; issue RFPs for new vendors, coordinate activities of the Vendor Advisor Committee for evaluation for new potential products and vendors.
• Administer flexible spending programs (Medical Flexible Spending, Dependent Care Assistance Program and Qualified Transportation Accounts) and implement service of new vendor.
• Oversee contract for statewide administration of unemployment claims processing.  Work with CORE-CT and CT Department of Labor to develop information processing mechanisms to reduce suspected fraud in connection unemployment claims. 
• Assist Attorney General’s Office in compiling data to support False Claims Act cases in connection with operation of State’s medical and dental plans.
• Carry out special investigations and projects related to evolution of Health Enhancement Program (HEP) chronic disease management, member preventive compliance and utilization of claims information housed with data warehousing vendor, to support episodes of care program.   
• Working on division effort to streamline health plans to reduce costs and introduce new quality-based performance metrics into health plan.
• Responding to legislative inquiries and constituent inquiries related to duties listed above.

This position is a first-shift, 40 hour per week position located at the newly renovated State Office Building at 165 Capitol Avenue in Hartford, CT. This state-of-the-art building offers free garage parking, ergonomic workspaces, and telework opportunities. The OSC offers an excellent salary and benefits package.

Qualifications:

Nine (9) years of experience in the administration of employee pension plans or employee health care or other employee benefits programs or legal experience in the area of benefits administration.

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory capacity.

Substitutions Allowed:

1. College training in accounting or business administration may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling one-half year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
2. A Master's degree in accounting or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
3. Certification in any of the following may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience: Certified Public Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor.
4. A law degree from an accredited school of law may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

How to Apply

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