Attorney Advisor - GS-15 - CMSD

The Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is currently seeking applications for multiple Attorney Advisor positions in its Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Division.

Who May Apply:  This vacancy announcement is open to all US Citizens and may be used to fill multiple positions.

Duty Station: Washington, DC; Baltimore, MD; Philadelphia, PA; Atlanta, GA; Kansas City, MO; Denver, CO.

Series and Grade: GS-0905-15

Full Performance Level: None

Salary Range: $146,481 - $190,424

Open Period: September 3, 2025 – until filled (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting September 10, 2025).

Salary wage as shown is for the Rest of the U.S. (RUS) pay scale and does not include locality pay.  Locality pay will be added according to the selectee's location area.

For specific wage information, refer to  General Schedule

Job Summary:

The Office of the General Counsel is the legal team for HHS, providing quality representation and legal advice on a wide range of highly visible national issues. OGC supports the development and implementation of the Department’s programs by providing the highest quality legal services to the Secretary of HHS and the organization’s various agencies and divisions.

OGC is comprised of three principal subcomponents: the Immediate Office, Headquarters Divisions, and Regional Hubs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Division (CMSD) is one of the Headquarters Divisions with hubs in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Kansas City, and Denver.

CMSD defends policies, regulations, and guidance issued by CMS, the nation’s largest healthcare payer. The current openings present an opportunity to help develop and defend transformative changes to the healthcare system.  CMSD is currently seeking applications for several senior attorneys in its Program Integrity, Program Review and Litigation Groups.

For additional information about OGC’s mission, please visit our website at: http://www.hhs.gov/ogc/index.html

Duties:

• Program Integrity:  The Program Integrity Group advises CMS and the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC) on issues relating to fraud, waste, and abuse, financial management, and program compliance.  Responsibilities will involve assisting the DAGC in directing and furnishing legal services to the Department and may also include working with the Office of Counsel to the Inspector General and the Department of Justice. In a supervisory and coordinating capacity, you will review and clear attorney work product, rate attorney performance, advise on legal approaches involving cross-cutting or complex issues, coordinate efforts within the PI Group and other groups within CMSD and other OGC Divisions as necessary, and elevate attorney work product to the DAGC as appropriate.  Work areas may include CMS Innovation Center models, drug pricing work, client advice tied to prevention of fraud, waste and abuse, and/or False Claims Act work.
• Program Enforcement: The Program Enforcement Group provides a range of advice and counseling to CMS related to enforcement of Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP requirements, litigates administrative cases on behalf of CMS before the Departmental Appeals Board (DAB), and supports DOJ in federal court litigation defending final agency actions and lawsuits against CMS. In particular, the Program Enforcement Group:
  • Provides advice and counseling regarding Medicare reimbursement issues, such as Medicare Secondary Payer and Medicare payment suspensions.
  • Handles administrative litigation before the DAB including civil money penalty cases against Skilled Nursing Facilities, Medicare provider and supplier enrollment disputes, and Medicaid disallowances.
  • Partners with other CMS Division Groups (mostly the Program Integrity Group) on matters like Hospital Price Transparency enforcement, Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), CLIA advice and enforcement, and Touhy advice to CMS.
  • Handles some federal court litigation.
• Program Review:  The Program Review Group provides and oversees provision of complex and highly significant legal counsel to CMS. This includes overseeing the legal review of significant regulatory and guidance documents and proposed legislation for Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), private insurance market reforms, Health Benefit Exchanges, consumer surprise billing protections, drug price negotiation and rebate programs, implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, CMS Innovation Center Models, and health information exchange-related areas including information blocking and the ONC Health IT Certification Program, among others.
• Litigation:  The Litigation Group works with the Department of Justice to defend CMS’s actions in federal court.  Litigation attorneys act as both lead and supporting attorneys in cases in federal district and appellate courts.  Your cases will involve challenges to healthcare-related statutes, CMS regulations, Administration priorities and initiatives, as well as highly specialized Medicare provider reimbursement work.  Work areas may include Administrative Procedure Act challenges; challenges to the Medicare drug price negotiation program; defending CMS in all facets of litigation including against preliminary injunctions and temporary restraining orders; and Jarkesy-based challenges.

We are seeking to fill the position at the GS-15 level ($146,481 - $190,424) depending on experience and qualifications.  Ideal applicants should possess:

• Significant regulatory and administrative law experience; contract drafting and review skills, and/or significant experience with civil fraud litigation; demonstrated ability to work under competing deadlines, and superb writing, communication, and analytical skills.  Experience with Medicare, Medicaid and CMMI models is desirable.

The positions will be located in Washington, DC; Baltimore, MD; Philadelphia, PA; Atlanta, GA; Kansas City, MO; Denver, CO and reimbursement for relocation expenses is not available.

Qualifications Required:

Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the position qualifications listed on this announcement. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

At the GS-15: Applicants at the GS-15 level must have at least four years of professional legal experience post bar admission with one year of experience equivalent to the GS-14 level. Applicants at the GS-15 level must also have a demonstrated ability to work independently with minimum levels of supervision.

 The following are required qualifications:

Conditions of Employment:

• You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited ABA law school.
• Have at least 4 year (s) of experience after law school as a practicing attorney.
• Proof that bar status is active, in good standing and eligible to practice in the highest court of a State, U. S. commonwealth, U. S. territory, or the District of Columbia.
• Candidates must also have exemplary legal writing, analysis and oral advocacy abilities, and possess excellent interpersonal skills.
• It will be a plus for the candidate to have familiarity and experience with the Administrative Procedure Act and Medicare and Medicaid laws and regulations. 
• Must maintain active bar membership in good standing and the eligibility to practice law in the highest court of a state, territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia throughout employment in the Office of the General Counsel.
• Upon final job offer from HHS OHR, the successful candidate must submit official law school transcripts.
• Security and Background Requirements:  If not previously completed, a background security investigation will be required for all appointees.  Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.  Failure to successfully meet these requirements may be grounds for appropriate personnel action.  In addition, if hired, a background security reinvestigation or supplemental investigation may be required at a later time.  Applicants are also advised that all information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation.  False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection and/or appropriate disciplinary action.
• E-Verify:  If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System.  Federal law requires DHS to use the E-Verify System to verify employment eligibility of all new hires and as a condition of continued employment obligates the new hire to take affirmative steps to resolve any discrepancies identified by the system.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is an E-Verify Participant.
• Direct Deposit:  All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
• Financial disclosure statement may be required. 
• Two-year trial period may be required. 
• Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid.
• This position is not in a bargaining unit.
• Multiple selections may be made from this announcement.

In accordance with Executive Order 12564 of September 14, 1986, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is A Drug-Free Federal Workplace. The Federal government, as the largest employer in the Nation, can and should show the way towards achieving drug-free workplaces through programs designed to offer drug users a helping hand, and at the same time demonstrating to drug users and potential drug users that drugs will not be tolerated in the Federal workplace. The use of illegal drugs, on or off duty, by Federal employees is inconsistent not only with the law-abiding behavior expected of all citizens, but also with the special trust placed in such employees as servants of the public. Applicants tentatively selected for this position may be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and be subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug testing upon hiring. If required to submit to urinalysis, the appointment to the position will be contingent upon a negative applicant drug test result. In order to demonstrate commitment to the HHS goal of a drug-free workplace and to set an example for other Federal employees, employees not in a testing designated position may volunteer for unannounced random testing by notifying their Drug-free Federal Workplace Program Point of Contact upon hiring.

Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.

Instructions to Apply:

Please submit the following documents to CMSDRecruitment@hhs.gov, to receive full consideration:

• Short cover letter addressed to the Office of the General Counsel Hiring Official, including a statement of interest indicating which CMSD group(s) you would like to join.
• Resume (must include education, including names of undergraduate and law school, degree received, and date graduated; date admitted to bar and jurisdiction; and a general description of all past employment relevant to the practice of law, including dates of employment (full time or part time).
• One legal writing sample.
• Law school transcript if graduated from law school.
• Proof that bar status is active, in good standing and eligible to practice in a state, territory of the US, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• Names and contact information for at least three professional references.