Medical-Legal Partnership Program Health Advocate – Madison County
Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) is a community-based non-profit legal aid agency governed by a local Board of Directors. PLS has an annual budget of $7.5 million from a multitude of funding sources. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina (WNC), Pisgah Legal Services provides free civil legal assistance to low-income people in WNC. The organization currently has offices in Asheville, Avery, Hendersonville, Highlands-Cashiers, Rutherfordton, Brevard, Burnsville, and Marshall. With a dedicated staff of 92, including 37 attorneys plus program staff, and an active group of 300 volunteer attorneys, the program provides free services to more than 20,000 people per year to meet their basic needs, primarily in the poverty law areas of housing, public benefits, domestic violence prevention, health care, immigration, and consumer law.
Pisgah Legal Services is seeking a health advocate who will represent the organization in a multidisciplinary team as the primary staff position in a medical-legal partnership program with Hot Springs Health Program in Madison County, NC. The health advocate will educate the community, coordinate with the health care providers, and coordinate with the social service sector about the Affordable Care Act (ACA), public benefits, and the connection between health and poverty.
This position will involve a high volume of individual appointments and community outreach events and presentations.
Responsibilities
- Commitment to Pisgah Legal Services’ mission, values and vision.
- Work with individuals in one-on-one appointments to support health insurance enrollment in the NC Marketplace or Medicaid, with a primary focus in AMMY (Avery, Mitchell, Madison, Yancey) counties.
- Build relationships with community organizations and leaders, primarily in AMMY counties, to promote Medical-Legal Partnership work, utilizing the connection between health outcomes and legal services to alleviate poverty and improve health.
- Promote awareness of free legal aid, health insurance enrollment, and tax assistance available.
- Work closely with Hot Springs Health Program staff at various sites;
- Work with other local Navigators, FQHCs, and CACs to organize enrollment fairs and clinics;
- Help individuals understand premium tax credits and their potential financial impact;
- Provide referrals to appropriate agencies and serve as liaison between PLS and Hot Springs Health Program for legal aid referrals;
- Facilitate eligibility determinations for QHP, Medicaid, Health Choice, and premium tax subsidies;
- Provide technical expertise to volunteers and consumers about the ACA and Medicaid rules;
- Educate patients about how PLS can help them deal with health-harming situations such as domestic abuse, housing problems, consumer debt, and access to health care.
- Receive referrals for legal aid and complete applications for services. Enter data and work with other staff to determine next steps for applicants.
- Work collaboratively with Pisgah Legal’s Health Justice team members of staff and volunteers.
- Collaborate on outreach and referrals for Pisgah Legal’s EITC Program.
- Assist with PLS benefits and general screening as needed.
- Support NC Medicaid Ombudsman Team by staffing the call line and/or conducting outreach as needed.
- Utilize web-based software programs to report health insurance enrollment outcomes and track consumer forms.
- Commit to continued learning about the connection between socio-economic factors and health.
- Passionately support the idea of access to quality healthcare for all people.
- Assist with program data entry and grant reporting.
- Provide all information and services in a manner that is culturally and linguistically appropriate and ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
- Provide remote services through phone, Zoom, Microsoft Teams and other platforms until COVID-19 restrictions permit in-office work.
- Upon return to PLS offices, the Health Advocate will be based at Hot Springs Health Program in Madison County, as well as travel regularly to Asheville. An agency car or mileage reimbursement are available for work-related travel.
Qualifications Desired:
· Demonstrated skills at socio-economic and cultural sensitivity, commitment to equity
· Commitment to work collaboratively with all constituent groups, including staff, consumers, clients, board members, donors, community groups, member organizations and others
· Self-motivated, able to work independently
· Detail-oriented, accurate and organized
· Ability to understand, remember, and carry out complex instructions
· Excellent writing and verbal communication skills
· Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with teams
· Personal/professional roots in and strong network of connections in Madison County, a plus
· Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience in areas such as in social work, public health, public policy or a related field (degree not required)
· Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish preferred
· Experience in public benefit eligibility or enrollment and/or work experience as an enrollment service representative and with community organizing
General Requirements
- Successfully complete and pass the certification to become a Certified Application Counselor provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) upon hiring.
- Must be free from conflicts of interests, including payments and incentives from brokers, insurers or insurance industry.
- Must own a reliable car and have a valid driver’s license.
- Must be able to work nights and weekends with comp time provided.
- Must be able to multi-task with long periods of sitting or standing and interact with professionals, clients, patients, and other office personnel.
Salary/ Benefits
Salary $31,120 - $48,339 based on years of experience. Excellent fringe benefits, including 401(k) retirement plan, as well as life, health, and disability insurance.
To Apply
E-mail resumé and cover letter describing relevant experience to employment@pisgahlegal.org. PLS invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice.
Pisgah Legal Services is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.