Description

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

The Deputy Counsel Physician Enterprise is a key member of Cape Cod Healthcare’s Legal Department and serves as the primary legal advisor to the health system’s Physician Enterprise, including employed physician groups, ambulatory operations, specialty practices, and related clinical service lines. Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, this attorney will provide practical, business-oriented legal advice on physician-related employment, contracting, compensation, compliance, and operational matters affecting CCHC physicians.

 The Deputy Counsel will function as the principal attorney supporting CCHC’s Physician Enterprise and PHO and is expected to independently manage a broad range of routine and moderately complex legal matters. The position will collaborate closely with the Chief Legal Officer on significant transactions, novel legal issues, enterprise-wide initiatives, litigation, and matters presenting elevated legal or strategic risk. This attorney will support the work of the Chief Legal Officer and be capable of filling in for him/her when requested or required.

 PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Physician Enterprise Legal Support

• Serve as the primary legal counsel supporting CCHC’s Physician Enterprise, its leadership team, and CCHC’s PHO – the Cape Cod Healthcare Network, LLC
• Provide day-to-day legal advice regarding physician practice operations, ambulatory services, provider relationships, and physician-related strategic growth initiatives 
• Strategically partner with physician executives, operational leaders, human resources, compliance, finance, and business development teams to support organizational objectives
• Develop a thorough understanding of the Physician Enterprise's operational, financial, and strategic priorities and provide practical legal guidance aligned with those goals

Physician and Provider Contracting

• Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on physician employment and other related agreements, documents and matters
• Provide legal advice and support for physician recruitment, retention, compensation and separation matters
• Draft and negotiate medical directorship agreements, professional services agreements, coverage arrangements, consulting agreements, and other provider-related contract documents
• Provide legal advice to the PHO and its leadership on physician-related matters and payment issues impacting PHO participating clinicians
• Advise leadership on contractual interpretation, performance obligations, amendments, and dispute resolution
• Assist in developing and maintaining standardized contracting processes, templates, and best practices

Healthcare Regulatory Counsel

• Advise on healthcare regulatory requirements affecting physician employment and provider arrangements, including:
  •  Stark Law
  • Anti-Kickback Statute
  • False Claims Act
  • HIPAA and patient privacy requirements
  • Medicare and Medicaid participation requirements
  • State licensure and scope-of-practice requirements
  • Board of Registration in Medicine patient complaints and related inquiries
• Collaborate with compliance and operational leaders to identify and address and mitigate regulatory risks 
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting physician compensation, provider alignment, and ambulatory operations

Transactions and Strategic Initiatives

• Support physician practice acquisitions, affiliations, integrations, and other provider alignment initiatives
• Assist with the legal aspects of physician-related ambulatory expansion projects, new service offerings, and strategic partnerships
• Conduct legal review and due diligence related to Physician Enterprise transactions and business arrangements
• Work with outside counsel as necessary on specialized matters.

Risk Management and Dispute Resolution

• Identify and assess legal risks associated with Physician Enterprise related operations and provider relationships
• Assist leadership in responding to audits, investigations, payer inquiries, and regulatory matters
• Support the management of contract disputes and other legal issues affecting the Physician Enterprise
• Escalate significant legal or strategic issues to the Chief Legal Officer as appropriate

Requirements

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/TRAINING:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited U.S. law school
• Active and unrestricted license to practice law in Massachusetts
• At least five (5) to seven (7) years of legal experience with a focus on healthcare law, physician contracting, healthcare transactions and provider operations
• Meaningful experience representing hospitals, physician organizations, medical groups, integrated delivery systems, healthcare providers, or healthcare clients in private practice
• Experience negotiating and drafting complex healthcare agreements, including physician employment agreements and related documents
• Prior in-house healthcare experience is preferred but not required
• Strong understanding of healthcare regulatory frameworks affecting physician employment and provider arrangements
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage legal matters from intake through resolution with appropriate supervision and escalation
• Excellent writing, contract drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills
• Ability to balance legal risk with practical business objectives
• Strong organizational and project-management capabilities
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with physicians, executives, and operational leaders
• Sound judgment, professionalism, and the ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy in an ethical manner

This position is designed for an experienced healthcare attorney with approximately 5–7 years of relevant legal experience who can manage a substantial portfolio of matters independently while collaborating closely with the Chief Legal Officer and CCHC’s other senior leaders on strategic and high-impact initiatives. The successful candidate must demonstrate sound judgment, strong client-service, communication and contract drafting skills, and the ability to independently serve as a trusted advisor to physician and operational leadership across the organization.