Health Policy Advocate - Paralegal

About Consumers for Affordable Health Care

Consumers for Affordable Health (CAHC) is a dynamic nonprofit dedicated to improving access to affordable, quality, and equitable health care for all people living in Maine. With a small but resolute staff, we help consumers tackle issues in health coverage, develop policy initiatives to improve access to care, and strive to improve health equity in our state.

CAHC functions as Maine’s Health Insurance Consumer Assistance Program. We provide assistance to Mainers regarding health insurance matters, including public and private health insurance options, applying for and enrolling in coverage, appealing coverage denials, and link people to programs and other resources when there are gaps in coverage.CAHC also engages in robust advocacy at both the state and federal level to improve access to affordable, quality health care for all people living in Maine. Learn more at www.mainecahc.org.

Opportunity

Job duties under the direction of the Policy Director, include but are not limited to the following:

• Build and maintain strategic, collaborative relationships with policy makers, partner organizations, business leaders, national partners, and other stakeholders
• Provide assistance with convening and managing the Health Care for Maine (HC4ME) Alliance
• Assist in the development of CAHC’s advocacy agenda, including assisting with drafting communications that advance policy priorities
• Provide staffing support on policy projects
• Conduct health policy research, analysis, and writing
• Assist with planning conferences, legislative reception, and other policy-related or educational events
• Track and monitor legislative proposals and trends
• Assist with grant management and reporting for policy projects
• Represent the organization in public forums, including policy and media venues, as needed
• Work with and support consumers in advocacy efforts
• Provide assistance with appealing denied insurance claims for coverage and filing complaints with the Maine Bureau of Insurance.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Knowledge of public (MaineCare) and private health insurance (individual Marketplace plans).
• Administrative advocacy with governmental agency staff and policy makers.
• Proven ability to create and maintain relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders.
• Knowledge of the legislative process including tracking bills, the committee process, and legislative council, House, and Senate procedures.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Use of technology including Zoom and other meeting web-based platforms, databases, etc.
• Policy research, including the ability to synthesize, summarize, and communicate complicated information.
• Knowledge and/or experience in working on insurance coverage-related issues including private and public health coverage programs, disability determinations, worker’s compensation benefits or other coverage programs.