Intern, Consumer Protection Division, Health Education and Advocacy Unit
Description
Title: Intern
Division/Unit: Consumer Protection Division, Health Education and Advocacy Unit
Remote Type: In Office Only
Location: 200 St. Paul Place, Baltimore, MD 21202
The Health Education and Advocacy Unit (HEAU) of the Consumer Protection Division is seeking an intern. As an intern, your primary responsibility as an intern in the HEAU will be mediating consumer complaints involving billing and reimbursement problems with health care providers and insurers. You will be assigned your won caseload and be responsible for developing strategies, analyzing information, writing letters and making telephone calls to consumers, health care providers, insurers and their legal representatives to bring about resolutions of those complaints.
You will work with the Units professional staff and may have interaction with retired professionals who volunteer with the unit as well as other interns from undergraduate, graduate, and law schools in the area. The successful intern will have good writing and speaking skills, be able to work independently, demonstrate a genuine interest in helping people, and be able to communicate effectively with the public.
Our Internship Program Offers You an Opportunity To:
- Develop Mediation Skills and Techniques to Assist Consumers in Resolving Medical Billing disputes
- Learn the Fundamentals of Medical Billing and Reimbursement
- Maintain your own Caseload of Consumer Complaints
- Learn to Apply State Laws and Regulations to Protect Consumers Rights in the Health Care Market
- Develop Professional Communication and Networking Skills
What Will You Learn?
During the internship, you will develop a greater understanding of the health care financing system, the challenges facing consumers in the health care market, consumers’’ perspectives and expectations of Health care providers, the role of a consumer advocacy agency in the market, and the diverse challenges facing those policy makers who seek to reform the health care system. The Unit depends heavily on volunteers and interns to complete a large share of its workload. As a result, you are treated as a staff member with all of the responsibilities which accompany that position.
Background Required
Undergraduate, graduate, and law students from various academic fields including public administration, health science and policy, social work, pre-medicine, pre-law, accounting, and political science have completed internships with this office. We will consider future candidates for internships from these and other related academic fields. The only prerequisites are your interest in learning about the U.S. Healthcare financing and delivery system and your willingness to help people. If you wish, we will make available a present of past intern to speak with you about his/her internship experience.
Time Commitment
We require a minimum of 10hrs per week, with no less than a 3 hour shift. In order for you to receive a more beneficial experience, a 10-15 hour per week session is recommended. You must complete the hours in the office during normal weekday, business hours (5am-5pm). We are willing to work with you to schedule times and dates around your class schedule.
Because students are given a great deal of responsibility, regular attendance and dependability are of utmost importance. You should consider carefully the selection of an internship and its inherent time commitment in relationship to your class schedule.
Transportation
We are located near many major downtown Baltimore bus routes and both Metro and Light Rain lines. We offer free parking.
Equal Opportunity Employer: The OAG is an equal opportunity employer that encourages all interested persons to apply regardless of race, color, religion or belief, ancestry, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, pregnancy, family or parental status, veteran status, genetic information, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging: The Office of the Attorney General views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving professional excellence and fostering and maintaining a culture where every employee can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the best pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values. We honor, respect, and celebrate all differences, both visible and invisible, and are committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting individuals who have historically been underrepresented in the practice of law and professional careers.