Behavioral Health Program Specialist V

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•Austin, TX

20h•Hybrid

About The Position

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage. The Program Policy team within the Medicaid and CHIP Services (MCS) Office of Policy is seeking a Behavioral Health Program Specialist V to serve as a policy analyst and subject matter expert on a variety of program policy topics related to Medicaid and CHIP managed care. Policy examples include, but are not limited to, mental health and substance use disorder services, mental health parity, and in lieu of services and settings. The Policy Analyst provides subject-matter expertise to agency staff, government agencies, community organizations, managed care organizations, provider organizations, and the public. The position may serve as the lead in the implementation and ongoing management of complex program initiatives. This position works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude to exercise initiative and independent judgment. The Policy Analyst (Program Specialist V) reports to a Manager for Program Policy in the Medicaid and CHIP Services Division.

Requirements

Knowledge of behavioral health care services and programs.
Knowledge of federal and state Medicaid and CHIP laws and regulations;
Knowledge of government organization and administration;
Knowledge of program issues related to Medicaid services for children with disabilities;
Knowledge of principles of health and human services policy and planning;
Knowledge of State of Texas legislative processes.
Skills in analyzing, evaluating, and interpreting complex federal and state legislation, program, policy, and operations issues;
Skills in project management policy analysis, and performing policy research;
Skills in synthesizing, analyzing, and evaluating highly complicated and technical information;
Skills in translating policy and technical information into easily understandable and concise documents and oral presentations;
Skills in developing creative and workable solutions to complex problems and policy issues; and
Skills in facilitating stakeholder and different workgroup meetings.
Ability to develop, amend, and interpret program policies, rules, and contract requirements related to Medicaid and CHIP Services;
Ability to research, gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts and devise solutions based on the information available;
Ability to work with a team under pressure, negotiate among multiple parties, resolve conflicts;
Ability to exercise judgment and work independently with minimum supervision;
Ability to work cooperatively as a team member in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment;
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with various levels of personnel in government entities;
Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite applications such as Outlook, Teams, Word, and Excel;
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, including the ability to adjust communications to fit the intended audience;
Ability to work with diverse groups of people, including stakeholders, who have a variety of opinions.
High school diploma and at least five years of full-time work experience in a health and human services field; or
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university and at least one year of full-time work experience in a health and human services field; or
Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in public health, public administration, public affairs, social work, or closely related field.

Responsibilities

Coordinates and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to create and update policies, procedures, contract requirements, administrative rules, business rules, and communications to external stakeholders and contractors.
Develops project timelines for assigned projects, monitors and reports on progress, and updates timelines as necessary.
Coordinates and collaborates with the internal and external stakeholders to schedule standing meetings, respond to policy inquiries, draft reports, update content in public documents and websites, and manage shared mailboxes.
Assists in researching managed care organizations’ compliance with program policy contractual requirements.
Participates in and helps to facilitate meetings with stakeholders, including managed care organizations, provider associations, people receiving services, and subject matter experts.
Collaborates with other areas of MCS and HHSC to plan, develop, implement, monitor, interpret, and evaluate Medicaid programs, policies, MCO contract requirements, business rules, administrative rules, waivers, and state plan.
Evaluates MCO compliance with program policies and procedures, contract requirements, statutes, rules, and takes corrective action if needed.
Plans, monitors, and evaluates the implementation of state and federal legislation and regulations.
Analyzes state legislation, federal legislation, and federal rules to evaluate their impact on MCS and stakeholders, including MCOs, service providers, and members.
Establishes, facilitates, participates in, and develops agendas for relevant workgroups and committees, including inter-agency workgroups and committees.
Coordinates and provides requested training to internal staff and external entities.
Prepares high quality written documents such as project updates, reports, PowerPoint presentations, communications to stakeholders and contractors, executive memos, policy and project summaries, legislative reports, administrative rules, waivers, and state plan amendments.
Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees
a defined benefit pension plan
generous time off benefits
numerous opportunities for career advancement
Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Leadership commitment to invest in and foster your professional growth and career advancement.
Being part of a team that impacts the lives of millions of Texans that depend on Texas Medicaid throughout Texas.
Being on the ground level of healthcare policy development and implementation, including the opportunity to work closely with stakeholders such as federal partners, providers, advocates, managed care organizations, and other healthcare contractors.
Engagement with the Texas legislative process, including the opportunity to analyze and inform legislators of potential impact of proposed bills.
The opportunity to learn and engage with multiple domains of the healthcare delivery system, including managed care, fee-for-service, federal-state Medicaid partnerships and other activities related to the administration of the Medicaid program.