STAR Kids Policy Advisor

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Program Policy team within Medicaid and CHIP Services (MCS) Office of Policy is seeking a highly qualified candidate to fill the position of STAR Kids Policy Advisor (Program Specialist VI). STAR Kids is the Medicaid managed care program for children up to 20 years old with disabilities. The program integrates acute care and long-term services and supports (LTSS) delivered by one of several managed care organizations (MCOs).
This position is part of the STAR Kids policy team and performs highly advanced consultative and technical work related to the planning, development, implementation, and maintenance of the STAR Kids managed care policy.
The STAR Kids Policy Advisor provides subject matter expertise to agency staff, governmental agencies, community organizations, managed care organizations, provider organizations, and the general public. The position may serve as the lead on implementation and ongoing management of complex program initiatives.
The position is not supervisory but may assign, oversee, and prioritize work of others. The position will work under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

• 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
• Skill in Analyzing, evaluating, and interpreting complex federal and state legislation and program policy
• Skill in Synthesizing, analyzing, and evaluating highly complicated policy and technical information
• Skill in Developing and implementing creative and workable solutions to complex problems and policy issues
• Skill in Researching, gathering, assembling, correlating, and analyzing facts and devising solutions based on the information available
• Skill in Communicate effectively orally and in writing, including the ability to adjust communications to fit the intended audience
• Skill in Working with internal and external stakeholders
• Skill in Project management
• Skill in Exercising sound judgment with limited information
• Skill in Working independently with limited direction
• Ability to Analyze complex federal and state legislation, rules, and program policy and use the analysis to develop or revise Medicaid and CHIP program policy
• Ability to Work cooperatively as a team member in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment
• Ability to Lead or contribute to complex projects that require critical thinking, persistence, and problem solving
• Ability to Negotiate among multiple parties and resolve conflicts
• Ability to Navigate complex and dynamic systems and organizations
• Ability to Establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Ability to Manage multiple, sometimes conflicting, tasks and projects at a time
• Ability to Use Microsoft Office Suite applications such as Outlook, Teams, Word, and Excel
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university and at least two years' full-time work experience in health and human services
• Master’s degree in public affairs, social work, public health, or related field and at least one year of full-time work experience in health and human services
• High school diploma and at least five years’ full-time work experience in a health and human services field

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in public health, social work, public affairs, or public administration.
• One or more years of full-time work experience in the health and human services field.
• Work experience in Medicaid or CHIP Services.

Responsibilities

• Takes initiative to use subject matter expertise to identify and propose solutions to program needs
• Coordinates and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to develop policy
• Oversees the development of operational policy, including contract, administrative rule, manual, and procedural requirements
• Assists in ensuring compliance with program policies and procedures, statutes, and rules; oversees and participates in the resolution of issues
• Facilitates meetings with stakeholders, including managed care organizations, provider associations, people receiving services, and advisory committee members
• Serves as agency liaison to pertinent advisory committees or workgroups
• Develops program policies, procedures, standards, and manuals
• Prepares high quality written reports, correspondence, and other documents
• Drafts legislative reports
• Develops and provides training
• Analyzes program policies and legislation
• Oversees the analysis, development, implementation, and documentation of federal and state legislation and regulations
• Develops and provides oversight in the development of policy development, legislative analyses, research papers, reports, and responses to stakeholder inquiries
• Develops and/or oversees the development and implementation of program and policy options for state initiatives impacting HHSC agencies, including policy analysis, option development, timelines, project structures, financial analyses, and detailed work plans
• Establishes, facilitates, and participates in multiple workgroups and committees, including inter-agency workgroups and committees
• Sets goals and objectives, makes assignments, and reviews and approves work products
• Develops and provides training to internal staff and external entities
• Prepares and approves high quality written documents, including program and project updates, memos, summaries, legislative reports, rules, waivers, state plan amendments, and other documents
• Works with and presents to community and professional groups to coordinate, improve, and secure support for programs
• Consults with public and private agencies to resolve problems, identify training needs and discuss effectiveness
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• 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
• HHSC is a qualifying organization for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which forgives the remaining balance on college student Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees