State Plan & Health Policy Specialist

Arizona Department of Administration • Phoenix, AZ

2d • $75,000 - $80,000 • Remote

About The Position

The Division of Public Policy & Strategic Planning (DPPSP) is looking for a highly motivated individual to join our team as a State Plan & Health Policy Specialist. This position serves a key role in AHCCCS’ Federal Relations team, and is responsible for managing the AHCCCS State Plans, negotiating the terms and conditions of these governing documents with federal officials, leading health policy research and sophisticated policy analysis, giving public presentations, and working closely with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) staff and other officials and stakeholders. This position works closely with managers and the public. This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures. The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Requirements

• Must reside in Arizona.
• Bachelor's degree in healthcare administration, public health, social work, political science or related field and three (3) years’ experience related to health care policy.
• Or four to six years related technical experience and three (3) years' experience related to health care policy.
• Knowledge of Medicaid and CHIP programs and systems as well as general health policy principles and concepts.
• Knowledge of Federal and State laws and regulations related to Medicaid and other Federal and State health programs 1115 Waivers and the State Plan.
• Knowledge of Legislative and Administrative processes related to Federal and State health programs.
• Knowledge of Principles related to health policy research.
• Knowledge of Operational dependencies within AHCCCS and between AHCCCS and other agencies.
• Excellent research and analytical skills.
• Strong political acumen and sense of discretion.
• Critical writing and planning skills.
• Leading cross-divisional teams to accomplish a unified goal.
• Stakeholder engagement and public speaking.
• Project management and advanced problem-solving skills and resolution.
• Ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment and priorities.
• Ability to conceptualize new health policy proposals and develop recommendations.
• Ability to propose solutions to complex policy issues.
• Advanced interpersonal abilities including excellent relationship development, management, teamwork and oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to summarize and analyze complex health policy, laws, and regulations.
• Ability to prepare presentations that contain complex information in a manner that can be easily understood by intended audience, and deliver to large or small groups.
• Current Arizona Driver's License.
• Successfully pass fingerprint background check, prior employment verifications and reference checks.
• Travel may be required for State business.
• Employees who drive on state business must complete any required driver training.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree (MPH, MPA, MS, etc.) and one (1) year experience with the State and/or Federal government.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the agency subject matter expert on the structure and content of the State Plan.
• Manage and update the Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) State Plans as needed, including leading the negotiation of terms and conditions with CMS and ensuring AHCCCS meets federal public notice and other requirements.
• Drives the efficiency of amendment negotiations, ensuring federal partners have timely access to needed information.
• Support the agency’s federal policy research and planning processes by planning, conducting, overseeing, and tracking research and analysis on health care policy that advance the agency’s strategic priorities including federal and state legislation.
• Interprets, drafts and cascades issue papers and implementation protocol containing in-depth analysis and recommendations to ensure compliance.
• Develops ad-hoc and standardized reports, producing charts and graphs, configuring data and statistical reporting tools to provide comparative data and dashboard reports.
• Monitors the evolution of other states' Medicaid programs as well as policy developments/trends at the national level and informs executive management strategic decision making.
• Prepares reports on the financial and programmatic impact of legislative proposals and proposed policy or policy changes on Medicaid/Medicare for DCAIR.
• Develops short and long-range plans related to the agency’s policy research/analysis strategy and provides a framework for agency discussion of complex policy issues.
• Analyze performance, program management reports, review studies, research Medicaid, Medicare, and various other health policy documents.
• Advances the agency’s federal policy research and planning processes.
• Develops data/fact driven presentations and present on Health Policy and federal regulatory developments to internal and external stakeholders.
• Combines regulatory changes with agency impact to provide a full picture to agency and state executive leaders on the impacts and implications of the changes and recommend actions.
• Review CMS proposed and final rules and uses independent judgment to determine which policies require work with internal subject matter experts to draft and submit agency-wide comments.
• Prepares and submits a variety of federally required documents and reports.
• Collaborates with CMS staff responsible for oversight of the AHCCCS Program.
• Coordinates the efforts of agency staff to prepare mandatory federal reports and deliverables.
• Timely submissions of federal reporting and deliverables.
• Ensuring AHCCCS meets federal public notice and other requirements.
• Assist with functions of the 1115 Demonstration Waiver including amendment proposal drafting, evaluations, research, and negotiations.

Benefits

• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Vacation and Sick time off (13 and 12 days per year respectively)
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child.
• Other Leaves - Bereavement, civic duty, and military.
• A top-ranked retirement program with lifetime pension benefits
• A robust and affordable insurance plan, including medical, dental, life, and disability insurance
• Participation eligibility in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (must meet qualifications)
• RideShare and Public Transit Subsidy
• A variety of learning and career development opportunities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level