Policy Specialist

Position: Policy Specialist
Reports to: Director of Policy & Strategic Partnerships
Direct Reports: None
Location: Hybrid with travel. KY residence preferred.

Kentucky Voices for Health (KVH) has been a respected voice of consumer advocates and a catalyst in health policy decision-making since 2007. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and nonpartisan coalition, we bring together individuals, advocates, community organizations, state agencies, and policymakers to address the underlying causes of poor health by connecting Kentuckians with opportunities to make change through policy advocacy.

Position Overview
KVH seeks to hire a Policy Specialist to work collaboratively with boots-on-the-ground partners, safety-net providers, MCOs, state agencies, and policymakers to monitor changes in the healthcare system and assist Kentuckians in accessing health insurance, healthcare services, and other types of public assistance to meet their basic needs.

Successful applicants will share KVH’s mission to amplify the voices of consumers and health advocates in the decisions that affect the health and wellbeing of Kentuckians. The duties of the position are outlined below.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Outreach & Coalition-Building

• Work in collaboration with staff to update and implement an outreach and enrollment plan with targeted regions/groups across the Commonwealth.
• Provide clear and useful information to Kentuckians about options for health coverage, with timelines and mechanisms for enrollment.
• Assist people experiencing barriers with Medicaid, KCHIP, or QHP enrollment and renewals.
• Cultivate relationships and continue to grow KVH’s statewide network of advocates through outreach and enrollment activities with existing boots-on-the-ground partners, safety-net providers, MCOs, and state agencies working to assist
• Kentuckians in accessing health insurance, healthcare services, and other types of public assistance to meet basic needs.
• Facilitate coalition meetings, office hours, and other interactive sessions to serve as an effective feedback loop among boots-on-the-ground community professionals to collect and share information.

Policy Monitoring and Implementation Support

• Monitor Medicaid, Marketplace, and related eligibility and enrollment policy changes at both the state and federal levels.
• Identify and track benefits-eligible individuals/groups experiencing barriers to coverage or care, working through partnerships with providers and outreach workers, surveys, listening sessions, open records requests, and other data sources.
• Translate changes to eligibility and enrollment policies into practical implementation guidance and information for KVH and our partners.
• Identify emerging issues and trends and work with state and federal agencies to mitigate barriers to care.
• Provide technical assistance and support to coalition partners, providers, and boots-on-the-ground community professionals related to the implementation of new or changing policies.
• Work collaboratively with state agencies, policymakers, providers, community organizations, and boots-on-the-ground community professionals to improve coverage, access to care, health outcomes, and health equity through policy advocacy and systems change.
• Participate in meetings that support policy monitoring and technical assistance. These could include groups such as the Louisville Metro Board of Health Outreach & Enrollment Subcommittee; KY Health Benefit Exchange Advisory Board; kynect Outreach, Education & kynector Subcommittee;
  Medicaid Advisory Council; and others.
• Prepare public comments related to state and federal regulations.

Education and Communications
Work in collaboration with staff to:

• Support the KVH Ambassador program, ThriveKY roadshow, coalition meetings, webinars, and community forums, including serving in work groups on behalf of KVH to represent the needs of consumers.
• Translate policy changes into meaningful information, plain language educational materials, policy briefs, blogs, toolkits, and tailored messaging for consumers, advocates, providers, and policymakers.
• Amplify consumer voices in the decisions that influence their health or their communities. This includes, but is not…