Behavioral Health Pharmacist; CP​/CQCT - Project

Behavioral Health Pharmacist (CP/CQCT) - Project

This is a project position funded through 06/30/2028.

Help shape statewide behavioral health pharmacy policy by leading innovative programs that expand access to and facilitate coordination of behavioral health conditions, including medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in jails and correctional settings and for those enrolled in Apple Health. The Behavioral Health Pharmacist partners with state leaders, corrections, and community providers to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and ensure evidence-based care across Medicaid and other public programs.

This is a primarily telework position for Washington residents who enjoy policy-focused work, collaboration, and using data to drive meaningful systems change.

All HCA employees will apply an equity lens to their work, which may include but is not limited to all analyses of core business and processes.

The Health Care Authority’s mission is to provide high quality health care through innovative health policies and purchasing strategies. The Clinical Quality and Care Transformation Division (CQCT) is responsible for designing and implementing clinical policy, conducting oversight and monitoring of all clinically related programs, and communicating with stakeholders, providers, plans, and delivery system partners on clinical activities and issues. Clinical policy and operations include leading the state in care transformation and supporting HCA programs.

The Prescription Drug Program’s vision is to provide access to affordable, evidence-based medication by designing and delivering high quality, evidence-based pharmacy programs through collaborative and innovative prescription drug purchasing strategies. Our goal is to empower each other to provide exceptional services to our customers.

The Behavioral Health Pharmacist reports directly to the Assistant Chief Pharmacy Officer and supports the entire Prescription Drug Program to achieve its vision of delivering high quality, evidence-based pharmacy programs by creating, leading, and implementing innovative and effective pharmacy policies. Within this unit, the Behavioral Health Pharmacist is responsible for creating, leading, implementing, and evaluating new behavioral health pharmacy programs and reviewing and adjusting existing pharmacy programs to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and maximize value for the Medicaid program and the residents of Washington.

The Behavioral Health Pharmacist is able to achieve their goals through their knowledge of and experience with clinical pharmacy and pharmacy systems operations.

This position is eligible to telework and is typically not required to report on-site. The default assigned work location of all Health Care Authority (HCA) positions – both on-site and telework eligible positions – is within the State of Washington. This position reports to Olympia, WA. Frequency of onsite work will vary based on business and operational needs. HCA has currently suspended the ability to support out-of-state telework.

• Consult with Chief Pharmacy Officer, CQCT Leadership, and DBHR Leadership on new clinical strategies to improve access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in jails and correctional facilities.
• Represent CQCT Pharmacy in meetings with internal and external stakeholders relating to technical assistance to jails and correctional facilities, including communications with DBHR, jails, correctional facilities, pharmacies, state agencies, and the DEA.
• Collaborate with the MOUD in Jails program in DBHR and with the Third-Party Administrator for the MTP 2.0 Re-entry initiative, serving as the primary contact for the Prescription Drug Program in pharmacy-related issues for jails and correctional facilities.
• Actively participate in MTP 2.0 Re-entry Initiative around integrating the Apple Health benefit to eligible populations in jails or other correctional facilities.
• Specialize in state and federal regulations and best practices regarding the practice of pharmacy, especially around the drug procurement, storage, distribution, and administration in jails…