State Plan & Health Policy Specialist

AHCCCS

Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) – Arizona’s Medicaid agency – is driven by its mission to deliver comprehensive, cost‑effective health care to Arizonans in need. AHCCCS is a nationally acclaimed model among Medicaid programs and a recipient of multiple awards for excellence in workplace effectiveness and flexibility. AHCCCS employees are passionate about their work, committed to high performance, and dedicated to serving the citizens of Arizona.

Among government agencies, AHCCCS is recognized for high employee engagement and satisfaction, supportive leadership, and flexible work environments, including remote work opportunities. With career paths for seasoned professionals in a variety of fields, entry‑level positions, and internship opportunities, AHCCCS offers meaningful career opportunities in a competitive industry. Come join our dynamic and dedicated team.

Location:

150 N. 18th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85007
Must Reside in Arizona
Salary: $75,000 - $80,000
Grade: 24
FLSA Status:
Exempt
Closing Date:
Open Until Filled
Remote Work:
May be offered within Arizona based upon agency’s business needs and performance measures.

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. The position serves a key role in AHCCCS’ Federal Relations team, managing the AHCCCS State Plans, negotiating 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 stakeholders.

• State Plan: Serves as the agency subject matter expert on the structure and content of the State Plan. Manage and update the Medicaid and CHIP 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.
• Health Policy: 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.
  
  Analyzes performance, program management reports, review studies, research Medicaid, Medicare, and other health policy documents. Advances the agency’s federal policy research and planning processes.
• Presentations: Develops data‑/fact‑driven presentations and presents 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.
• Federal Compliance: 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…