Program Specialist V

The Program Policy team within the Medicaid and CHIP Services (MCS) Office of Policy is seeking a Program Specialist V who will serve as the STAR Kids Senior Policy Analyst on the STAR Kids program. 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 a managed care organization (MCO).

This position performs advanced consultative and technical work related to the planning, development, implementation, and maintenance of the STAR Kids program and serves as the lead program policy staff on content in the STAR Kids Handbook.

Primary Responsibilities:

Coordinates and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to create and update policies, procedures, contract requirements, administrative rules, business rules, and communications to external stakeholders and contractors.
Develops project timelines for assigned projects, monitors and reports on progress, and updates timelines as necessary.
Coordinates and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to schedule standing meetings, respond to policy inquiries, draft reports, update content in public documents and websites, and manage shared mailboxes.
Assists in researching managed care organizations’ compliance with program policy contractual requirements.
Participates in and helps to facilitate meetings with stakeholders, including managed care organizations, provider associations, people receiving services, and subject matter experts.

This position works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. The STAR Kids Senior Policy Analyst (Program Specialist V) reports to a Manager for Program Policy in the Medicaid and CHIP Services Division.

Essential Job Functions:

Collaborates with other areas of MCS and HHSC to plan, develop, implement, monitor, interpret and evaluate Medicaid programs, policies, MCO contract requirements, business rules, administrative rules, waivers, and state plan. Evaluates MCO compliance with program policies and procedures, contract requirements, statutes, and rules and takes corrective action if needed.
Plans, monitors, and evaluates MCS implementation of state legislation, federal legislation, and federal rules. Analyzes state legislation, federal legislation, and federal rules to evaluate its impact to MCS and stakeholders, including MCOs, service providers, and members.
Establishes, facilitates, and participates in relevant workgroups and committees, including inter-agency workgroups and committees. Coordinates and provides requested training to internal staff and external entities.
Prepares high quality written documents such as project updates, reports, PowerPoint presentations, communications to stakeholders and contractors, executive memos, policy and project summaries, legislative reports, administrative rules, waivers, and state plan amendments.
Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:

Knowledge of:

Federal and state Medicaid and CHIP laws and regulations.
Government organization and administration.
Program issues related to Medicaid services for children with disabilities.
Principles of health and human services policy and planning.
State of Texas legislative processes.

Skills in:

Analyzing, evaluating, and interpreting complex federal and state legislation, program, policy, and operations issues.
Project management policy analysis, and performing policy research.
Synthesizing, analyzing, and evaluating highly complicated and technical information.
Translating policy and technical information into easily understandable and concise documents and oral presentations.
Developing creative and workable solutions to complex problems and policy issues.
Facilitating stakeholder and different workgroup meetings.

Ability to:

Develop, amend, and interpret program policies, rules, and contract requirements related to Medicaid and CHIP Services.
Research, gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts and devise solutions based on the information available.
Work with a team under pressure, negotiate among multiple parties, resolve conflicts.
Exercise judgment and work independently with minimum supervision.
Work cooperatively as a team member in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment.
Establish and maintain effective working relationship with various levels of personnel in government entities.
Use Microsoft Office Suite applications such as Outlook, Teams, Word, and Excel.
Communicate effectively orally and in writing, including the ability to adjust communications to fit the intended audience.
Work with diverse groups of people, including stakeholders, that have a variety of opinions.

Registration or Licensure Requirements:

None

Initial Selection Criteria:

Candidate must meet one of the following:

High school diploma and at least five years of full-time work experience in a health and human services field.
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university and at least one year of full-time work experience in a health and human services field.
Master’s degree from an accredited college or university and at least one year of full-time work experience in a health and human services field.

Additional Information:

Additional information about the programs this position supports can be found in the 2022 edition of the Texas Medicaid Pink Book here. Teleworking opportunities are available, contingent on performance.

State of Texas employees participate in outstanding benefits:

Excellent health benefits.
Lifetime monthly retirement annuity.
Generous leave benefits.

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.

Additional benefits of joining the MCS Office of Policy include:

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.

The final salary offer is dependent on factors such as Human Resources policies and available budget.

MOS Code: There are no direct military occupation(s) that relate to the responsibilities, and registration or licensure requirements for this position. All active duty, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if they meet qualifications for this position.

Additional Notes:

HHS agencies use E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability.

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Health & Human Services Comm

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