Federal Relations Specialist

AHCCCS

Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Accountability, Community, Innovation, Leadership, Passion, Quality, Respect, Courage, Teamwork

The 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.

Federal Relations Specialist

Division of Public Policy & Strategic Planning (DPPSP)

Job Location:

Address: 801 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034

Posting Details

Must reside in the state of Arizona.

Salary: $70,000 - $81,500

Grade: 24

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

This position is eligible for full-time remote work (including virtual office arrangement in Arizona).

Job Summary

A career in public service awaits you. COME JOIN OUR TEAM!

A great benefit of working for the State of Arizona is a fantastic work/life balance. State employees enjoy challenging work, popular remote work options, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, and career growth opportunities.

What You'll Do

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.

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• 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 (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. Interprets rules and regulations to-ensure the agency's compliance with the State Plans, conduct the corresponding legal research and provide technical assistance when necessary. Collaborates closely with internal SMEs and external stakeholder groups regarding proposed changes to the State Plans and prepares and distributes informational publications related to the program. Plans, organizes and presents at public forums regarding proposed changes to the State Plans and other complex agency health policy initiatives. Facilitates cross-agency collaboration in preparing State Plan amendments, bringing together the efforts of policy, program, legal and administrative staff.
• 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. 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.
• 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 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.
• 1115 Demonstration Waiver: Assist with functions of the 1115 Demonstration Waiver including amendment proposal drafting, evaluations, research, and negotiations.
  
  

Knowledge

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

• Medicaid and CHIP programs and systems as well as general health policy principles and concepts.
• Federal and State laws and regulations related to Medicaid and other Federal and State health programs 1115 Waivers and the State Plan
• Legislative and Administrative processes related to Federal and State health programs
• Principles related to health policy research. Operational dependencies within AHCCCS and between AHCCCS and other agencies
• Policy levers for addressing health related social needs (HRSN) and advancing health equity.
  
  

Skills

• 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
  
  

Abilities

• Adapt to a rapidly changing environment and priorities
• Conceptualize new health policy proposals and develop recommendations
• Propose solutions to complex policy issues
• Advanced interpersonal abilities including excellent relationship development, management, teamwork and oral and written communication skills
• Summarize and analyze complex health policy, laws, and regulations.
• Prepare presentations that contain complex information in a manner that can be easily understood by intended audience, and deliver to large or small groups
  
  

Qualifications

Minimum:

• 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.
  
  

Preferred

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

Pre-Employment Requirements

• Successfully pass fingerprint background check, prior employment verifications and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• Travel may be required for State business. Employees who drive on state business must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.) If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements [https://publicstorage.dc4.pageuppeople.com/1045/ClientPublicFile/3601803f-02e5-4b70-b325-26c8ef309c1b.pdf].
  
  

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits

Among the many benefits of a career with the State of Arizona, there are:

• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Vacation and Sick time off (13 and 12 days per year respectively) - start earning it your 1st day (prorated for part-time employees)
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child. Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here.
• 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
  
  

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page [https://benefitoptions.az.gov/jobseekers].

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Retirement

Lifetime Pension Benefit Program

• Administered through the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
• Defined benefit plan that provides for life-long income upon retirement.
• Required participation for Long-Term Disability (LTD) and ASRS Retirement plan.
• Pre-taxed payroll contributions begin after a 27-week waiting period (prior contributions may waive the waiting period).
  
  

Deferred Retirement Compensation Program

• Voluntary participation.
• Program administered through Nationwide.
• Tax-deferred retirement investments through payroll deductions.
  
  

Contact Us

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by emailing careers@azahcccs.gov.

Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.