Director, Health Policy

Director Of Health Policy

Help shape the future of U.S. healthcare through advocacy and innovation! The Director Of Health Policy will support the collaborative advocacy function of UPMC Health Plan's Health Policy and Government Relations Departments as they advance UPMC Health Plan's policy interests at the local, state, and national level. With a primary focus on Commercial Insurance products, this leader will play a key role in developing and effectively communicating company-positions relative to myriad legal, health and public policy-related issues.

This role is based in Pittsburgh, PA and will report into the US Steel Building in downtown Pittsburgh. Responsibilities :

• Provide contextual direction and advisory insights for UPMC leadership and SME development, management and evaluation of health and public policy advocacy and policy activities and initiatives.
• Build and strengthen relationships with state and federal legislative and administrative staff. Engage with other health policy professionals at other insurers and plans.
• Develop and disseminate issue briefs / white papers / formal comment letters on various health- and public-policy related issues.
• In coordination with the Government Relations department, represent the UPMC Insurance Services Division in communications to federal and state legislators, regulators, and other key stakeholders.
• Research and develop high quality policy-related materials, including talking points, fact sheets, presentations, testimony, formal comment letters, issue briefs, white papers and background documents.
• Maintain a working understanding of a wide range of insurance-specific and -related areas including, but not limited to, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Pennsylvania HealthChoices, health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations, Workers Compensation, employee assistance programs, and prescription drug coverage.
• Maintain a complete and thorough understanding of, among other relevant laws, regulations and guidance, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and state insurance laws.
• Proactively identify and analyze emerging market trends, regulatory proposals, or other changes in the competitive, legal, or regulatory landscape that may impact UPMC's current or future business, with a primary focus on issues with potential impact for UPMC's Commercial insurance products, strategies, and related operations.
• Monitor legal, political, and regulatory trends or developments on key issues and brief other UPMC personnel as directed.
• Assist UPMC's Commercial Products business unit, as well as other business units and members of Senior Management, in evaluating, understanding, and developing strategic plans, communications, or other responses to changes in relevant law, regulation, guidance, or market conditions.
• Perform special project and research assignments for the Senior Director or VP of Health Policy as requested.
• In coordination with internal subject matter experts, evaluate the likely efficacy and contextual impact of internally proposed policy positions while ensuring overall alignment of public policy messaging with the mission, values, and business objectives of the UPMC Insurance Services Division and / or UPMC's integrated delivery and finance system, as applicable.
• Bachelor Degree in Health or Public Policy (or equivalent)
• Masters Degree of JD strongly preferred
• 3 years health- or public- policy experience in health or insurance industry required
• Familiarity with managed care and insurance market terminology
• Experience reading and evaluating federal and State regulatory proposals and requirements
• Must demonstrate strong organizational, analytic and writing skills Effective communication skills, problem-solving ability and conflict resolution skills a must
• Capacity to work on multiple projects simultaneously, frequently under tight deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to function as a collaborative member of a multidisciplinary team
• Proven experience in legislative and regulatory advocacy, health- or public-policy development and practice and policy research
• Competency in MS Office applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran