Job Description Summary

Provides leadership in the development of BCBSA's federal legislative and regulatory policy regarding Medicare, Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program and government programs or markets. Develop strategies to win our issues and manages a team to deliver on policy priorities. Conduct business and policy analyses and lead the development of BCBSA consensus positions on legislation and regulations, and the development of a broad range of advocacy materials. Identifies opportunities to collaborate cross-divisionally and with key stakeholders to advance BCBS Board priorities around assigned issue areas. Represents Policy & Advocacy (P&A) on internal workgroups and committees, influential third-party groups and coalitions including coordinating feedback on complex government program proposals. Works integrally with other P&A senior staff to develop strategies to ensure third parties are aware and appropriately engaged in BCBSA issues. Serves as a representative for the Association with Plans, various coalitions or other interest groups, serving as a spokesperson on selected issues, as required.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Identification/Prioritization of issues - Anticipate, identify, and prioritize key BCBSA business issues related to employer, exchange, and tax related legislative, regulatory, and 3rd Party/Think Tank proposals to identify and evaluate strategic and business issues for Plans. Collaborate with peers and others in BCBSA to ensure sound position with a holistic health care industry view. Coordinate with Plan policy, marketing, product management, P&L and actuarial staff. Works closely with policy department, advocacy, communications and other BCBSA divisions and Plans to assure Plan business issues are addressed appropriately throughout the system. Assures that Association policy positions are set forth in public debates in a persuasive manner (e.g., testimony, one-pages, white papers, forums etc.).
  
• Develop policy - Develop and recommend BCBSA consensus positions and alternatives on key issues, including proactive and reactive policies. Work closely with BCBSA senior executives, Plan, executives and Plan workgroups to assure Plan business issues are represented in BCBSA positions. Develop recommended policy approaches and positions for consideration by P&A's Leadership Team. Develop supporting materials for P&A Leadership as needed for policy approval by the BCBSA P&A Board Committee, the Health Policy and Advocacy Committee.
  
• Create Strategy - Creates and collaborates with P&A's lobbying team on implementation of strategies for the development of policies that achieve system-wide support and influence key policy decision-makers.
  
• Direct advocacy support - Oversee the creation of communications that advance the objectives of P&A and BCBSA and provide relevant information and educational materials about legislative and regulatory activities to member Plans, legislators, regulators and other interested parties. Oversee identification of research to support BCBSA positions. Direct the development of strong justifications for BCBSA positions, including (as appropriate) cost estimates, legal opinions, actuarial justifications, case studies, storytelling, etc. Direct the development of effective, well-written advocacy "one-pagers" on key issues and bills and regulations. Direct the development of well-written testimony and letters to Congress and the Administration.
  
• Provide education / information to Plans - Direct the development bill summaries, policy analyses and memos on key issues and BCBSA positions for use by Plans. Participate in BCBSA and Plan meetings to inform staff of key issues and actions taken by P&A staff.
  
• Partners in lobbying activities - In conjunction with Federal Affairs staff and the Advocacy team, partners with team members to plan and deploy federal lobbying activities with both Congress and the executive branch of the federal government, states, and other health-related organizations to shape legislation and regulations to positively influence individuals and outcomes on BCBSA policy positions.
  
• Educates lobbying and other Association staff as necessary. Supports Administration outreach efforts related to assigned issue areas related and/or impacting the exchange and employer sponsors health insurance markets described above by staying up to date on Administration priorities and opportunities for collaboration with HHS, DOL, the Department of Treasury/IRS and other agencies as needed.
  
• Develops and maintains key contacts, networks of contacts, and effective working relationships with BCBSA and Plan representatives, federal policymakers, interest groups and other external organizations including AHIP and ABC, as necessary, to enhance knowledge of proposed legislation, regulations, and issues, and to ensure the most effective collection and dissemination of information. Plays a leadership role in working with influential third-party stakeholders including coordinating policy's review of publications/white papers and stakeholder letters; also attains leadership positions within other third-party groups focused on relevant issues. Serves as liaison with regulatory representatives from other associations in the health sector. Meets with and develops ongoing relationships with Administration officials and staff to advance policies.
  

Required Education, Certifications and Experience

• Bachelors Degree in Political Science, Public Health, Public Administration or related field
  
• 10 years of working with federal legislation, regulation and government programs
  
• 3-5 years of experience with staff management and development
  
• Experience developing consensus positions and advocacy strategies for adoption of organization recommendations.
  
• Experience leading a cross-functional team on research and modeling projects to identify complex financial issues and/or advocacy opportunities.
  
• Must have extensive exposure to broad-based government program (Medicare and/or Medicaid/CHIP) and health care insurance issues including the legislative and political process and environment, and an understanding of the factors affecting legislative policy developments.
  
• Experience working with a health plan.
  
• Adept at managing multiple priorities and task including demonstrated project management experience leading complex projects.
  
• Superior facilitation, presentation, organizational and verbal and written skills, with the demonstrated ability to work independently.
  
• Analytical, planning and project management skills, as well as the ability to prioritize and shift multiple issues and projects without compromising quality results.
  
• Highly skilled at interpreting, analyzing and synthesizing complex legislative, regulatory and other public policy proposals and identifying business implications for BCBS Plans
  
• In-depth knowledge and expertise of policy issues in the employer and exchange markets
  
• Ability to rapidly formulate and communicate complex legislative and regulatory issues in a concise and understandable way to a variety of audiences including executives and business and operational leadership.
  
• Superior strategic and critical thinking skills
  
• Demonstrated proficiency managing staff in a high pressure, fast-paced and constantly evolving regulatory and legislative environment.
  
• Outstanding written and oral communications skills writes persuasively, presents to varied and large audiences, able to lead/facilitate large conference calls (300+ participants).
  
• Works confidently under pressure and is agile in managing through ambiguity and adapting to changing priorities.
  
• Understanding of quantitative analytic methods and assessments
  

Preferred Education, Certifications and Experience

• Master's Degree in public policy, health policy or related field
  
• Extensive knowledge of managed care and insurance reform issues, operations and policy, as well as knowledge of the federal legislative and regulatory process.
  

People Management - Yes