Policy Specialist/Policy Analyst* (Job #493811)
Medicaid Policy Studies Team
*Position will be determined based on qualifications and experience.
Overview
The Hilltop Institute (www.hilltopinstitute.org) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) is seeking a Policy Specialist or Policy Analyst to join its Medicaid Policy Studies team. Hilltop conducts research and policy analysis to support health care financing and delivery system reform in Maryland and other states. With access to an extensive onsite data repository that includes Medicaid and Medicare administrative data, hospital discharge data, nursing home assessment data, and all-payer claims data, Hilltop conducts qualitative and quantitative analysis to inform health care payment, program design, monitoring, and evaluation. Widely recognized for its expertise in Medicaid, Hilltop is at the forefront of national efforts to find data-driven solutions to complex problems facing state policymakers as publicly funded health care systems transition to new models that reward quality and value over volume.
Hilltop seeks professionals with a keen interest in federal and state health policy, outstanding quantitative skills, and a passion for advancing the health and wellbeing of people and communities. The incumbent will work under the guidance of the Director of Medicaid Policy Studies.
Responsibilities
The Policy Specialist/Policy Analyst will participate in policy research and quantitative analysis aimed at improving access to and the quality of health care services for low-income and disadvantaged populations. Most projects focus on populations served by the Maryland Medicaid program, but occasional work is performed with other states’ data or in collaboration with other states’ agencies.
The successful candidate will perform tasks such as:
- Assisting in analyzing large medical services claims data sets collected from Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurers, and/or discharge abstracts using SAS or other statistical packages
- Producing descriptive statistics on program enrollment, utilization and costs of services for particular Medicaid populations, provider participation, and quality of care measures
- Participating in multi-disciplinary project teams that may include SAS programmers and policy analysts, as well as researchers or policy analysts from other organizations
- Conducting literature searches on programs in other states, medical and public health topics, or other aspects of health services research and policy
- Coordinating data collection from provider or stakeholder surveys, interviews, or data tabulations received from managed care organizations, other types of provider groups, or external researchers.
- Writing brief reports, memoranda, meeting minutes, and/or PowerPoint presentations
- Assisting in preparing research and analysis for publication in peer-reviewed journals
- Making presentations to public and professional audiences
- Participating in internal and external meetings
- Performing other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications
Policy Specialist
A bachelor’s degree in health services research, statistics, quantitative methods, economics, public health, or a related discipline. Must be proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and have strong analytical and communications skills (both verbal and written).
Policy Analyst
A master’s degree with course work in health services research, public health, public policy/administration, economics, or a related discipline, and at least one year of relevant experience. A bachelor’s degree with course work in health services research, public health, public policy/administration, economics, or a related field and three years of experience with exposure to health services research, public health administration, and/or policy analysis may be substituted for the master’s degree and required experience. Must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and have strong analytical and communications skills (both verbal and written).
Preferred Qualifications
The ideal candidate will possess the following professional and interpersonal competencies: experience in conducting research with large data sets; skills in analyzing data with SAS, STATA, R or other statistical software packages; an understanding or eagerness to learn about publicly funded health insurance programs such as Medicare and Medicaid; problem-solving skills; ability to communicate orally and in writing to diverse audiences; ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams and be flexible in a fast-paced environment; and excellent interpersonal skills.
Personnel Status, Salary, and Benefits
Exempt, Full-time, Grant Funded (Note: This position is grant-funded, wherein employment is contingent upon the renewal of the grant).
Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. The position is full-time, offers excellent opportunity for professional growth, and includes the full university benefits package, including tuition remission, for qualified candidates.
While this position is located onsite at The Hilltop Institute’s offices on the UMBC campus, options for part-time telework/remote work are available.
Application
Resumes will be accepted until the position is filled, but for best consideration, send a cover letter (indicating Job #493811), resume, and the contact information for three professional references by August 19, 2022, to the Policy Specialist/Policy Analyst, Medicaid Policy Studies, Search Committee at:
https://listings.umbc.edu/cw/en-us/job/493811/policy-specialistpolicy-analyst
Or
July 29, 2022
