The Washington Health Benefit Exchange is a public-private partnership that operates the WAPlanfinder mobile app and Washington Healthplanfinder, the online eligibility and enrollment portal used by one in four Washington residents to obtain health and dental coverage. Through Washington Healthplanfinder, individuals and families can compare and enroll in health insurance coverage and gain access to financial help and public programs like Washington Apple Health.

The mission of the Exchange, a state-based marketplace, is to radically improve how Washington residents secure health insurance through innovative and practical solutions, an easy-to-use customer experience, our values of integrity, respect, equity and transparency, and by providing undeniable value to the health care community.

The Exchange is also committed to identifying and reaching groups at risk for obstacles to access coverage, which includes supporting those who need assistance overcoming barriers to seek, find, and use their health insurance coverage. Specifically, the Exchange is embracing the following equity statement:

Equity is a fundamental pillar to the society we seek to build. The process of advancing toward equity will be disruptive and demands vigilance, dismantling deeply entrenched systems of privilege and oppression. We must focus our efforts on people and places where needs are greatest, especially communities of color, and go beyond remedying a particular inequity to address all determinants of health.

Our goal is that all Washingtonians have full and equal access to opportunities, power and resources to achieve their full potential.

SUMMARY

The Senior Legislative Policy Analyst performs rapid bill and policy analysis and innovates solutions for a broad range of health policy issues. The position leads, facilitates, and performs bill and policy reviews to shape and respond to statutory or regulatory direction, formulates Exchange options, develops externally facing materials, and furthers Exchange strategic and legislative priorities. The position interfaces with and advises the Exchange Board, Exchange Committees, Exchange Executive Team, Office of Policy and Strategy, and the Director.

The Senior Legislative Policy Analyst will manage a policy portfolio and work with external stakeholders and inter-departmental teams to develop legislative and policy options and recommendations critical to advancing quality health coverage, improving affordability, and improving Washington Healthplanfinder. Based on knowledge of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), research and data, including discussions with national policy organizations and other state-based marketplaces and input from internal and external stakeholders, the Senior Legislative Policy Analyst will track and analyze state and federal health policy issues, facilitate stakeholdering with internal and external audiences, and develop options and recommendations for Exchange leadership.

The Senior Legislative Policy Analyst, depending on their portfolio, will lead work on one or more of the following:

• state or federal legislation implementation, and/or Exchange strategic initiative, including developing implementation approaches, developing timelines, facilitating stakeholder groups, managing contractors, and presenting on status and recommendations.
• issues related to the qualified health and dental plans (QHPs and QDPs) and relevant affordability programs offered through the Exchange, performing analysis, and offering insight regarding individual market dynamics and their impact on the Exchange and Washington consumers. Annual policy driven processes including:
  • the annual state subsidy calculation and/or federal 1332 waiver submittal process, including developing implementation timelines, facilitating stakeholder groups, managing contracted actuarial support, and presenting to stakeholders and the Exchange Board and Executive Team on recommended changes.
  • the annual plan certification process, including the annual publication of guidelines for carriers participating in the Exchange, review, and analysis of carrier plan certification submissions to understand market trends and consumer behavior, and presentation of plans to the Exchange Board for certification.
  • the annual process of updating standard plans, including developing implementation timelines, facilitating stakeholder groups, managing contracted actuarial support, and presenting to stakeholders and the Exchange Board and Executive Team on recommended changes to the standard plan designs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Analyze and summarize Exchange impacts of relevant federal and state health legislation, regulations, and guidance. Conduct legislative research, and track bills associated with the Exchange.
• Lead cross-department legislative meetings, solicit rapid input on bills and legislative inquiries, and engage as needed in Office of Policy and Strategy Team’s efforts that support development and implementation of legislative initiatives.
• Support bill tracking and implementation, including sharing information about legislative context and politics, and participate in cross-departmental workgroups, data compilation, and drafting as needed for required legislative reports.
• Coordinate with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), state agency partners, actuaries, and other outside consultants, as needed, on development and implementation of exchange policy initiatives.
• Work closely with external stakeholders around legislative priorities, including carriers, providers, consumer advocates, state-based marketplaces, and other healthcare industry and health policy experts.
• Research and develop policy options and recommendations to inform organizational strategic planning and legislative priorities.
• Lead policy development and implementation for subsidized and unsubsidized individual market Exchange consumers, including issues related to affordability, benefit design, program eligibility, and premium rating.
• Draft policy papers, briefs, and reports on Exchange policy issues, including conducting quantitative analysis as needed
• Research, monitor, and stay abreast of best practices and health policy development in relevant policy areas.
• Act as a subject matter expert to other departments.
• Collaborate and build relationships with other state agencies, state-based exchanges, and stakeholders to solicit feedback and gather information on best practices.
• Represent the Exchange and its viewpoints with state agency partners and other external parties.
• Provide written, verbal, and visual presentations of key policy issues to the Exchange Board, Exchange Committees, Exchange Executive Team, Office of Strategy and Policy, the Director, and external stakeholders.
• Lead projects involving data, reporting and analytics staff/contractors to perform data analysis on large data sets and present findings to Exchange leadership and external stakeholders.
• Provide direction to and oversee contractors on appropriate deliverables and needed Exchange materials.
• Support the Director in management of contracts, budgets, timelines, and workflows related to specific Exchange policy issues.
• Provide guidance and/or support to junior policy staff on various projects.
• Contribute to the growth, expertise, and knowledge of other Office of policy and Strategy staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Master’s degree in a health policy-related field.
  • Note: Years of experience may substitute year for year for graduate-level education.
• Three years of progressively more responsibility in state or federal legislative process, health coverage policy and program development, including appropriate use of policy analysis, regulation or bill interpretation, research, and data to formulate and advise decision-making, issue resolution and policy development.
• Three years of strong and proven skills in managing multiple, diverse, complex projects; collaborating with peers; staying within scope, schedule, and resources; developing clear project plans; balancing multiple priorities; communicating progress in written or oral form to executives, policy makers, media, and key partners and stakeholders, including proactive identification, communication, and contingency planning when project conflicts arise.
• Three years of experience with diverse stakeholder management, including facilitation of multiple stakeholders towards consensus or common understanding (if not agreement), preparing, and making presentations, and otherwise engaging key partners and stakeholders.
• Experience in managing budgets, contracts, timelines, and projects, and coordination and motivation of diverse resources to quickly resolve critical health policy issues.
• Understanding of the ACA and health insurance plans and markets, with emphasis on the Washington individual market, and impacts on market dynamics of federal and state policy decisions.
• Communication. Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills that translate and clarify policy analysis, issues and objectives into responsive analytic products. Identify needs of customer/audience and present and tailor messages in a clear, concise, unambiguous, engaging, and convincing manner, understandable by technical and non-technical audiences.
• Accountability. Enjoy focusing on results, be a highly creative, critical, and strategic thinker, and foster a collaborative setting. Be able to work both independently and collaboratively, with a willingness to proactively own the success of projects. Be highly organized, with an ability to work on multiple simultaneous projects and meet tight deadlines and have flexibility and resourcefulness during times of uncertainty and stress.

Desired:

• Experience working with legislators, elected officials, a state or federal health insurance exchange, a health insurance carrier, or in the health insurance industry.
• Demonstrated knowledge of health insurance plan coverage types and benefit design.
• Broad knowledge and understanding of the health care industry, including the commercial insurance market and other health delivery systems, and addressing or otherwise managing issues of access, affordability, and quality health care.
• Knowledge of or experience in health equity.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of key components Affordable Care Act (ACA), and other applicable state or federal law, especially health insurance exchanges.
• Vast understanding of the federal and state rule-making process, interpretation of federal and state guidance and the ability to respond to regulation in a timely manner.
• Knowledge and experience in interpretation of Washington state legislation and laws governing health care programs in Washington state.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

This position will be open until we find a suitable number of candidates to review. If interested, please submit an application as soon as possible. The Exchange reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time.

SALARY INFORMATION

The posted salary is the new hire range of consideration. Full salary range is from $81,046 - $121,569. Offer will depend on qualifications.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Core business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Travel requirements will be limited to local travel, however there may be occasions were an employee is required to travel and work irregular hours to attend meetings or trainings. Duties of this position require the use of standard office furniture and equipment (e.g. desk, filing cabinet, computer, printer, telephone, fax machine, copy machine, etc.).

The working conditions and physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

In alignment with the Governor's proclamation and WAHBE's duty to provide and maintain a safe work environment free of known hazards, to reduce business and community disruption associated with COVID-19 surges, and to reduce the risk to the public we serve, all employees must provide evidence that they have received the COVID-19 vaccination in full as a condition of employment, or have received an approved medical or religious exemption.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

A criminal background screen will be conducted for candidates under final consideration, and if hired, every five years of employment where highly sensitive data is processed or maintained by the position. The result of this background screen must meet the Exchange’s eligibility standards.

OTHER INFORMATION

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and levels of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills of personnel so classified.

This is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

The Washington Health Benefit Exchange is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

We participate in E-Verify. You can view the Department of Justice's Right to Work poster here.