Under the general guidance of the Senior Vice President, Federal Programs, the Vice President, Federal Programs, assists in performing, directing, and coordinating AHIP's government relations activities related to health plan participation in Medicare and other federal programs.

Specific Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include:

1.  Conducts, directs, and coordinates AHIP's government relations contacts with federal regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as well as the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Department of Defense (DOD), and other governmental agencies, as needed.

2.  Conducts, directs, and coordinates government relations activities principally related to health plan participation in Medicare.  Programs addressed may also include: Medicaid, Medigap, Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), TRICARE, and other federal health programs.

3.  Maintains ongoing contacts with federal agency officials and staff, as well as other contacts, in support of AHIP’s operational and policy analysis and advocacy activities.  Arranges and conducts meetings with federal regulators and others to advocate on behalf of AHIP’s members. 

4.  Performs, directs, and coordinates analysis of guidance, regulations and federal laws to evaluate their effects on AHIP’s members and to identify issues for comment and advocacy activities.  Develops and directs development of proposed strategies for AHIP’s advocacy activities. 

5.  Drafts and oversees the preparation of comment letters, testimony, position statements, and talking points addressing guidance, regulation, and laws governing federal programs for submission to the appropriate legislative and regulatory bodies and other relevant parties.  Drafts and directs and coordinates preparation of memos, reports, and other written materials that are sent to AHIP members. 

6. Closely follows developments in the health care sector that are relevant to federal programs issues and policies and that may have an impact on member organizations.

7. Maintains ongoing and close contacts with AHIP members concerning their participation in federal programs.  Oversees and assists in responding to members' questions and requests for documents related to federal programs implementation.

8.  Maintains ongoing and close contacts with other departments within AHIP to collaborate on comments and other projects and to share or obtain information.  Assists in providing support to AHIP's Executive Department, as needed.

9.  Performs other duties as required or assigned.

Physical Requirements:

Physical movement and activity required.  Occasional travel required.

Education and Experience:

Education:       Bachelor’s degree required.  Graduate degree or law degree desirable.

Skills:              Strong leadership and organizational skills.  Considerable knowledge of the techniques and methods of developing and executing government relations strategies. Ability to ensure accurate and timely completion of projects in a fast-paced environment.  Excellent written and oral communication skills.  Good judgment; strong problem-solving and interpersonal skills; and an ability to deal with complex and changing issues.  Demonstrated ability to apply these skills to advocacy and government relations activities.

Experience:     Extensive government relations experience in the federal regulatory environment with a focus on issues relevant to health plan public programs participation, particularly Medicare with a minimum of 6 to 8 years experience preferred.  Experience working with federal regulatory agencies at various levels with sensitivity to political considerations.  Knowledge of the structure and functioning of the government as it impacts health plans and the health care sector; knowledge of current program rules and issues affecting health plan participation in federal programs; and understanding of health plan operations as they relate to federal program participation.  Extensive experience performing and directing development of detailed analysis of guidance, regulations, and laws related to federal programs with a focus on issues affecting health plans and developing comments and positions reflecting health plan interests.
 

Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V

Send resume, references and cover letter including salary requirements to:  hr@ahip.org or mail to:

America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)

ATTN: HR Dept/RAVPFP

601 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

South Building, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20004