Policy Analyst, Office of Health Resource Planning

Massachusetts Health Policy Commission; Brighton; Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job description

The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) seeks a Policy Analyst to support the Office of Health Resource Planning within the HPC, an independent state agency on the forefront of health care policy and cost containment in Massachusetts. This is a unique opportunity to join a newly created office that will guide health care resource allocation decisions statewide by developing a state health plan evaluating the availability of and access to health care resources in the Commonwealth.

Mission of the Office of Health Resource Planning

The mission of the Office of Health Resource Planning (OHRP) is to identify and address service gaps and challenges in the Massachusetts health care system while fostering patient-centered care. As the entity leading the first Massachusetts state health planning effort in over a decade, the OHRP applies rigorous data collection and analytic techniques to evaluate health care resource access and needs. OHRP investigates and reports on the factors that drive the misalignment of supply and need, and makes policy recommendations to promote the appropriate supply and equitable distribution of services.

Role and Responsibilities

The Policy Analyst will join a team of policy, clinical, and analytic experts leading the development of this vital health planning function in the Commonwealth. The Policy Analyst will perform essential policy and analytic research on the supply and distribution of various health care resource types to inform the work of the OHRP and contribute directly to public-facing reports and presentations.

Duties of this position may include, but are not limited to:

1. Conducting landscape scans of currently-accepted frameworks and standards for assessing health care supply adequacy by service line, including in terms of accessibility, affordability, and quality;
2. Conducting analyses on the adequacy of regional and statewide health care resources to meet current and anticipated health care needs;
3. Evaluating and recommending public and private data assets for use in analyzing health care needs and resource capacity;
4. Developing specifications for potential future data collection tools that could be implemented via the HPC’s Massachusetts Registration of Provider Organizations Program, the Department of Public Health, or other data collection initiatives;
5. Preparing briefing and public-facing materials including presentations to the HPC’s Executive Leadership, Board of Commissioners, and Advisory Council;
6. Providing administrative and project management support for the OHRP;
7. Working closely with other HPC staff and departments to align the work of the OHRP with other agency projects and priorities.

The HPC operates a hybrid work schedule, with employees splitting their time between the downtown Boston office and remote work.

Desired Qualifications

• Three years of relevant full-time or equivalent part-time professional experience that has equipped the applicant with the competencies, knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in the position;
• Experience conducting research related to the supply and distribution of health care resources and factors that influence that distribution;
• Experience using Excel or any statistical programming language such as R, STATA, SAS, or Python to perform basic skills such as data entry and manipulation, calculations, and chart creation;
• Experience using Tableau for data visualization and/or data analysis;
• Familiarity with the Massachusetts health care landscape, including health care industry stakeholders, market participants, and state regulatory oversight;
• Familiarity with health care market oversight and health care cost containment policies in Massachusetts;
• Excellent speaking and writing skills, including strong attention to detail, an ability to organize information and concepts clearly and concisely, and to tailor communication for various audiences;
• Experience managing projects and a demonstrated ability to meet deadlines;
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, and the ability to be flexible in prioritizing tasks;
• Ability to take initiative and work independently, as well as to function as a team member;
• An interest in public service and an ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range

$70,000-$100,000 annually

Salary is commensurate with experience. The HPC may adjust title, responsibilities, and salary depending on the experience and expertise of the individual selected.

Benefits

The HPC offers an outstanding and comprehensive package of employee benefits which should be considered toward overall compensation. These include:

• 12 paid holidays per year and generous sick, vacation, and personal time
• 75% state paid medical insurance premium
• Health, dental, and vision plans offered through the Group Insurance Commission
• Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Assistance programs
• Low-cost basic and optional life insurance
• Retirement savings: State Employees' Pension and a Deferred Compensation 457(b) plan
• Tuition benefit for employee and spouse at state colleges and universities
• Extended sick leave program participation
• Professional development and continuing education opportunities
• Qualified employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness program
• A suite of well-being benefits

Our Commitment:

The HPC is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal employment opportunity. We recognize that diversity in the workplace is a source of strength, vital to its ability to effectively advance its mission. The HPC is committed to:

• Actively promoting diversity in our workforce, including greater racial and ethnic diversity, at all levels of the organization;
• Fostering a work environment in which all employees are inspired to do their best, strengthened by their different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences;
• Ensuring that no employee’s growth, achievement, or advancement is hindered because of race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, genetic information, gender identity, pregnancy, veteran status, or disability;
• Holding ourselves to a high standard of inclusion and opportunity that will serve as a model for other public and private employers throughout the Commonwealth;
• Promoting our core values of equal opportunity, equal justice, and inclusion in HPC actions and initiatives.