Vice President, Employer Health Policy & Initiatives

AHIP is looking for a dynamic Vice President of Employer Health Policy & Initiatives to join their team! If you are looking to make a real difference through your career journey, why not do it with the foremost health insurance advocacy organization in the nation? AHIP is the industry-leading trade association of health insurance providers striving to make health care better and coverage more affordable for every American. Our team works among the nation’s most influential policymakers and stakeholders with front-row seats to make an unparalleled impact and change with policy advocates, leading conveners and conferences, foremost innovators, and champions of the healthcare industry.

Position Summary: The Vice President of Employer Health Policy & Initiatives is responsible for leading AHIP's policy and advocacy work focused on employer-sponsored health coverage, particularly impacts on large group and self-funded ERISA plans and the tax treatment of employee benefits. The role also includes substantial cross-market work, primarily leading policy development related to the No Surprises Act. The Vice President is responsible for developing a strategic plan for advancing AHIP’s goals for employer-sponsored coverage on Capitol Hill and with the Administration, and is expected to be a thought leader and capable of representing AHIP in a public-facing capacity. The role works closely with the business community and other trade associations through external coalitions, and is a leader within AHIP on the Coverage@Work campaign and the Coalition Against Surprise Medical Billing. The position involves frequent contact with the Department of Labor, IRS, and CMS. The Vice President is expected to lead member engagement on employer policy issues, develop comprehensive policy positions, and write detailed comments on proposed rulemaking.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Plan and lead meetings of AHIP member committees and work groups to develop industry consensus and priorities for advancing policy goals related to employer-sponsored health benefits, surprise billing and Independent Dispute Resolution, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and tax policy,
2. Maintains a substantive knowledge of pertinent employer coverage issues and any cross-market issues within the portfolio, such as surprise billing and HSAs, and applies that knowledge by developing creative policy solutions to advance AHIP member goals, including through regulation and legislation.
3. Serves as the primary subject matter expert on the No Surprises Act and the federal IDR process, demonstrating leadership on the topic and aggressively advocating for AHIP members on the issue before top federal regulators and Congressional offices, engaging with national and trade press as needed, and advancing advocacy goals through the Coalition Against Surprise Medical Billing.
4. Collaborates with AHIP's Legal Department and outside counsel to provide policy support in drafting amicus briefs.
5. Monitor regulatory developments to help inform AHIP member organizations and take the lead in responding to proposed rulemaking and other opportunities for public input to regulators, including writing comment letters.
6. Lead advocacy efforts to advance policy priorities within their portfolio with a variety of internal and external coalitions, including close partnership with AHIP’s federal affairs team, state affairs team, public affairs and communications, and external consultants.
7. Frequently write and send updates on policy, legal, and legislative developments to AHIP members through memoranda.
8. Develop a research agenda to support and advance policy goals and other initiatives, working closely with AHIP’s research department to execute timely deliverables such as member surveys.
9. Manage relationships with external consultants focused on employer-sponsored coverage.
10. Brief AHIP senior leadership and leaders from member organizations on the employer policy agenda, goals, and accomplishments.
11. Performs other tasks as required or assigned.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. For example, while performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to see, talk and hear. In addition, the employee frequently is required to stand, walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms, communicate verbally, use computer and other technology (including keyboarding).

Mental Demands

The mental demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Employee must have a high capacity for logical thinking, be able to cope effectively with stressful demands involving high levels of responsibility and urgent deadlines, remain calm in conflict situations, focus on mission-critical matter but also have the ability to switch quickly from one project or demand to another (and back again).

Minimum Education and Experience Required

1. Bachelor's Degree and/or equivalent experience.
2. Master's Degree or Juris Doctorate preferred.
3. Minimum of 7-9 years of experience working on employer-sponsored coverage, surprise billing, ERISA, and tax-related issues on behalf of health plans or employers, for a regulatory agency or on Capitol Hill, or similar experience..
4. Strong understanding of regulatory environments, Congressional dynamics, health plan operations, and employee benefits issues.
5. Ability to adapt to changing needs and demands in a politically adept manner, handling a portfolio of high-profile and fast-paced policy work.

Other Qualifications

• Practical relationship-building skills, working with internal staff, member health plans, and external leaders, including regulators.
• Excellent writing skills, oral communication, presentation skills, and strong project management skills.
• Ability to manage and resolve complex legal and regulatory matters and clearly and effectively explain to others internally and externally as needed.
• Ability to simultaneously handle multiple tasks, work efficiently and quickly, and meet deadlines under pressure.
• Manages conflicts in professional and diplomatic demeanor.
• Experience developing consensus, resolving conflict, and establishing priorities between groups with opposing perspectives and agendas.
• Ability to effectively communicate advocacy and policy positions.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships.
• Ability to influence others.
• Ability to identify and seek information.
• Analytical and conceptual thinking skills.

Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Disability Specifications

AHIP will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

AHIP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.