Regional Program Officer (07087) (07021)

To be considered for any DPHHS Agency position, applicants must complete and submit their application online, as well as upload any required application materials. Successful applicant(s) are required to successfully pass all DPHHS specific background check(s) relevant to each position.

Materials Required of Applicants:

(To be considered in this pool, please submit the following)

• Cover Letter
• Resume

(Please type responses in a Word document and attach to application. HELPFUL HINT: When attaching a document, you much check the “relevant document” box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application. Please do not attach more than requested. If you have more than 25 attachments in the system you will need to email these to: hhshumanresources@mt.gov . Failure to attach the required material will conclude in an incomplete application. You must also keep those relevant boxes checked once you submit your application; if you uncheck the box with an active application it will delete the attachment.)

Job Overview: The Regional Program Officer is responsible for ensuring that Montanans with disabilities and the elderly are receiving appropriate quality Medicaid long-term care services. Responsibilities include administering bureau programs in a particular region of the state, serving as liaison between the central bureau and division staff and stakeholders; ensuring services meet minimum quality standards established by the department; identifying, providing, and coordinating ongoing training needs to provide correct understanding and ensure correct service delivery based on system changes/updates, organization changes, quality assurance reviews and demonstrated user needs; and receiving requests for policy clarification, analyzing and researching problems, and coordinating with other program officers as needed to respond to policy questions.

NOTE : Position location will be determined based on successful candidate; possible locations are Butte, Helena, Missoula.

Major Duties or Responsibilities:

Regional Program Administration

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  Administers bureau programs in a particular region of the state, serving as liaison between the central bureau and division staff and stakeholders, meeting with advisory councils, task forces, consumer groups and other organizations related to activities of the bureau and/or division.
  
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  Coordinates services with county eligibility, Adult Protective Services, Area Agencies on Aging and other relevant agency staff on behalf of consumers.
  
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  Oversees regional providers of community services program and contractor advisory councils.
  
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  Resolves disputes between providers, consumers and other state agencies and follows up on consumer complaints and concerns.
  
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  Explains program goals and objectives to local providers and contractors, gathers information and proposed strategies to respond to identified needs and how program could be modified to meet those needs.
  
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  Reviews program issues with Bureau Chief and central office/division staff, utilizing bureau mandates and guidelines, and participates in the development of best practices of community based health management.
  

Quality Assurance Activities

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  Ensures services meet minimum quality standards established by the department through consumer interviews, review of public comments, discussions with providers of community-based services and other medical practitioners, and regional compliance reviews.
  
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  Develops effective corrective action activities for deficiencies. Researches and analyzes ARM’s, state policy manuals, directives and other policy clarifications and communicates the information to providers when corrective action is required.
  
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  Conducts pre and post payment claims review, prior authorization of claims and other relevant activities.
  
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  Collaborates and participates in planning, coordination, operation and monitoring of the State Compliance Review process.
  
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  Conducts home visits to determine adequacy of services; investigate field complaints; educate, train or answer questions from consumers; or troubleshoot difficult programmatic issues.
  
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  Advises the local providers and contractors in interpretation and impact of state and federal regulations and policy.
  

Training

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  Identifies and analyzes training needs for regional service providers and interdepartmental staff.
  
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  Identifies, provides, and coordinates ongoing training needs to provide correct understanding and ensure correct service delivery based on system changes/updates, organization changes, quality assurance reviews and demonstrated user needs.
  
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  Collaborates with and provides assistance to program officers within the bureau in providing refresher training for provider agencies.
  
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  Coordinates and provides training of new service providers.
  
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  Educates family/consumers regarding their rights and choices under bureau programs.
  

Policy

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  Receives requests for policy clarification, analyzes and researches problems, and coordinates with other program officers as needed to respond to policy questions.
  
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  Works as a team member to develop policy in response to consumer and provider needs while maintaining adherence to federal, state, and Department regulations.
  
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  Reviews/existing policy/procedures, collects ideas and suggestions from other agency staff and providers regarding existing and proposed policies and provides that information to central office.
  

Physical and Environmental Demands:


This field position requires extensive local travel as well as work in typical office conditions. May be exposed to potentially harmful situations during consumer home visits. Hazards may include hostile consumers or family members, volatile dynamics between household members, or other similar unpredictable situations. Travel: 20%.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Behaviors):


Required for the first day of work:

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  Demonstrated knowledge of community resources, long term care or programs and services for disabled or elderly persons.
  
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  Knowledge of and skill in training methods and techniques.
  
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  Ability to interpret policies, rules and regulations.
  
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  Skill in problem identification and resolution.
  
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  Conflict management ability.
  
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  Analytical and decision-making abilities.
  
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  Ability to communicate clearly verbally and in writing.
  
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  Demonstrated cultural sensitivity.
  

Qualifications:


Required Minimum Education and Experience:

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  Bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, human services, social work, nursing, family science, human development and counseling, education, public health or closely related field.
  
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  Requires two years of experience in community social or health-related fields with demonstrated knowledge of community resources, long term care or programs and services for disabled or elderly persons.
  
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  Experience working with disabled or elderly individuals is desired.
  
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  An alternative to the above education experience could include an associate degree in nursing and at least four years of experience working with disabled or elderly individuals in community social or health related fields with demonstrated knowledge of community resources or long care.
  
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  Other combinations of education and experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  

Eligible Training Assignment:

33,592.00