Contract Specialist III

About the position

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) seeks highly qualified candidates to fill the Contract Specialist III position with Community Services (CS), Community Care Services (CCS), Community Care Services Contracts (CCSC) Section. HHSC is driven by its mission statement 'We Serve Texas.' The ideal candidate will thrive in an environment that emphasizes fidelity to our mission, collegiality to internal and external stakeholders, nurturing talent within our team, open and transparent communication, and agility to adapt quickly to challenges and changes. This position performs highly complex (senior-level) contract management work including contract enrollment, maintenance, and monitoring. Work involves developing and evaluating a broad range of contracts. Supervises the work of others. Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Provides orientation and technical assistance on program rules and policies to contractors. Develops, negotiates, and processes contracts and amendments for community care services programs. Conducts monitoring of contract performance including service delivery and fiscal monitoring. Participates in State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH). Develops, implements, and monitors corrective actions and/or sanctions. Investigates and validates individual, community and department staff complaints relating to contract performance. Interprets and clarifies standards, policies and procedures to improve program operation and performance. Reviews contractor billings and resolves billing rejections, problems, and/or issues.

Responsibilities

• Identifies the need for service providers and takes appropriate action(s). Participates in work groups to make recommendations to change contract-related documents. Monitors legal and regulatory requirements pertaining to contracting. Handles routine reporting activities and special projects/tasks internal/external to the unit as assigned. Provides orientation and technical assistance on program rules and policies to contractors, stakeholders, internal HHSC staff and community.
• Prepares and maintains contract documents in accordance with policy and procedures. Assists with developing contract administration policies and procedures. Initiates, develops, negotiates, processes and manages contracts, renewals and amendments for community care services programs. Uploads required documents to HHSC contracts repository system.
• Completes all required pre-monitoring activities. Completes contractor screening criteria prior to formal monitoring to verify the legal entity's business information and status. Reviews contractor history that includes reviewing the contractor's HHSC licensure status, regulatory compliance history, previous fiscal year expenditures and Adverse Action Review Committee (AARC) activity since the previous monitoring to assess the contractor's performance as applicable to the contract type. Prepares applicable program and fiscal compliance monitoring tools, Monitoring Workbook and Individual Work Papers (IWP) by entering information that is readily available, such as legal entity name, contract numbers, review dates, review periods, payment information, etc. Prepares common forms that include entrance and exit conference forms. Pulls electronic visit verification (EVV) visit logs and units of service tables and reviews for missing data. Sends inquiries to EVV Vendor or EVV Operations about missing data or missing reports. Reviews COGNOS billing/payment report. Completes and sends the notice of Scheduled Contract and Fiscal Compliance Monitoring at least 20 days before the monitor review following notification protocol. Selects the monitoring sample. Determines the review period. Ensures the sample is sent to the contractor two business days before the monitor review. Schedules monitor reviews within the established timeframes.
• Monitors contractor performance to ensure compliance with State and Federal regulations by conducting contract compliance on or off site. Plans and conducts investigations resulting from allegations made about contractors. Monitors contract performance by examining billings, and eligibility determinations for compliance with terms of contract and policies and recommends actions or sanctions of contracts and tracks them through completion.
• Provides guidance regarding contract administration, policies, and procedures to contractors, stakeholders, internal HHSC staff and community. Assists other team members.

Requirements

• Experience in interpreting policies, rules and regulations of State and/or Federal laws.
• Experience in mentoring/training staff.
• Experience in making decisions based upon interpretation of federal and state laws.
• Experience in HHSC Community Care Services preferred.
• Experience in contract management and monitoring preferred.
• Three years of full-time work experience in the health and human services field preferred.

Nice-to-haves

• Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM). Certification completion required between sixth (6th) and twelfth (12th) month of employment.

Benefits

• 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees.
• Defined benefit pension plan.
• Generous time off benefits.
• Numerous opportunities for career advancement.