Medicare Payment Advisory Commission

Position Title/Short Description

Full Text of JOE Listing:

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) seeks a health economist to serve as a senior analyst on the Commission’s staff.

MedPAC is a nonpartisan federal agency that advises the U.S. Congress on Medicare payments to health care providers and health plans, and issues affecting access to and quality of care received by Medicare beneficiaries.

MedPAC analytic staff members evaluate Medicare policies, develop options for consideration by the Commission, and present their work in regular public meetings. They also provide technical support as needed to Congressional committees through memos and briefings. MedPAC publishes its recommendations and supporting analyses in two annual reports to the Congress and in other reports periodically mandated by the Congress.

Senior analysts must be able to frame policy questions and develop research plans. They must be able to work independently or as part of a team, taking or giving direction as needed by a particular project.

Analytical skills:

•Ability to perform quantitative analysis of Medicare data, cognizant of its policy environment and implications. The ideal candidate should be able to identify quantitative methods appropriate to apply to data to analyze a given policy question, and execute such analyses.
•Economic modeling (e.g., theoretical models of provider behavior).
•Basic and advanced statistical methods (e.g., multivariate regressions, instrumental variable analysis).
•In-depth familiarity with relevant economic and health policy analytic literature.
•Ability to research varied topics as needed by the Commission.

Writing and communications skills:

•Ability to produce high-quality written work on time.
•Strong speaking skills to present research at MedPAC’s public meetings. The ideal candidate will be able to communicate complex technical concepts and analyses to both technical and nontechnical audiences.

Education and experience:

•A doctorate degree in economics or health services research, with an emphasis in health care, is strongly preferred. We may consider exceptionally qualified candidates at the master’s level, or may consider advanced degrees in other quantitative methods fields.
•At minimum of five years of post-graduate experience with federal or state government, a policy research organization, an academic department, insurer or health plan, or a health care provider or provider association.
•A record of peer reviewed publications is advantageous, but not a requirement.

Salary commensurate with experience. Must be a U.S. citizen.