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DIRECTOR, FEDERAL HEALTHCARE POLICY
- Representing more than 112,000 credentialed nutrition and dietetics practitioners, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals whose expertise provides essential support for those with specialty nutrition needs and those seeking better health through nutrition.
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- We are seeking a Director, Federal Healthcare Policy to lead strategic efforts to position the Academy as the champion for registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) within public and private healthcare markets. The Director will set the vision and lead the creation of policy and payment strategies for medical nutrition therapy (MNT) and nutrition care, safeguard reimbursement rates, and act as the Academy’s expert on payment reform.
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- This role is ideal for a seasoned policy expert with deep knowledge of Medicaid, Medicare Fee-for-Service, Medicare Advantage, Value-Based Care, and Commercial Health Plans, and a passion for advancing health equity through nonprofit advocacy. The Director will support the organization’s engagement with the AMA Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) and CPT coding processes and plays a key role in developing novel provider payment models across a range of care settings
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- The Director will play a critical role in expanding public access to nutrition care services by shaping coverage and payment policies and guiding effective service delivery. This role influences Medicare’s MNT policy, directs commercial coverage efforts, leads payer education, and engages with key stakeholders, ensuring the Academy remains at the forefront of advancing nutrition care.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop and implement strategic initiatives to advance and expand medical nutrition therapy (MNT) and nutrition care as essential, reimbursable services across public and private sectors, aligning with evolving healthcare payment models. Cultivate strategic relationships to build and manage high-level partnerships with national and regional payers to advocate for favorable policy decisions and expanded coverage of MNT.
- Track federal legislative and regulatory developments and develop strategic messaging and action plans for public and private sector engagement, lead CMS comment processes, and draft policy and advocacy content for member communications.
- Provide leadership in protecting and enhancing reimbursement rates by addressing threats from both public and private payers. Champion the inclusion of nutrition care services in public and private insurance plans, addressing national-level coverage and payment challenges. Support the organization’s participation in AMA RUC and CPT coding activities, including supporting member volunteer leaders through CPT and RUC processes and at AMA meetings.
- Act as the Academy’s subject matter expert on payment reform, guiding internal and external stakeholders on evolving reimbursement models. Represent the Academy in national coalitions and advocacy alliances to advance Academy priorities.
- Provide senior leadership to the nutrition services coverage staff, guiding responses to member inquiries and overseeing the development of advocacy tools, training, and resources. Cultivate and manage relationships with relevant federal agencies (e.g., CMS, HHS) and congressional offices. Collaborate with advocacy groups, healthcare professionals, and national coalitions to increase support for nutrition care services among government and commercial payers.
- Analyze healthcare policies, conduct environmental scans, and build business cases to support the integration of nutrition services into benefit designs. Monitor healthcare market trends to identify emerging trends, new insurers, and organizational shifts in the healthcare marketplace to assess their impact on nutrition care access and delivery.
- Work closely with the Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Government Relations and staff overseeing state affiliate advocacy to align payment advocacy with broader legislative and regulatory efforts. Work cross-functionally with communications, research, and member engagement teams to align policy efforts with organizational priorities.
- Supervise a senior manager and oversee the work of external consultants to ensure timely, high-quality policy deliverables. Provide mentorship, performance feedback, and leadership development opportunities for direct report. Oversee timelines, deliverables, and impact measurement for policy consultants and contracted vendors to ensure alignment with Academy priorities.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s degree in Health Economics, Healthcare Policy, Public Policy, Public Health, Political Science, Health Administration, or a closely related discipline.
- Minimum 7 – 10 years of experience in Federal Policy Reimbursement and Payment; Health Policy and Coverage.
- A mission-driven, collaborative, persuasive, and innovative leader to spearhead our federal payment and policy strategy and advocacy efforts, with a sharp focus on improving access, equity, and quality in healthcare.
- Preferable experience collaborating with federal agencies (CMS, CMMI, HHS) or involvement in health policy work on Capitol Hill.
- Demonstrated research and analytical prowess to evaluate policies, conduct environmental scans, and build compelling business cases for nutrition services.
- Proven ability to devise strategic solutions addressing national coverage and payment challenges, monitor changes in the healthcare marketplace, and assess their impact on nutrition care delivery and access.
- Exceptional communication skills – clear, concise, detail oriented, and a collaborative mindset vital for success in this role.
- 20-25% travel to local and national meetings including FNCE, CPT/RUC meetings with the American Medical Association. Local travel to meet with CMS, payor groups, and other organizations will be frequent
About Us:
The Academy offers a competitive starting salary range from $115,000 to $125,000 commensurate with qualifications and experience, as well as an excellent benefit package, including medical, dental, vision, LTD, tuition reimbursement and 401k match with IMMEDIATE VESTING!
We provide a comprehensive paid leave program to help support work-life balance. Academy employees accrue paid sick and vacation time throughout the year, with the option to carry over unused time in accordance with Academy policy. Additional leave may also be available for holidays, family emergencies, or other personal circumstances.
This is a Washington, D.C. Metro-based role offering optional remote work, with frequent attendance at in-person events required.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran or disabled status and will not be discriminated against.
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