Job Description

This is a hybrid role and will require the ability to work in person.

Knowledge and understanding of MHPAEA and state Parity regulations is required for this role.

Role Summary

This role has enterprise accountability to develop the business strategy for and ensure ongoing operational compliance with the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) and state mental health and substance use disorder treatment Parity laws ("Parity"). Collaborates with partners across all enterprise business areas impacted by federal and state parity requirements, including clinical, operations and quality. Makes recommendations to senior leaders across our medical and behavioral lines of business to close gaps and minimize risk while maximizing stakeholder experiences and business value. Partners with Legal, Compliance, Government Affairs, and Technology to ensure business and compliance needs are addressed and implemented. Supports position statements and influence for pending Parity regulations. Identifies current and emerging parity compliance risks and facilitates the mitigation of these risks to levels within the business risk appetite and tolerance. Engages business areas in the assessment and management of funded initiatives and baseline functions with focus on federal and state Parity compliance. Ensures that the appropriate product/benefit design, clinical and operational policies and procedures, and technology capabilities are prioritized, funded, implemented, and maintained consistent with Parity financial, Quantitative Treatment Limitation (QTL) and Non-Quantitative Treatment Limitation (NQTL) requirements. Performs role in a manner that is consistent with enterprise and business compliance management programs and processes and in coordination with subject matter expert guidance from the Legal and Compliance organizations.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic leadership for the multi-year business strategy and workplan for Parity compliance across medical and behavioral lines of business.
• Leads the design, development, and administration of the Parity risk management framework and key performance indicators, taking into consideration both internal operational requirements and external environmental trends and ad hoc needs.
• Enhances process for data collection, analysis, and reporting to respond to regulators, clients, and internal operational and governance requests for Parity financial, quantitative, and non-quantitative compliance requirements.
• Serves as program sponsor or lead when Parity programs or projects are required. Guides the program team to deliver timely, cost-effective, compliant outcomes.
• Leads, chairs, or participates in governance forums and drives regulatory/rapid response processes for cross-business decision making, prioritization, and investments.
• Partners with second- and third-line functions (Compliance, Privacy, Enterprise Risk Management, Internal Audit) to evaluate and mitigate risks, prepare internal risk reporting, and define best practices associated with Parity management.
• Supports matrix partners to ensure proposed/planned medical and behavioral product offerings and affordability initiatives are assessed to identify potential Parity implications.
• Coordinates with Parity subject matter experts (business, Legal, Compliance, Quality, Tech) to oversee the implementation of new/amended laws that impact Parity compliance. Monitors the completion of key activities for each implementation; including, but not limited to, facilitation of cross functional forums to assess impact, coordinate action planning and execution and demonstrate evidence of compliance.
• Ensures all business units address the assessment, implementation, and improvement of operational processes and controls to demonstrate Parity compliance.
• Ensures first line risks and issues are properly documented, reported, and mitigated or remediated. Makes recommendations to leaders about talent needs required to manage Parity requirements and risks, inclusive of skill sets, competencies, and capacity/resource allocations.
• Collaborates with business areas and Compliance on the assignment, onboarding, and ongoing training of Parity business subject matter experts.
• Ensures response to Parity related findings and deficiencies resulting from regulatory inquiries, audits, and exams is complete. Coordinates root cause analysis, corrective action planning, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of Parity documentation.
• Maintains general awareness of Portfolio projects that may impact Parity compliance, including in-flight and planned initiatives. Identifies opportunities for synergy between new and in-flight or planned initiatives and influences alignment or coordination of initiatives to improve efficiency and consistency.
• Drives collaboration and problem solving for Parity compliance initiatives that are \'at risk\', including organizing and facilitating meetings. Provides recommendations to minimize risk.
• Leverages the expertise of Parity subject matter experts across first, second- and third-line functions to identify and implement continued improvement opportunities.
• Coordinates with Parity subject matter experts and legal partners to ensure all Parity comparative analysis and other regulatory documentation are comprehensive, up-to-date, and available when needed.
• Serves as the business representative and subject matter expert to interact with regulators, as needed.
• Participate in industry or government agency task forces or workgroups as needed. Meets with agencies to discuss public policy issues or advocate for the company with Government Affairs as needed.
• Escalates conflicts, prioritization issues and risks to appropriate leadership, as needed.
• Stays abreast of new or proposed laws/regulations and industry trends that directly or indirectly affect Parity.

Position Requirements and Competencies

• 15+ years\' experience in a health care leadership position, or relevant work experience.Clinical experience strongly preferred.
• Knowledge/understanding of MHPAEA and state Parity regulations required.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze regulatory requirements and assist business areas with understanding impacts of requirements on their operations.
• Understanding of lines of defense risk management model and compliance program elements
• Experience delivering large-scale, highly visible, complex programs or projects.
• Bachelor\'s degree required. Master\'s or other advanced degree preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and facilitate discussions across a matrix organization.
• Demonstrated ability to drive results with sense of urgency in an often ambiguous and rapidly changing environment.
• Ability to identify opportunities for process improvement and continuous improvement and successfully execute recommended changes.
• Proven track record of relationship building and management skills within and across organizations. Able to coach direct reports to improved levels of performance.
• Courage and willingness to constructively challenge the status quo.
• Lead with empathy and supports the whole-self mentality.
• Adopts and fosters critical and creative thinking.
• Experience managing in a virtual environment or across multiple locations.
• Communicates effectively to a wide variety of audiences at all organizational levels and has ability to influence across all levels of the organization. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to prepare and deliver senior leader and enterprise leader presentations and messages.
• Capable of managing competing priorities and navigating effectively through change
• Embraces, navigates, and champions change, and takes swift action in the face of ambiguity, uncertainty, and incomplete information.
• Strong time management, highly organized and detail-oriented
• Demonstrates high emotional intelligence.
• Poised in engaging and developing collaborative, productive relationships with key business stakeholders.
• Navigates internal and external politics that can advance or hinder progress and uses influence to gain buy-in from stakeholders to drive organizational priorities.
• Strong MS Office skills (i.e., Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel)
• Willing to travel up to 20% within the US.

If you will be working at home occasionally or permanently, the internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload.

About The Cigna Group

Doing something meaningful starts with a simple decision, a commitment to changing lives. At The Cigna Group, we\'re dedicated to improving the health and vitality of those we serve. Through our divisions Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services, we are committed to enhancing the lives of our clients, customers and patients. Join us in driving growth and improving lives.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, disability, sex, childbirth (including pregnancy) or related medical conditions including but not limited to lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital or familial status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing the online application process, please email: SeeYourself@cigna.com for support. Do not email SeeYourself@cigna.com for an update on your application or to provide your resume as you will not receive a response.

The Cigna Group has a tobacco-free policy and reserves the right not to hire tobacco/nicotine users in states where that is legally permissible. Candidates in such states who use tobacco/nicotine will not be considered for employment unless they enter a qualifying smoking cessation program prior to the start of their employment. These states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington State.

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