Clinical Nurse Specialist (Nurse Informaticist) (CNS/CQCT)

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); Remote; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work with flexible schedules

Paid vacation & holidays

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Washington State Health Care Authority seeks a Clinical Nurse Specialist (Nurse Informaticist) to lead the integration of clinical informatics into Medicaid prior authorization workflows. This remote, full-time role supports policy, data standards, and system design to ensure medically necessary care is delivered efficiently.

You will collaborate with clinical, technical, and policy teams, keep current with CMS/WAC regulations, and support legislative requirements while enjoying flexible

Qualifications

• Active, unrestricted Washington State Registered Nurse license or Multi-State License.
• Interoperability & HIT: APIs, HL7, FHIR standards.
• EHR integration: align provider EHRs with state payer databases.
• Workflow automation: open nonproprietary workflows to reduce admin burdens.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of information exchange for prior authorization API and data standards.
• Coordinate with divisions, payers, and EHRs to identify documentation requirements for automated data exchange.
• Configure Medicaid policies into payment systems and advise on interoperability initiatives.
• Represent WA Medicaid in CMS rulemaking and forums like WEDI.
• Perform utilization reviews and make authorization/claim determinations per policy.

Job description

Clinical Nurse Specialist (Nurse Informaticist)

This is a full-time permanent, remote position. Employees may occasionally be asked to attend an in‑person meeting or event based on business needs.

All HCA employees are required to be Washington state residents upon their first day of employment.

The Opportunity

Help shape how Washington Medicaid connects clinical care and technology. The Clinical Quality and Care Transformation (CQCT) division is seeking a Clinical Nurse Specialist with nurse informatics expertise to lead HCA's implementation of state and federal prior authorization interoperability requirements, including HB 1357 (as amended by HB 1706) and CMS-0057-F. You will apply your clinical judgment and informatics knowledge to design and refine the systems, workflows, and policies that make prior authorization decisions more efficient, while ensuring Apple Health clients receive medically necessary, high-quality care.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Lead oversight and implementation of the information exchange components of state and federal legislation regarding prior authorization and Application Programming Interface (API) for HCA and Medicaid.
• Coordinate with HCA divisions, payers, and provider electronic health record (EHR) and practice management systems to identify prior authorization documentation requirements and support standard, automated data exchange using nonproprietary open workflows.
• Guide the configuration of new and existing Medicaid clinical policies into payment systems and serve as HCA's subject matter expert on prior authorization, provider directory, patient access, and other interoperability initiatives.
• Represent the Washington State Medicaid perspective in CMS rulemaking and in forums such as the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI).
• Conduct utilization reviews and make prior authorization and claim payment determinations using evidence-based clinical policy and the requirements of WAC 182-501-0165.
• Review reconsideration requests, prepare the agency's position for administrative hearings, and provide declarations or testimony as needed.
• Apply annual and quarterly CPT and HCPCS code updates to clinical policies, provider guides, and provider notices.
• Analyze prior authorization and API metrics for state and federal reporting and advise leadership on new or modified policy and regulations, including cost and utilization impacts.
• Negotiate and monitor contracts, support bill analysis and decision packages, and serve as a liaison with DSHS, the Department of Health, the Department of Corrections, and provider groups.

Why You’ll Love This Role:

• Your nursing expertise will have statewide reach, helping Apple Health clients get timely access to the care they need.
• You'll be at the forefront of health care interoperability, helping Washington put national data standards like FHIR into everyday practice.
• You'll reduce administrative burden on clinicians across the state, freeing more of their time for patient care.
• You'll work remotely with flexible scheduling options, as part of a clinical team that values innovation and evidence-based practice.

What You Bring:

You are a curious, systems-minded nurse who is as comfortable reviewing a complex medical record as you are talking through data standards with a technical team. You make sound, independent clinical decisions and explain your reasoning clearly, whether in a provider letter, a leadership briefing, or a hearing. You build bridges between clinicians, technologists, and policy staff, translating each group's needs so the work can move forward. You stay current on emerging regulations and technology and enjoy sharing what you know with others.

Required Qualifications

Experience may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities. Please ensure any relevant experience defined below is outlined in your cover letter, resume, and application.

• An active, unrestricted Washington State Registered Nurse license or Multi-State License.
• Interoperability & Health Information Technology (HIT)
  • API & Data Standards Expertise: Deep technical understanding of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), HL7, and Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standards, specifically as they apply to patient access, provider directories, and prior authorization.
  • Electronic Health Record (EHR) Integration: Demonstrated ability to align complex provider EHRs and practice management systems with state payer databases.
  • Workflow Automation: Demonstrated ability to design and implement standard, nonproprietary open workflows that automate data collection and reduce administrative burdens for clinicians.
• Regulatory Compliance & Policy Leadership
  • Legislative Interpretation: Demonstrated mastery in interpreting and operationalizing federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rulemaking and state regulations, specifically Washington Administrative Codes (WACs).
  • Policy Formulation: Demonstrated ability to advise executive leadership, Medical Directors, and/or division heads on the financial and clinical utilization impacts of new or modified health care regulations.
• Advanced Utilization Review & Clinical Evaluation
  • Evidence-Based Medical Necessity: Demonstrated competency in independently evaluating complex medical records against scientific evidence to make highly defensible prior authorization and claim payment determinations.
  • Administrative Hearing Defense: Demonstrated skills in preparing organizational position statements, drafting legal declarations, and delivering expert clinical testimony during formal appeals and utilization review denial hearings.
• System Leadership & Change Management
  • Cross-Functional Liaison: Demonstrated ability to serve as a high-level intermediary bridging the technical and clinical communication gaps between agencies, commercial payers, and community health care providers.
• Contract & Resource Management
  • Contract Monitoring: Demonstrated ability to successfully negotiate, structure, and monitor health care and technology vendor contracts to ensure agency alignment.
• Clinical Education & Mentorship
  • Subject Matter Expertise: Demonstrated ability to serve as the definitive, accessible clinical resource for all internal and external inquiries regarding assigned Medicaid clinical programs.

Required Competencies:

• Equity lens – All HCA employees are required to consider equity in their decisions, processes, and day-to-day work, including how their work may affect the people and communities we serve.

• The ability to take action to learn and grow – You take action to learn and grow by seeking new perspectives, learning from experiences, and using what you’ve learned to continuously improve how you work and serve others.

• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others – You take action to meet the needs of others by listening, understanding different perspectives, and responding with care, respect, and solutions that support the people of the communities we serve.

Preferred Qualifications

• National Coding Systems: Demonstrated proficiency in translating annual and quarterly CPT and HCPCS codes into active Medicaid policies, provider guides, and billing systems.
• Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI): Demonstrated mastery in reviewing prior authorization and API metrics data to identify systemic gaps, generate federal reports, and lead intra‑agency care delivery updates.
• Alternative Care Negotiation: Demonstrated ability to consult with community providers to propose and negotiate alternative, covered, and more cost‑effective treatment pathways that still meet the patient's clinical needs.
• A master's degree in nursing (MSN or MN), business administration (MBA), or health administration (MHA).
• Certification in informatics (RN‑BC in Informatics or CPHIMS).
• Knowledge of HCA structure, systems, communication methods, and forms.

About Clinical Quality and Care Transformation (CQCT)

The mission of Clinical Quality and Care Transformation (CQCT) is to provide high-quality health care through innovative health policies and purchasing strategies that assist in the purchase and delivery of health care services to qualified Washington residents. CQCT staff work across the agency and with other agencies, such as the Department of Health and the Department of Social and Health Services, and in partnership with health care providers and community partners to develop, implement, and manage high‑quality, evidence‑based health care programs that enhance clients' ability to access appropriate, quality health care.

The Washington State Health Care Authority:

Better Health. Better Care. A Healthier Washington.

At HCA, we work to ensure people across Washington have the opportunity to be as healthy as possible. As the State’s largest health care purchaser and behavioral health authority, HCA serves nearly 3 million Washington residents through Apple Health (Medicaid), Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) and School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) programs, and behavioral health services. Through this work, HCA purchases and coordinated care coverage, supports behavioral health prevention, treatment, crisis response, and recovery and helps strengthen access to high -quality care across Washington.

More than a benefits package:

We want our employees to have the support, flexibility, and benefits they need to do their best work and build a career that works for their life. As a Washington State HCA employee, you’ll have access to a comprehensive benefits package that supports your health, financial well‑being, and work‑life balance. Our benefits are designed to support you today while helping you plan for the future. Learn more about why HCA by visiting Voices of HCA and the Who we are section of our website.

Your total compensation is more than your paycheck:

• Remote work and flexible schedules
• Medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and 12 paid holidays
• Paid Family and Medical Leave (PMFL)
• Retirement options to plan for the future
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Employee wellness programs
• Learn more about Washington State Employee Benefits

Work Location and Schedule:

This is a full-time 40‑hour‑per‑week remote position. Our standard business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with alternative work schedules considered based on business needs and supervisor approval. In this role you will regularly collaborate with colleagues, agency leaders, state and federal partners, and other external partners or customers. Occasional travel may be required for meetings, training, or other business needs. All employees are required to report to our Olympia office on their first and final day of employment.

Our commitment to an inclusive workplace

The Health Care Authority is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a workplace where employees are respected, included, and supported in bringing their experiences, perspectives, and ideas to work.

Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in how we work together and serve the people of Washington. HCA also supports five voluntary employee led Employee Resources Groups (ERGs), which create opportunities for connection, community, learning, and professional growth.

Veterans

We value the experience and skill veterans bring to the workforce and encourage veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses to apply. Eligible veterans may qualify for veterans’ preference in accordance with Washington State Law. If you are claiming veterans’ preference, you must attach your applicable DD-214 documentation to your application. Please redact your social security number, date of birth, and any other sensitive information before uploading and attaching the document.

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is an E-Verify employer. All applicants with a legal right to work in the United States are encouraged to apply.

E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.