Health and Human Services Policy and Financial Analyst (Ref #: 1115681)

Estrada Consulting, Inc.; Maryland; Remote; USD 69,000 - 110,000; Part time

Job summary

Estrada Consulting, Inc. is seeking a Health and Human Services Policy and Financial Analyst to turn Medicaid program data into actionable findings. The role links analytics to policy and budget, documenting rules and procedures in plain language for staff guidance.

You will analyze spending trends, prepare variance analyses, assess data readiness, and collaborate with State reviewers to improve program processes while ensuring HIPAA compliance and data security.

Qualifications

• 1–2+ years of policy analysis in health and human services.
• Experience writing and reviewing policies and procedures.
• Operational or business process improvement experience.
• Proficiency in financial and budget analysis: spending trends, variance analysis, cost reconciliation.
• Advanced Excel; able to turn data into clear findings for program and exec audiences.
• US based and able to pass a background check before access to PHI.

Responsibilities

• Review program policies, waivers and procedures; document business rules in plain language.
• Analyze spending, utilization and provider billing trends; prepare budget/variance analyses.
• Assess data readiness with the data team and note limitations for conclusions.
• Define, test and document rules with Medicaid SMEs and State reviewers.
• Write recurring summaries, executive briefings and inputs for quarterly reporting.
• Recommend operational and process improvements based on findings.
• Support stakeholder sessions and knowledge transfer to State staff.

Skills

Policy analysis

Financial analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor's degree (related field)

Tools

SQL

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Health and Human Services Policy and Financial Analyst

Estrada Consulting, Inc. | Public sector health and human services client | Remote, US based | $50 to $80 per hour

About the role

ECI is looking for a policy and financial analyst to help a state health and human services agency turn its Medicaid program data into findings its staff can act on. You will connect what the analytics show to program policy and budget: documenting the rules and procedures behind each analysis, explaining spending and utilization patterns in plain language, and helping program staff improve the processes behind them.

About the project

Estrada Consulting, Inc. (ECI) is assembling the team for a cloud-based data analytics capability for a state Medicaid-funded developmental disabilities program. The program holds claims, electronic visit verification, eligibility, provider, service plan and self-directed services fiscal data, and needs an integrated, explainable way to identify anomalies, emerging financial risk and opportunities for program improvement. The capability uses three tiers of analysis (rules-based checks, statistical comparison and relationship analysis), and every result is reviewed by State staff before any action. ECI has already built a working prototype on synthetic data.

Responsibilities

• Review program policies, waiver requirements and procedures, and document the business rules behind each analysis in plain language.
• Analyze spending, utilization and provider billing trends, and prepare budget and variance analysis for program and fiscal staff.
• Assess data readiness with the data team: what each source can and cannot support, and the limitations that affect conclusions.
• Help define, test and document rules and indicators with the Medicaid subject matter expert and State reviewers.
• Write recurring summaries, executive briefings and inputs for quarterly legislative reporting.
• Recommend operational and business process improvements based on findings, and document new or changed procedures.
• Support stakeholder sessions, interviews and knowledge transfer to State staff.

Required qualifications

• 1 to 2 or more years of policy analysis in a health and human services department or program (Medicaid, HCBS, developmental disabilities, public health or social services)
• Experience writing and reviewing policies and procedures
• Operational or business process improvement experience
• Proficiency in financial and budget analysis: spending trends, variance analysis, rates or cost reconciliation
• Advanced Excel; able to turn data into clear findings for program and executive audiences
• US based and able to pass a background check before access to protected health data

Preferred qualifications

• Medicaid claims, utilization, provider or self-directed services data experience
• Program integrity, audit or compliance experience, including audit interviewsStakeholder engagement and project coordination experience
• SQL, Power BI or Tableau
• HIPAA and handling of protected health information
• Bachelor's degree in public administration, public health, health administration, finance or a related field

Terms

Estimated effort: About 1,230 hours over a one-year contract, roughly 24 hours per week, heaviest in the first six months during implementation.

Work arrangement: Remote. All team members must be US based. Work follows the client's business hours, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern, with regular video meetings on Eastern time and occasional on-site visits if the client asks.

Duration: One year, contingent on contract award. The expected start is the first quarter of 2027.

Rate: $50 to $80 per hour, depending on experience.

Other requirements: Candidates must pass the client's background check and sign confidentiality and HIPAA agreements before access to program data. The candidate's name and resume will be included in ECI's proposal.