Research Analyst #261016-6855AR-001

State of Connecticut; Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

State employee benefits overview

Professional growth opportunities

Healthy work-life balance

Job summary

The State of Connecticut is seeking a Research Analyst in the Health and Human Services Policy and Planning Division (HHSPPD) to evaluate healthcare benchmarks and support quality measures. This full-time Hartford-based role emphasizes data analysis, policy research, and collaboration across agencies to improve cost growth, primary care spending, and hospital payment benchmarks.

Responsibilities include coordinating benchmark projects, developing reports and briefing materials, and monitoring

Qualifications

• Six years of professional experience in research, data analysis or economics.
• Substitutions include college training or a Master’s degree for additional experience.
• Experience synthesizing information and making data-informed recommendations.
• Experience with health and human services, insurance, or public health fields is preferred.
• Ability to explain complex material to stakeholders and create data visuals.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate healthcare benchmark projects, analyze preliminary data and monitor timelines.
• Support hospital price growth benchmarks and data requests.
• Develop reports, website content, presentations and briefing materials for leadership.
• Enhance quality benchmarks by assessing standards and national measures.
• Collaborate with agencies and stakeholders to improve data accuracy and coordination.
• Evaluate impacts of benchmark measures on healthcare quality, equity, and affordability.

Skills

research methods

statistics

interpersonal skills

oral and written communication

data analysis

prepackaged data analysis tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in economics or statistics

Tools

Microsoft Office

data analysis software

Job description

THE POSITION

The State of Connecticut ’s Office of Policy and Management (OPM) is currently seeking a qualified individual for the position of Research Analyst in their Health and Human Services Policy and Planning Division (HHSPPD).

What We Can Offer You

• Visit our State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

HIGHLIGHTS

This is a full-time position conveniently located in Hartford, CT, easily accessible to all major highways.

• LOCATION: Office of Policy and Management
• ADDRESS: 450 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT
• WORK HOURS: Full-time, first shift, 40 hours per week
• SCHEDULE: Monday through Friday

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO

• Evaluate and analyze preliminary data for healthcare benchmarks (cost growth, hospital payment growth, quality benchmarks and primary care spending target).
• Provide general support for hospital price growth benchmark process, including cost growth performance plans, and data requirements.
• Support healthcare quality benchmark functions by assessing national standards, candidate measures, population health or social determinants of health factors and suggesting associated updates to Connecticut’s quality benchmark approach.
• Research emerging national healthcare quality measures, value-based payment models, and best practices for improving healthcare quality, minimizing healthcare cost growth, increasing spending on primary care, and reducing hospital payment growth in Connecticut.

About Us

At OPM we report directly to the Governor and provide information and analysis that the Governor uses to formulate public policy for the state. We also assist state agencies and municipalities in implementing the law and public policy on behalf of the people of Connecticut. We prepare the Governor’s budget proposals; implement and monitor the execution of the enacted budget; and oversee the executive branch agencies that report to the Governor.

The Health and Human Services Policy and Planning Division (HHSPPD) leads a number of policy and planning teams aimed at improving the delivery of health care, long-term care services and supports and human services in the State. The Division provides research and staff support, represents OPM on numerous legislatively mandated councils and committees, manages federal grants, and monitors state and national activities that address quality, access and cost issues.

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to [e-mail] .

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in research design and implementation.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Healthcare Benchmark Project Coordination

• Evaluates and analyzes preliminary data for healthcare benchmarks (cost growth, hospital payment growth, quality benchmarks and primary care spending target).
• Monitors HCBI timeline, annual cycle, workplans, and supporting data requests.
• Provides general support for hospital price growth benchmark process, including cost growth performance plans, and data requirements.
• Coordinates and produces official agency notifications to all entities who fail to meet benchmarks. Manages and processes data requests.
• Carries out contact management and scheduling for the healthcare benchmark cycle and associated activities.
• Supports HCBI and related stakeholder bodies and ensures compliance with public meeting requirements including posting and notices.
• Supports development of reports, website content, presentations, and briefing materials for agency leadership and stakeholder meetings.
• Assists in developing policies and recommendations based on benchmark findings.

Quality Benchmark Enhancement

• Supports healthcare quality benchmark functions by assessing national standards, candidate measures, population health or social determinants of health factors and suggesting associated updates to Connecticut’s quality benchmark approach.
• Initiates collaborations with Connecticut’s Health Information Exchange, insurance carriers, practice groups and state agencies to improve data accuracy and coordination.
• Monitors accuracy, consistency, completeness and timeliness of various quality submissions and related documents.
• Provides general support for clinical quality benchmarks and the Aligned Measure Set.
• Research emerging national healthcare quality measures, value-based payment models, and best practices for improving healthcare quality, minimizing healthcare cost growth, increasing spending on primary care, and reducing hospital payment growth in Connecticut.
• Assists in evaluating the impact of benchmark measures on healthcare quality, equity, and affordability.
• Performs related duties to support HHSPPD team as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of
  • research methods and techniques;
  • statistics;
• Skills
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to
  • analyze data;
  • develop programs and use prepackaged computer programs to perform data analysis;
  • understand agency related policies and procedures as they relate to research.

Minimum Qualifications - General Experience

Six (6) years of professional experience in research, data analysis or economics.

Minimum Qualifications - Substitutions Allowed

• College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in economics, statistics or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
• Successful completion of a Connecticut Careers Trainee program approved by the Department of Administrative Services may be substituted for the General Experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience synthesizing complex information from multiple sources and making data informed recommendations to move division initiatives forward;
• Experience developing and conducting research projects using data;
• Experience in health and human services, insurance, or public health related fields;
• Experience explaining complex or technical subject matter to a diverse set of stakeholders;
• Experience using software tools for data analysis;
• Experience reading and interpreting legislation, regulations, policy proposals and reports;
• Experience with Microsoft office suite; and,
• Experience with the development of graphics, reports or dashboards to present key findings and information and create data stories.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.