Director, Healthcare Policy

Job Summary

The Director Healthcare Policy serves as a strategic leader responsible for advancing the policy, regulatory, and advocacy priorities of JPS Health Network at the local, state, and federal levels. This role bridges healthcare operations, public policy, finance, and community impact to ensure JPS remains aligned with evolving healthcare regulations, reimbursement models, and legislative priorities.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Chief of Staff and External Affairs, the Healthcare Policy Director will lead the development, analysis, and execution of policy strategies that support JPS Health Network’s mission to transform healthcare delivery to the communities we serve while ensuring compliance, operational sustainability, and access to care for the residents of Tarrant County.

The position serves as a key advisor to executive leadership on healthcare policy trends, legislative developments, reimbursement changes, and regulatory risks impacting public safety-net health systems. The Director will collaborate closely with clinical, operational, legal, finance, compliance, and clinical teams to advance organizational priorities related to access, innovation, workforce, and financial sustainability.

Essential Job Functions & Accountabilities

• Develops, directs, and implements JPS Health Network’s healthcare policy agenda at the federal, state, and local levels in alignment with organizational priorities.

• Analyzes pending legislation, regulatory proposals, and healthcare trends impacting public hospitals, academic medicine, behavioral health, trauma services, workforce, and Medicaid-funded systems.

• Translates complex policy developments into actionable recommendations for executive leadership and operational stakeholders.

• Supports strategic initiatives related to healthcare access, workforce development, innovation, quality, and financial sustainability.

• Serves as a liaison with lawmakers, regulatory agencies, healthcare associations, and community stakeholders.

• Supports advocacy efforts with organizations such as the Texas Hospital Association, Teaching Hospitals of Texas, American Hospital Association, and regional healthcare coalitions.

• Coordinates policy engagement efforts related to Medicaid, Medicare, supplemental payment programs, 340B, graduate medical education, trauma funding, behavioral health, and public hospital financing.

• Makes sure to monitor and evaluate federal and state legislative sessions, agency rulemaking, and budget proposals.

• Assists in preparing executive leadership and subject matter experts for meetings with elected officials and regulatory agencies.

• Makes sure to monitor healthcare regulations and ensure organizational awareness of changes related to CMS, HIPAA, EMTALA, Joint Commission standards, state hospital regulations, and public health requirements.

• Collaborates with Legal, Compliance, Finance, Quality, and Operational leaders to assess organizational impact and implementation strategies.

• Identifies operational and financial risks associated with regulatory or reimbursement changes and recommends mitigation strategies.

• Supports organizational readiness for evolving healthcare payment and delivery models.

• Conducts healthcare policy research and analyzes reimbursement, utilization, and operational data to support evidence-based policy recommendations.

Qualifications

• One of the following qualification groupings is required for this position as indicated below:

  • A Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH), Health Administration (MHA), Public Policy, Political Science, Healthcare Administration, Law, or related field of study from an accredited college or university. 5 plus years of experience in healthcare policy, government relations, legislative affairs, regulatory affairs, healthcare administration, or related field with healthcare reimbursement systems, public policy analysis, or healthcare advocacy 3 plus years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare policy, government relations, legislative affairs, regulatory affairs, healthcare administration, or related field.

  • A Bachelor's degree in Public Health (MPH), Health Administration (MHA), Public Policy, Political Science, Healthcare Administration, Law, or related field of study from an accredited college or university. 7 plus years of experience in healthcare policy, government relations, legislative affairs, regulatory affairs, healthcare administration, or related field with healthcare reimbursement systems, public policy analysis, or healthcare advocacy 3 plus years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare policy, government relations, legislative affairs, regulatory affairs, healthcare administration, or related field.

• Experience within a hospital system, public health organization, academic medical center, governmental agency, or healthcare association.

• Experience supporting executive leadership and cross-functional strategic initiatives.