Network Executive

at  Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Job Summary:
This position is accountable for end-to-end ownership of the relationship with all network physicians within a Specialty function. This includes management of the Network Specialty pod staff, the stability, quality, and effectiveness of existing physician network membership, and the strategy/planning around the acquisition of additional physicians into the network. This position will have overall responsibility for the administration and servicing of all physicians covered statewide by the Specialty team.

Responsibilities:

• Drives network strategy of providers as it relates to his/her assigned Specialty. This consists of either direct control or dotted line accountability over all activities that grow and maintain provider network relationships or agreements by developing, leading, and implementing appropriate strategies. Leads the development and implementation of segmented or tiered relationship strategies that involve an end-to-end provider perspective. Participates in planning sessions with divisional leadership to look at integrated network strategy, including but not limited to, out-of-network strategy, pricing model review, policy development, survey analysis, customer differentiation strategies, and regulatory implementation planning.
• Assesses needs and plans for the acquisition of providers as it relates to his/her assigned Specialty. Analyzes membership and geographical access by Specialty to determine specific goals and action plans for acquisition of new physicians, providing blueprint for physician contracting priorities. This includes driving strategy of new physician recruitment (both outreach and intake activities).
• Initiates and participates in contract renewals and ensures services are provided that will maximize the potential for retention and initial provider enrollment, including conducting cost-benefit analysis around each physician relationship and facilitation of access to contract negotiation team.
• Leads a team of 3-5 Network Consultants and 10 - 30 designated resources supporting 3000-6000 clinical practices in a defined physician specialty, or related specialties, statewide. Accountable for the results of this cross-functional/divisional team from 4 or more departments of designated resources assigned to handle all aspects of Affiliation, Reimbursement, Education, and Inquiry Resolution for all physicians within Specialty. Executive sets standards and service level agreements, tracks and analyzes pod metrics to ensure goals and objectives are being met and hold all team members accountable.
• Serves as internal-facing connection between the enterprise and the physician community. This includes gathering field intelligence to provide to internal Horizon decision-makers and driving policies by liaising with internal medical directors.
• Serves as external-facing connection between the enterprise and the physician community. This includes consulting with physicians on issues and topics pertinent to them such as legislation, reform, any industry / company specific trends, and presents solutions for physician to manage these items. Develops and maintains relationships with physician practice owners, presidents of professional societies, and executives of organizations in the industry and in other target areas to maintain knowledge, etc. Informs and educates providers and physicians on Horizon’s products and services.
• Leads the transition to low cost self-service as an attractive alternative for the defined physician specialty, including but not limited to portal self-service and the use of Electronic Funds Transfer
• Serves as key partner to Horizon Healthcare Innovations organization (Pilot Leads) in all stages of pilot identification, launch, and monitoring. Paves the road for new arrangements by enhancing the existing relationship as well as providing -field intelligence- to shape / direct proposals for reimbursement arrangements. Network Executive will provide competitive intelligence around other company-s network strategies as well as internal information around actions already in play that Healthcare Services is pursuing with specific physician groups.
• Analyzes key Horizon initiatives (MCR, delegated vendor arrangements, privileging, etc.), determines the effect they will have on the provider relationship, and manages all communication around these changes as well as presents action plans to address related challenges.

Core Leadership Competencies:

Personal and professional attributes that are critical to successful performance for Officers, Directors, and Supervisor/ Managers:

• Character Communicate
• Ownership Customer Focus
• Effective Accountable
• Develop Learn

Education/Experience:

• Bachelors degree in a related field preferred or relevant work experience required in lieu of degree.
• Requires a minimum of ten (10) years of experience in Provider Relationship Management, Contracting, or Sales/Account Management within the Healthcare Industry. Proven track record of interacting with clinical professionals
• Requires minimum five (5) years people management experience, preferably in the healthcare industry.

Knowledge:

• Comprehensive knowledge of healthcare industry, including operational knowledge, industry trends, legislation and compliance, and provider office practices.
• Must be proficient in the use of personal computers and supporting software in a Windows based environment, including MS Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Lotus Notes.
• Should be knowledgeable in the use of intranet and internet applications.

Skills and Abilities / Functional Competencies:

• Executive Presence: Exhibits confidence and professionalism, communicates effectively at senior levels and interacts comfortably with medical professionals.
• Listens actively, speaks and writes clearly and engages in productive dialog. Demonstrates an appreciation for diverse points of view and incorporates them into one-s thinking. Conveys clear messages to a variety of listeners, addressing purpose, goals, issues and accomplishments.
• Relationship Building: Cultivates executive and provider relationships.Develops and maintains senior level external and internal relationships and participates in policy, practice and product decision making. Actively manages multiple provider accounts, engaging appropriate individuals to meet member needs and optimize end-to-end process performance. Seeks provider input while setting realistic expectations. Operates across organizational boundaries while respecting and leveraging local priorities, practices, systems and cultures.
• Informing and Influencing: Acts as `Voice of the Provider-.Advocates provider-friendly solutions to business problems and seeks provider input to proposed innovation, always looking to assure a positive provider and member experience. Speaks up when Horizon demands outpace the ability of providers to execute. Identifies and engages stakeholders, structures decisions and actions and holds individuals accountable for driving results.
• Negotiation and Issue Resolution: Surfaces and addresses tough issues.Brings difficult problems to the attention of relevant players and negotiates win-win, or at least buy-in, in situations where there are opposing viewpoints.
• Business Acumen: Understands the up-to-date industry landscape.Follows the top strategic, business, technical and physician specialty trends, both short and long term; anticipates and communicates business implications. Familiar with financial variables at the industry, provider and payer levels with particular insights into the financial model of physician practices. Converts market insights into practical plans of action.
• Analytics, Insights and Problem Solving: Approaches problems through data and experience, and serves as a catalyst for change, leading the search for better ways of working.Frames problems to reveal patterns, isolate root causes and generate practical solutions. Guides and participates in discovery, analysis and thoughtful identification of solutions. Understands the division of activities across functional lines, and how process and system integration can improve performance and enhance provider experience. Helps implement change across organizational boundaries, as required.

Travel (If Applicable):

• Travel throughout NJ required on a regular basis.

Salary Range:
$94,900 - $129,570

This position is eligible for sales incentive compensation in addition to base pay. This compensation range is specific to the job level and takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to: education, experience, licensure, certifications, geographic location, and internal equity. This range has been created in good faith based on information known to Horizon at the time of posting. Compensation decisions are dependent on the circumstances of each case. Horizon also provides a comprehensive compensation and benefits package which includes:

• Comprehensive health benefits (Medical/Dental/Vision)
• Retirement Plans
• Generous PTO
• Incentive Plans
• Wellness Programs
• Paid Volunteer Time Off
• Tuition Reimbursement

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status or status as an individual with a disability and any other protected class as required by federal, state or local law. Horizon will consider reasonable accommodation requests as part of the recruiting and hiring process

• Drives network strategy of providers as it relates to his/her assigned Specialty. This consists of either direct control or dotted line accountability over all activities that grow and maintain provider network relationships or agreements by developing, leading, and implementing appropriate strategies. Leads the development and implementation of segmented or tiered relationship strategies that involve an end-to-end provider perspective. Participates in planning sessions with divisional leadership to look at integrated network strategy, including but not limited to, out-of-network strategy, pricing model review, policy development, survey analysis, customer differentiation strategies, and regulatory implementation planning.
• Assesses needs and plans for the acquisition of providers as it relates to his/her assigned Specialty. Analyzes membership and geographical access by Specialty to determine specific goals and action plans for acquisition of new physicians, providing blueprint for physician contracting priorities. This includes driving strategy of new physician recruitment (both outreach and intake activities).
• Initiates and participates in contract renewals and ensures services are provided that will maximize the potential for retention and initial provider enrollment, including conducting cost-benefit analysis around each physician relationship and facilitation of access to contract negotiation team.
• Leads a team of 3-5 Network Consultants and 10 - 30 designated resources supporting 3000-6000 clinical practices in a defined physician specialty, or related specialties, statewide. Accountable for the results of this cross-functional/divisional team from 4 or more departments of designated resources assigned to handle all aspects of Affiliation, Reimbursement, Education, and Inquiry Resolution for all physicians within Specialty. Executive sets standards and service level agreements, tracks and analyzes pod metrics to ensure goals and objectives are being met and hold all team members accountable.
• Serves as internal-facing connection between the enterprise and the physician community. This includes gathering field intelligence to provide to internal Horizon decision-makers and driving policies by liaising with internal medical directors.
• Serves as external-facing connection between the enterprise and the physician community. This includes consulting with physicians on issues and topics pertinent to them such as legislation, reform, any industry / company specific trends, and presents solutions for physician to manage these items. Develops and maintains relationships with physician practice owners, presidents of professional societies, and executives of organizations in the industry and in other target areas to maintain knowledge, etc. Informs and educates providers and physicians on Horizon’s products and services.
• Leads the transition to low cost self-service as an attractive alternative for the defined physician specialty, including but not limited to portal self-service and the use of Electronic Funds Transfer
• Serves as key partner to Horizon Healthcare Innovations organization (Pilot Leads) in all stages of pilot identification, launch, and monitoring. Paves the road for new arrangements by enhancing the existing relationship as well as providing -field intelligence- to shape / direct proposals for reimbursement arrangements. Network Executive will provide competitive intelligence around other company-s network strategies as well as internal information around actions already in play that Healthcare Services is pursuing with specific physician groups.
• Analyzes key Horizon initiatives (MCR, delegated vendor arrangements, privileging, etc.), determines the effect they will have on the provider relationship, and manages all communication around these changes as well as presents action plans to address related challenges