Description

The Part Time Contracted Hearing Officer (“Hearing Officer”) is an independent contractor who will be responsible for conducting designated appeal hearings for the Health Connector, including: 1) eligibility appeals for health insurance products and programs; and 2) Massachusetts individual mandate tax penalty appeals. The Hearing Officer must be an attorney licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  

Hearing Officers work a variable schedule that is connected to the volume of appeals being filed and the number of available Hearing Officers.  A typical Hearing Officer will be scheduled for 8-24 hours per month of appeals hearings, and then are paid for time spent writing decisions for those appeals. Compensation is $85.00 /hour for each of those responsibilities.  

Key Responsibilities

• Convene hearing and clearly explain procedures which govern the hearing.
• Hear testimony, and identify and mark exhibits.
• Provide an impartial hearing.
• Assure that record is fully developed and all issues adequately addressed.
• Assure that an accurate recording of the hearing is made and archived according to prescribed protocols.
• Render a written decision based on relevant regulations and standards within the time frames required by law and/or Health Connector Appeals Unit policy.

Requirements

The Contracted Hearing Officer must be able to:

• Gather information through questioning individuals and examining records and documents.
• Maintain accurate records.
• Prioritize workload in order to complete all work within prescribed time frames.
• Communicate effectively in oral expression.
• Exercise discretion in handling confidential information.
• Give written and oral instructions in a precise, understandable manner.
• Use technology to access and manage digital records and conduct remote hearings, including the observation of privacy and security safeguards.

About the Connector:

The Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority (Health Connector) is an independent public authority serving as the Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant marketplace for the Commonwealth. The organization is charged with providing subsidized and unsubsidized health insurance to individuals and small employers. The Health Connector also oversees policy development related to health care reform under both state and federal laws, as well as conducting public education and outreach about health care reform and coverage opportunities.

The Health Connector will consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual identity, national origin or disability.

If Interested: Send cover letter and résumé to Connector-appeals@mass.gov.