STATE HEALTH BENEFITS PLANS ADMINISTRATOR 27455

1/16/90 A

This class manages the administrative functions of state and local government health benefit and flexible benefit plans for state employees, retirees and their dependents and for local government, local officers, and school board employees, retirees and their dependents. This class works with the State Health Care Program Manager to develop health benefit and flexible benefit program regulations and standards. It establishes administrative policies and procedures, evaluates program operations, recommends improvements, and supervises subordinate staff. This class is distinguished from the State Health Benefits Plans Specialist Senior by its responsibility for managing a unit comprised of State Health Benefits Plans Specialists Senior and State Health Benefits Plans Specialists.

Complexity of Work: Performs work of considerable difficulty in developing and administering health benefit program regulations and standards; manages activities and staff of two teams of technical specialists in handling coverage, eligibility determination, benefit denials and administrative matters; directs development and communication of program information; manages training of state and local program administrators; interprets policies; administers state flexible benefit program; coordinates activities of health benefit advisory groups; plans, organizes and conducts annual open enrollment activities; develops budget; and allocates resources.

Supervision Given: Directs the work of benefits administration technical and support staff including State Health Benefits Plans Specialists, Specialist Seniors and office services staff.

Supervision Received: Receives general direction from the Health Benefits Office Director typically in the form of general guidelines related to benefits administration, policies and procedures.

Scope: This class establishes standards and regulations for administering health benefit and flexible benefit plans, according to contract terms, evaluates program quality and effectiveness, and recommends improvements. It affects operational and administrative activities internal and external to the agency.

Impact of Actions: Proper performance, decisions and recommendations of positions in this class have a positive impact on the agency's mandated responsibility to administer health benefit, flexible benefit and cost containment programs for state employees, retirees and dependents and for participating local government, local officers and school board employees, retirees and dependents, and may result in lower costs to the agency, other state agencies, participating local agencies and their employees.

Personal Contacts: This class has frequent internal contacts with benefit administrators in state agencies and frequent external contacts with benefit administrators in local government, local officers and school boards and with insurance company representatives involving details of flexible benefits plans.

Knowledge: Comprehensive knowledge of health benefits administration; considerable knowledge of state accounting systems, state organization, business management principles and practices, and flexible benefit programs.

Skills: None identified for this class.

Abilities: Demonstrated ability to direct and supervise technical and support staff; to analyze data and derive logical conclusions; to interpret policies and regulations; to work with diverse individuals; and to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDE*

Licenses or Certification: None.

Education or Training: Graduation from an accredited college or university with major course work in business, or a related field.

Level and Type of Experience: Experience in managing employee health benefits administration programs.

An equivalent combination of training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledge and abilities may substitute for this education and experience.

This is a new class in the Central Personnel series established as the result of a legislative mandated expansion of the health benefits office, effective January 16, 1990.