Region Contract Manager Payer Strategy

At the heart of CommonSpirit Health's ministry are the national office departments that provide the foundational support, resources, and expertise that empower local communities to focus on what they do best—caring for patients. Our teams bring together expertise in clinical excellence, operations, finance, human resources, legal, supply chain, technology, and mission integration.

Guided by our faith-based values, the national office fosters consistency, alignment, and innovation across CommonSpirit. By centralizing expertise and leveraging economies of scale, we enable each location to operate efficiently while maintaining flexibility to address unique local community needs. From advancing digital solutions to driving health equity, these departments extend the healing presence of humankindness everywhere we serve.

Job Summary: 

The Division Contract Manager for Payer Strategy & Relationships (PSR) is responsible for the management of the payer relationships. The Manager assists PSR leaders in the development, implementation and management of PSR system standards for contracting and payer relations on a divisional level. Accountabilities include: implementing departmental policies and procedures that focused on maintaining positive working relationships with Payers; coordinating directly with internal & external stakeholders to ensure contract compliance on a regional and market level; ensuring that managed care contracts are correctly negotiated and implemented for operational compliance across the division.

The Contract Manager for Payer Strategy and Relationships (PSR) assists PSR leaders in the development, implementation and management of PSR system standards for contracting and payer relations. Accountabilities include: ensuring that managed care contracts are correctly negotiated and implemented for operational compliance across the division; implementing departmental policies and procedures that focus on maintaining positive working relationships with Payers and Providers; Coordinating directly with internal and external stakeholders to ensure contract compliance on a regional and market level.

Essential Key Job Responsibilities: 

• Negotiates contracts with Payers on behalf of Providers (including hospitals, physicians, ambulatory surgery centers and other affiliated providers as assigned) and with Providers on behalf of capitated hospitals.
• Contracts may include letters of agreement and single case agreements at the direction of senior leadership.
• Maintains supportive relationships with key departments that support the division in order to quickly resolve contract-related issues.
• Ensures complex payer information and reports are analyzed and summarized to provide timely operationaland contracting recommendations for key internal leaders. Research contract and regulations to assist with claim payment issues and/or credentialing issues with payers.
• Drafts and summarizes content for official correspondence as issues arise with policy updates or compliance with agreements.
• Assists with updating project plan documents and communications plans.
• Monitors contract terms, termination dates, and rate update deadlines to assure proper and timely notification is achieved in compliance with project plan and strategy.
• Assists in developing tools/updates for communicating and operationalizing contract terms, amendments, and policy terms.
• Adheres to all established contracting guidelines. Contracting accountability for negotiation support include hospital, physician, and ancillary services.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience in managed care contracting may be considered in lieu of degree. 
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in healthcare contracting

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge and experience in reimbursement, the financial aspects of contracting and managed care operations
• Contract language
• Effective project planning skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Working knowledge of state and federal programs such as Medicaid and Medicare
• Working knowledge of various reimbursement methodologies including DRG’s, per diems, RVU’s
• Ability to effectively work within a highly matrix-oriented organization