Job Description

Position Description

This is a full time, permanent position working with the Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) and Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) within the Department of Aging and Disabilities.

Serves as resource for information and advocacy to Anne Arundel County Seniors, Disabled and their families in the areas of Medicare, Medical Assistance and Long Term Care Insurance. Assists with billing issues, prescription drug programs, Medicare fraud and abuse, Medigap plans, Medicare Advantage Plans, employer-sponsored supplemental plans, COBRA and related issues.

Nature and Variety of Work

Manage Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) and Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Program, supervise staff and volunteer counselors who

meet with County residents for help; provide technical support, training, and written resources to assist them in their efforts.

Serve as resource for health insurance issues for the Department of Aging & Disabilities staff, benefit counselors in public and private sector, doctor\'s offices, hospital staff, skilled nursing facility staff, insurance agents, Congressional offices and community advisory boards.

Evaluate program effectiveness by methods such as telephone interviews with clients and follow-up contact with appropriate Local, State and/or Federal agencies.

Examples of Duties and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

(Note: The duties and responsibilities enumerated in this class specification are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications and salary level for all positions in this class. They are not intended to include all of the essential functions of all positions in the class.)

Use of appropriate modes of communication to keep citizens, staff, and volunteer counselors and other professionals up to date on senior/disabled health insurance issues. Various modes may include Department website, local news media, and Senior Activity Center newsletters. Develop fact sheets and visual aids for presentations.

Provide video taped information on the county\'s cable channel. Provide presentations to community civic groups, nutrition sites, senior housing, AARP, and professional organizations.

Recruit, screen and provide on-going training to volunteer counselors. Evaluate their counseling effectiveness, and serve as an on-call resource for volunteers as needed. Maintain counseling site schedules and ensure adequate staffing through volunteer staff or SHIP/SMP staff.

Stay up-to-date with regulatory changes which affect senior/disabled health insurance by attending pertinent sessions, researching Internet sites, participating in Web Seminars and studying Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services information. Provide understandable summaries of these changes to volunteers, staff, and other professionals in the community.

File necessary electronic reports in a timely fashion following Federal, state and departmental guidelines.

Assesses the needs and problems of seniors and special needs citizens and their families through personal interviews in the home or other appropriate location.

Develops care plans that alleviate or minimize the impact of problem areas.

Locates and arranges for the timely delivery of appropriate health, social and community resources.

Provides counseling, crisis intervention, and acts as advocate for assigned clients and their families.

Helps client with completion of administrative applications, advocates on their behalf, and provides follow-up to ensure that services are rendered, and/or explores other options for resolution of problems.

Interprets social service and aging program policies and procedures to clients and other persons making inquiries.

Reviews client needs as required through in-home face-to-face interviews and adjusts service levels as needed.

Prepares comprehensive and accurate client records in accordance with pertinent regulations, submits statistical and other reports as needed.

Attends appropriate meetings on case management issues and in-service training as necessary to maintain professional standards and currency in resources pertinent to seniors.

Makes recommendations to improve programs, procedures, and effectiveness of service delivery to target population.

Receives, investigates, and seeks to resolve health insurance complaints made by on behalf of seniors and disabled individuals.

Provides assistance to callers seeking Medicare related information.

Observes confidentiality standards, maintains client files, collects and enters accurate statistical information on program activities using computerized systems.

Reports to the proper authorities instances of abuse, financial exploitation and life-threatening.

Establishes and maintains working relationships with Federal agencies, State agencies and Local agencies..

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Thorough knowledge of US Code Title 19 and Title 18 (Medicare and Medicaid) issues of entitlement and eligibility for senior/disabled health insurance and welfare programs, and an ability to assimilate and communicate changes in regulations to staff, volunteers and other professionals. Thorough knowledge of the Maryland Insurance Article and

COMAR as it relates to senior/disabled health insurance issues.

Excellent communication skills include ability to develop news and magazines articles, compose letters, create educational materials, and website information. Must be able to tailor communication for audiences ranging from professionals to persons with limited literacy and/or cognitive skills.

Ability to participate and take the lead in televised programs for local cable TV, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service broadcasts, public service announcements, live interviews and panel discussions.

Considerable knowledge and understanding of Federal and State laws regarding one of the following: regulations and standards pertaining to the various types of long term care facilities; Medicare; Medical Assistance and related insurance programs.

Considerable knowledge of the Older Americans Act, other laws, regulations and policies pertaining to specific senior programs.

Considerable knowledge of human services systems, programs and benefits for older adults.

Ability to express ideas clearly, both orally and in writing.

Skill in interviewing and counseling individuals and families.

Skill in analyzing and interpreting client information and making sound decisions.

Ability to maintain accurate client records and statistical reports.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor\'s degree in social work, nursing, psychology, or a related area; two (2) or more years of experience in human services program areas; and a valid non-commercial Class C motor vehicle operator\'s license.

Supplemental Qualifications

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in the following:

1) Experience managing and training a volunteer program

2) Knowledge of Title 18 of the Social Security Act (Medicare)

3) Experience in public speaking

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