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Director, Payment and Coverage Policy

DIRECTOR, PAYMENT AND COVERAGE POLICY

Representing more than 112,000 credentialed nutrition and dietetics practitioners, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals whose expertise provides essential support for those with specialty nutrition needs and those seeking better health through nutrition.

We are seeking a Director, Payment and Coverage Policy to lead strategic efforts to expand and protect access to medical nutrition therapy and nutrition care across public and private payer systems. The role oversees the development of payment, coverage, and reimbursement policy, advances the inclusion of nutrition services in health plan benefit design, and serves as the Academy’s lead authority on payment reform spanning Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and commercial payers. In partnership with the Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs, the director ensures alignment with legislative and regulatory priorities, cultivates relationships with key policymakers, and represents the Academy in national coalitions to advance the profession and broaden access to nutrition care.

This role is ideal for a seasoned policy expert with experience in Medicaid, Medicare Fee-for-Service, Medicare Advantage, Value-Based Care, and Commercial Health Plans, and a passion for advancing health equity through advocacy. The Director will support the organization’s engagement with CMS, AMA Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) and CPT coding processes and plays a key role in developing novel provider payment models across a range of care settings.

The Director will play a critical role in expanding public access to nutrition care services by shaping coverage and payment policies to guide effective service delivery. This role influences Medicare’s MNT policy, directs commercial coverage efforts, leads payer education, and engages with key stakeholders, ensuring the Academy remains at the forefront of advancing nutrition care.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develop and implement strategic initiatives to expand and protect coverage and reimbursement for medical nutrition therapy (MNT) and nutrition care services across public and private payer systems. Lead policy development that advances benefit design improvements and aligns with evolving payment models.

Clearly communicate key policies and regulations in the U.S. health care environment (i.e., fee-for-service, accountable care organizations, bundled payment programs, federal/state healthcare reform risk, shift from payer to provider, Medicare and Medicaid Managed Care). Cultivate and manage high level relationships with national and regional commercial payers and public programs to influence favorable coverage decisions.

Track relevant legislative and regulatory developments, lead CMS comment processes, and develop strategic messaging and action plans to support payer, policymaker, and member engagement.

Provide leadership in identifying, addressing, and mitigating threats to reimbursement from both public and private payers. Advance the inclusion of nutrition services in insurance benefit structures and resolve national payment and coverage challenges. Direct the Academy’s work within the AMA CPT and RUC processes, including analysis of coding proposals, development of supporting documentation, collaboration with clinical and policy experts, and guidance for member volunteer leaders participating in CPT/RUC activities.

Serve as the Academy’s senior subject matter expert on payment reform and reimbursement policy, guiding internal teams and external stakeholders on emerging payer models. Represent the Academy in national coalitions, coverage-focused alliances, and payer policy forums. Provide leadership to coverage and reimbursement staff, oversee responses to member payment inquiries, and direct the development of payer education, advocacy tools, and training resources. Cultivate relationships with federal agencies (e.g., CMS, CMMI, HHS), commercial payers, and congressional offices to advance the Academy’s coverage and payment priorities.

Analyze payer policies, reimbursement methodologies, and benefit designs across Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and commercial insurance. Conduct environmental scans to identify payer trends, market shifts, emerging insurers, and new payment approaches that may affect access to nutrition care. Build evidence-based business cases to support improved coverage, payment accuracy, and integration of nutrition services within payer systems.

Work closely with the Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Government Relations, Senior Manager of Nutrition Services Coverage (focused on state payment and coverage policy and advocacy), and with grassroots advocates to align payment and coverage strategy with broader legislative and regulatory efforts. Partner across communications, research, science, and member engagement teams to ensure cohesive, organization-wide approaches to payer policy and reimbursement advocacy.

Supervise a senior manager and direct the work of external consultants to ensure timely, high quality deliverables related to payment, coverage, coding, and reimbursement policy. Provide coaching, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities for direct reports. Oversee timelines, project management, and accountability for consultants and vendors to ensure alignment with the Academy’s payer policy and advocacy priorities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Master’s degree in Health Economics, Healthcare Policy, Public Policy, Public Health, Political Science, Health Administration, or a closely related discipline.
Minimum 7 – 10 years of experience in payment and coverage policy.
A mission-driven, collaborative, persuasive, and innovative leader to spearhead our federal payment and policy strategy and advocacy efforts, with a sharp focus on improving access, equity, and quality in healthcare.
Preferable experience collaborating with federal agencies (CMS, CMMI, HHS) or involvement in health policy work on Capitol Hill.
Demonstrated research and analytical prowess to evaluate policies, conduct environmental scans, and build compelling business cases for nutrition services.
Proven ability to devise strategic solutions addressing national coverage and payment challenges, monitor changes in the healthcare marketplace, and assess their impact on nutrition care delivery and access.
Exceptional communication skills – clear, concise, detail oriented, and a collaborative mindset vital for success in this role.
Ability to travel to local and national meetings including CMS, payor groups, CPT/RUC, FNCE, and others as needed.

About Us:

The Academy offers a competitive starting salary up to $135,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience, as well as an excellent benefit package, including medical, dental, vision, LTD, tuition reimbursement and 401k match with IMMEDIATE VESTING!

We provide a comprehensive paid leave program to help support work-life balance. Academy employees accrue paid sick and vacation time throughout the year, with the option to carry over unused time in accordance with Academy policy. Additional leave may also be available for holidays, family emergencies, or other personal circumstances.

This is a Washington, D.C. Metro based (preferred) role offering remote work, with frequent attendance at in-person events.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran or disabled status and will not be discriminated against.

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