Negotiator

Job Description:Summary: This highly visible position is responsible for negotiating provider contracts by developing provider relationships and negotiating renewal and new contracts with providers. This position coordinates work with provider contract administration, contracts and compliance, credentialing, provider finance and other departments or divisions of Blue Cross.Accountabilities: 1. Working with the parameters of established negotiation strategies. Independently negotiates provider contracts with little management involvement.2. Participates in the development of contracting and payment strategies and administrative policies and procedures.3. Leads the negotiation of complex, sensitive and/or high dollar volume contracts. Manages negotiations against established budget targets and contract negotiations in a timely fashion to meet corporate deadlines.4. Prepares management reports to summarize status of contract negotiations and provide information to aid in management decision making.5. Utilizes complex data and software programs to support contract negotiations. Analyzes data in conjunction with network finance or other corporate analysts. Interprets contracting and financial data for providers.6. Enhances personal skills and negotiation effectiveness with extensive in-depth knowledge of complex payment methodologies, coding and reimbursement standards, contract language standards, contract compliance issues, claims processing operations, medical management practices, and quality standards and clinical initiatives that impact provider performance.7. Researches, analyzes and interprets key information on provider organizations, provider negotiation staff, and market contracting benchmarks to enhance negotiation effectiveness.8. Ensures that contracts and payment terms are negotiated in accordance with established contract administration policies and procedures, including regulatory requirements.9. Proactively manage the provider relationship, including the strategic direction of the provider and changes in business needs.10. In a consulting capacity, define business problems and opportunities for providers and identify strategies and tactics to provide solutions as well as to maximize the value of the provider contract to Blue Cross.11. Participates in divisional workgroups as required by leadership.12. Mobilize and utilize corporate resources to achieve objectives of the division.Required Qualifications: 1. A Bachelor's Degree in a business or healthcare field and four years of experience in either of the following areas: in the healthcare industry, or working with healthcare providers, or healthcare provider contract negotiation experience.2. Displays strong ability to lead cross-functional teams.3. Excellent communications and interpersonal skills. 4. Ability to work across systems and functions to facilitate solutions and capabilities development. 5. Demonstrated creativity in solution development with strong sense of urgency.6. Skillful negotiator, ability to influence internal and external customers.Expected Travel Time: None Company: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota Location: US-MN-Aurora Status: Full Time, Employee Job Category: Accounting/Finance/Insurance