Senior Quantitative Researcher – Federal Health Program

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Arizona, +25 more states.

📋 Description

• Generate actionable insights that guide decision-making at the CMS Innovation Center (CMMI) and support Commence’s growth in federal health research.

• Design and implement monitoring strategies for CMS/CMMI alternative payment models.

• Develop comprehensive monitoring frameworks, performance metrics, data collection plans, dashboards, and risk reports.

• Convert model design documents and participation agreements into monitoring specifications utilizing Medicare claims, enrollment, and participant-reported data.

• Create monitoring frameworks for CMMI models, which include logic models, measures, data sources, benchmarks, analytic methods, and reporting.

• Identify and analyze unintended consequences such as risk selection, coding intensity, care stinting, and changes in referral or site-of-care patterns.

• Collaborate with data scientists and engineers to develop dashboards, automated reporting, machine learning-based anomaly detection, and early-warning signals on the Commence platform.

• Prepare monitoring reports, briefings, and risk summaries for CMMI model teams.

• Transform findings into clear and actionable recommendations.

• Design and draft technical approaches for proposals directed at CMS/CMMI and other federal agencies.

• Assume critical roles in project management.

• Apply monitoring methodologies to quality measurement and performance reporting tasks for CMS and state partners.

• Mentor junior researchers and analysts.

• Lead teams, prioritize tasks, coordinate activities, engage clients and stakeholders, and ensure the timely delivery of high-quality reports and products within budget.

⛳️ Requirements

• Ph.D. in economics, health services research, health policy, public health, or a related discipline with over 4 years of relevant experience; or a Master’s degree with more than 8 years.

• Practical experience in monitoring CMS/CMMI alternative payment models.

• Solid understanding of APM and value-based care mechanics: beneficiary attribution, quality scoring, capitated payments, bundled payments, financial incentives, benchmarking, risk adjustment.

• Familiarity with Medicare and/or Medicaid administrative and claims data (e.g., CCW, IDR, VRDC).

• Strong writing skills for federal audiences.

• Experience in proposal writing.

• Must possess authorization to work in the U.S.

• Capable of obtaining and maintaining a CMS-required background investigation (public trust).

• Experience with Databricks or other cloud analytics platforms.

• Proficiency in Power BI, Tableau, or similar tools.

• Skilled in SAS, R, Python, or SQL.

• Ability to sit, read, work on a computer, and view a computer screen for extended periods.

• Occasionally able to stand, walk, use hands and fingers, kneel, or crouch.

🏝️ Benefits

• Remote work opportunities.

• Occasional travel to the Baltimore/Washington, DC area for client meetings, presentations, and team events.

• Reasonable accommodations available for individuals with disabilities.

• Commitment to equal employment opportunities.

• Extended hours may be required during proposal deadlines and key deliverables.