CHIEF CERTIFICATE OF NEED PROGRAM

Definition

Under the direction of the Director, Health Systems Services, in the Department of Health, is responsible for the development, implementation and administration of the State's certificate of need program to review applications for and make recommendations concerning the need of facilities, major medical equipment and institutional health services throughout the State. In making those recommendations, the Chief is responsible for processing applications and insuring that capital expenditures are consistent with goals for health systems design and development. These applications are received by the Department of Health pursuant to the 1971 Health care Facilities Planning Act (as mended). The processing of and recommendations resulting from these reviews must be consistent with Federal and State statutes and regulations concerning Certificate of Need and grant-in-aid activities; does related word as required.

Examples of work

• Provides consultation to applicants for Certificates of Need during the preparation of application forms, including interpretations of appropriate Federal and State statutes and regulations.
• Directs applicants to proper agencies for consultation and assistance in health system service design including analyses of community need, financial feasibility, potential sources of funding, architectural design assistance, licensure requirements, existing or proposed health systems design activities and requirements and available alternatives to mutually meet the needs of the applicant and the communities within the State.
• Supervises the staff in the review of Certificate of Need applications for completeness and makes determinations of the eligibility of applications for processing, notifies the applicants of status of their applications (for processing).
• Supervises the distribution of application for comment to health systems agencies, agencies of State Government, technical subcommittees of the Statewide Health Coordinating Council and other ad-hoc committees.
• Provides technical consultation to the State Health Coordinating Council, its Review Committee, Health Systems Agencies and Department personnel concerning their legal responsibilities and liabilities in the processing of certificate of need applications.
• Supervises staff in the development of summaries of recommendations from all commenting agencies and supervises the collation of comments into a format appropriate for review by relevant decision-making and recommending organizations.
• Organizes meeting and provides staff assistance to the review committee of the statewide Health Coordinating Council.
• Supervises the Preparation of minutes of meetings of the Review Committee and forwards, through the Director, Health Systems Design and Evaluation Services, to the Executive Director of the Statewide Health Coordinating Council.
• Provides interpretations of technical and procedural requirements for the disposition of applications to the Director, Health Systems Design and Evaluation Services, and through him/her to the Assistant Commissioner.
• Directs staff in the provision of technical assistance to the statewide Health Coordinating Council when reviewing Certificate of Need applications and responds to questions from that Council on statutory and regulatory requirements and intent.
• Directs staff in the preparation of Certificate of Need approval and denial letters, reflecting the decision of the Commissioner of Health on the disposition of those applications, and identifies the statutory and regulatory bases for those decisions.
• Provides consultation and assistance to the Deputy Attorney General assigned to the Department of Health in preparation for administrative hearings on Certificate of Need decision which were appealed.
• Attends administrative hearing and litigations and testifies as a representative of the Department of Health.
• Upon receipt of recommendations of departmental hearing officers, supervises the preparation of summaries of all action taken regarding appealed applications for the review by the Health Care Administration Board.
• Attends Health Care Administration Board meetings and provides technical assistance or matters relating to appealed Certificate of Need application, upon request, advises Board of its authorities, responsibilities, and liabilities.
• Prepares and distributes notifications of final decisions of the Health Care Administration Board to applicants, commenting agencies, and other Federal and State governmental agencies.
• Where statutes and/or regulations permit, supervises the coordination, through the review process, of applications for changes in project cost/scope, extensions of time, and other projects requiring administrative review for presentation of relevant information to various decision-making organizations and ensures that these administrative reviews are conducted pursuant to State regulations.
• Work with departmental staff, as directed, to prepare news-releases containing information about projects approved, for new services construction, modernization and renovation of health care facilities.
• Maintains good working relationships with other units of the Department of Health, other State departments, agencies, societies, and organizations.
• Remains abreast of current interpretations of Federal regulations regarding Certificate of Need applications for new health services, changes in bed capacity, and construction, modernization, and/or renovation of Health care facilities.
• Attends conferences with agencies and professional organizations for purpose of maintaining a continuous information and education process regarding Certificate of Need activities.
• Reviews new legislation and issues official comments on proposed legislation with respect to the potential impact upon the responsibilities of the Certificate of Need Program, and makes reports thereof.
• Supervises staff in the development of proposed amendments to State Certificate of Need regulations for review by the Director and offers recommendations, where appropriate, for changes in the enabling legislation.
• Remains abreast of the developments in health and related fields such as environment, economy, social sciences, and the law, and the potential impact of changes in these fields on the Certificate of Need process.
• Prepares periodic progress reports on the activities of the Certificate of Need program for submission to the Director, Health Systems Design and Evaluation Services for review and approval.
• Develops the work program for the Certificate of Need unit; supervises work operations and responsible for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees.
• Orients and provides training for new staff and arranges for ongoing training activities of existing staff.
• Proposes recommendations to the Director during the program budget preparation period.
• Supervises staff in the preparation of correspondence responding to Governor and Commissioner referrals as well as to direct inquiries concerning the program.
• Directs the establishment of an extensive record and file system.
• May be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Nursing, Sociology, Economics, Health Planning or related fields.

Experience

Five (5) years of full-time professional experience in health care delivery, Certificate of Need, Health Planning, Public Health Administration, or Health Law, two years of which must have been in a supervisory capacity.

NOTE: A Master's degree in Public Health, Public Administration, Business Administration, Health or Hospital Administration, Health Planning, Sociology, Economics, American Studies, or other related fields may be substituted for one (1) year of non-supervisory experience. An earned Ph. D in the above mentioned fields or a JD may be substituted for three (3) years of non-supervisory experience.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Ability to acquire thorough knowledge of the enabling legislation, legislative history, regulations promulgated thereunder, policies and procedures of the State Department of Health and their application to specific cases in accordance with prescribed procedures.
• Ability to acquire procedural and substantive understanding of the Health Care Facilities Planning Act of 1971 as mended and the regulations emanating therefrom, and possesses an understanding of the force and effect of the statutes and regulations.
• Wide knowledge of the Federal statutes and regulations as reflected in Section 1122 of Title XI of the Social Security Act and the National Health Planning and Resources Developments Act of 1974 (P.L . 93-641) as amended.
• Ability to acquire considerable knowledge of the operations of the various units of the Division of Health Planning and Resources Development of the Department of Health.
• Ability to acquire considerable knowledge of the functions of other divisions of the Department of Health.
• Ability to acquire considerable knowledge of the organization, functioning, and responsibilities of New Jersey State Government, its institutions and agencies.
• Considerable knowledge of the health care delivery system, including services available, institutions, organizations, policies, procedures and methods of financing.
• Considerable knowledge and understanding of procedures and methods used in the preparation of preliminary and full financial feasibility studies for capital programs of health care facilities.
• Considerable knowledge of the programs, organizations, and methods of determining reimbursement used by third party payers, for health care.
• Wide knowledge of the Federal Administrative Procedures Acts and Administrative Law.
• Wide knowledge of medical terminology applied to the organization of health care facilities and services such as renal dialysis, ambulatory care, radiology services, cardiac services, alternative health services, etc.
• Ability to organize, develop work programs for, and allocate work flow to professional staff.
• Ability to acquire wide knowledge of the State Administrative Procedures Act and to interpret and apply required procedures.
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with other units within the Division of Health Planning and Resources Development.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely and work cooperatively with providers of health care services and staff of health care organizations in the development of applications for Certificate of Need and/or Federal funding grants-in-aid or low interest loans.
• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with health systems agencies, the Health Care Administration Board, the Statewide Health Coordinating Council and various community and professional health organizations.
• Ability to apply regulatory requirements to specific application.
• Ability to review and summarize applications for review and comment.
• Ability to assess the need for and to prepare regulations for presentation to the Health Care Administration Board and publication in the New Jersey Register, including an understanding of the parameters within which regulations must be drafted under the enabling legislation.
• Ability to review and make recommendations on legislative changes, policies and regulations affecting Certificate of Need activities.
• Ability to review, interpret and comprehend new legislation and regulations at both the Federal and State levels relative to their effect upon the Certificate of Need program.
• Ability to recognize, organize in writing, and make recommendations for the solution of difficult problems of procedure, organization, and policies affecting the Certificate of Need program.
• Ability to determine the need for and plan and direct the making of necessary studies and evaluations of the Certificate of Need process and the developments therein.
• Ability to prepare or direct the preparation of statements of work program goals and objectives, periodic progress reports of efforts toward meeting those goals and objectives, and summaries of annual accomplishments.
• Ability to develop, organize and make oral presentations to the Statewide Health Coordinating Council, Health Systems Agencies, New Jersey Hospital Association, and other professional and community organizations.
• Ability to identify the factors which comprise a legally complete Certificate of Need application.
• Ability to develop recommendations to the Director concerning the determinations of whether a Certificate of Need will be required for a board range of corporate medical ventures; makes recommendations concerning whether the proposed corporate medical activity is subject to State regulatory requirements.
• Ability to coordinate Certificate of Need staff assistance to the Deputy Attorneys General assigned to the Department of Health in the preparation of administrative hearings on disapproved applications.
• Ability to apple regulatory requirements to concrete proposals to determine whether Certificates of Need are required.
• Ability to review, evaluate and make recommendations regarding the employees in the Certificate of Need program.
• Ability to prepare or direct preparation of technical correspondence.
• Ability to direct the establishment and maintenance of extensive program records and files.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
• CODE: &-30 6/08/1985

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.