Senior Manager, Federal Affairs & Payment Policy

Overview

The Senior Manager, Federal Affairs & Payment Policy will serve as the ABA staff-level lead on federal policy, reimbursement, and funding issues. Based either at ABA headquarters in Chicago or in the Washington, DC area, this role provides policy support, internal coordination with ABA governance and committees, and subject matter expertise across a broad range of advocacy priorities. The position works closely with the CEO, ABA Committees (Economic & Access, Government Advocacy, Clinical Practice Guidelines, Disaster), liaisons to the American Medical Association (AMA), peer medical societies, and ABA volunteers.

The Senior Manager also collaborates with ABA’s Washington, DC lobbying firm and external coding consultants to advance advocacy priorities strategically and cost-effectively, strengthening ABA’s influence while reducing reliance on outsourced services. A key focus of this role is helping integrate ABA’s Burn Care Quality Platform (registry data) into evidence-based advocacy, reimbursement proposals, and federal funding requests.

Federal Policy and Advocacy

• Monitor and analyze federal legislation and regulations impacting burn care (e.g., reimbursement, Medicare, graduate medical education, telehealth, trauma preparedness).
• Draft comment letters, position statements, and briefing materials for ABA leadership, Board of Trustees, committees, and CEO.
• Coordinate ABA’s responses to federal public comment periods to ensure the burn community’s perspective is represented.
• Serve as staff liaison to ABA’s Government Advocacy Committee and Washington, DC lobbying firm.
• Support advocacy events such as Capitol Hill visits, federal agency briefings, and coalition meetings.

Payment Policy and Reimbursement

• Provide staff support for ABA’s Economics & Advisory Committee on Coding, Coverage, and Reimbursement.
• Collaborate with ABA’s coding consulting firm to monitor developments and help coordinate ABA’s involvement in AMA CPT/RUC processes.
• Support ABA advisors and physician leaders as needed, in preparing proposals for new or revised billing codes, survey efforts, and valuation recommendations.
• Assist in translating Medicare and Medicaid payment rules into clear, practical resources for ABA members (e.g., billing updates, webinars, FAQs).
• Help integrate registry data into coding proposals, reimbursement justifications, and advocacy for equitable payment models.

Federal Funding and Research Opportunities

• Identify and track federal funding opportunities relevant to burn care across agencies (BARDA, ASPR, NIH, DoD, FEMA, HRSA).
• Partner with ABA leadership and the lobbying firm to advocate for appropriations language and program support to strengthen burn research, verification, and readiness.

National Association and Coalition Engagement

• Support ABA’s role in AMA payment and policy processes by monitoring agendas, preparing briefing materials, and ensuring ABA representation.
• Attend and support ABA leaders at AMA House of Delegates meetings and related forums, coordinating testimony, resolution development, and caucus participation.
• Assist ABA leaders in building relationships within multi-specialty coalitions related to surgery, trauma, and emergency preparedness.
• Work with ABA’s DC lobbying firm to align advocacy efforts with AMA, ACS, and other specialty societies.

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