State of Iowa - Executive Branch

Title: Medicaid Chief Medical Officer

Location: Des Moines, IA

Base: Salary commensurate with experience

401k matching: IPERS (employees contribute 6.29% and the State of Iowa contributes 9.44%) and Retirement Investors Club (RIC), Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan with State matching dollar for dollar up to $75/month

Summary

The Medicaid Chief Medical Officer leads clinical strategy and care delivery for Iowa Medicaid, focusing on population health outcomes and state-specific health concerns. This executive role involves collaboration across multiple state health divisions, policy development, regulatory compliance, and innovation in Medicaid services. The position reports to the Medicaid Director and plays a key role in network development, product design, and consultation on medical policies within the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

Added on: 06/11/2025

Full Job Description

Job Description

As a division of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Iowa Medicaid insures more than 700,000 Iowans, operating with a budget of nearly $7 billion. Reporting directly to the Iowa Medicaid Director, the Medicaid Chief Medical Officer is a key member of the Iowa Medicaid Leadership Team.

In year two of a significant agency consolidation, Iowa HHS is a lifespan services agency and the State’s largest in both budget and number of employees. This new system design positions Medicaid in a cornerstone role beyond its foundational capacity as a major insurer in the state, to drive key population health outcomes and significant impacts to rural healthcare access, maternal health, and behavioral health system design.

Iowa Medicaid is leading significant transformational efforts, including the launch of a redesigned home and community-based services waiver structure, a new service array for children and a co-designed model to launch Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC).

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced physician leader to serve as the Chief Medical Officer(CMO)for our Medicaid program. The CMO will be responsible for guiding clinical strategy, implementing care delivery, focused on Iowa specific health concerns and population health outcomes. As a member of the Medicaid executive team, the Medicaid Chief Medical Officer establishes and builds connection points to other core program functions within Iowa HHS, including child welfare, public health and community behavioral health.

The Medicaid CMO acts as a key leadership partner in network development, product design, strategic planning, regulatory compliance, policy development, innovations and policy review. The Medicaid CMO will provide leadership and consultation to the Division of Medicaid and Iowa Medicaid contractors related to medical policy. The Medicaid CMO will serve as a consultant to other divisions within the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to enhance prevention services and medical care provided to those served by HHS.

The Medicaid Division is working to align with broader HHS agency goals and objectives, support shared services throughout HHS and define repeatable processes with shared service functions and sister program areas.

Iowa HHS main office is in the heart of downtown Des Moines, a mid-size city, with low cost of living, wonderful access to entertainment, and nestled within range of larger metro areas. Perfect for raising a family, Iowa is a welcoming state where you can enjoy small-town living, with all the benefits of a major city (but without the traffic). The State of Iowa offers a robust benefit package; salary commensurate with experience and moving expenses may be reimbursed, as part of a larger recruitment offering.

Benefits

Working for the State of Iowa comes with its perks. In addition to a competitive salary, you'll enjoy a

comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth:

Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Health and dental insurance packages to keep you and

your family healthy at a low cost with outstanding coverage!

Paid Time Off: Take time to recharge with paid time off, including vacation (96 hours/year to

begin, increasing with years of service), sick leave (144 hours/year), and paid holidays (9

days/year).

Retirement Plans: Participate in retirement plans such as IPERS (employees contribute 6.29%

and the State of Iowa contributes 9.44%) as well as our Retirement Investors Club (RIC),

Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (the State of Iowa matches dollar for dollar up to

$75/month).

Flexible Spending Accounts: Take advantage of flexible spending accounts for medical and

dependent care expenses.

Insurance Coverage: Benefit from life insurance and free long-term disability insurance for added peace of mind. Employee Assistance Program: Access resources and support through our Employee

Assistance Program for personal and professional challenges.

Employee Discount Programs: Enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services through our

employee discount programs.

For Additional Information On Benefits Click Here .

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Background Checks

Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position.

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer

HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).

Our agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify .

This is a non-merit position with the Iowa Health & Human Services - Medicaid . Candidates must follow the instructions in the "To Apply" section.

Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Graduation from an accredited school of medicine, completion of an internship program and licensure as a physician by the State of Iowa.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.