Information Specialist Federal Government
Resume:
Sharon Davis
Baltimore, MD ***18
********@*****.***
CAREER SUMMARY
Many years of experience implementing the FOIA (5 U.S.C. 552) and its’ operational policies across CMS’ organization and the public at large. Assessed trends in agency’s policies, developed and coordinated responses that incorporated updates to organizational FOIA policies and operational programs ensuring that the most current research and finding were used in disclosure decisions. Considered an expert at analyzing FOIA requests, programs, policies, and records. Composed written responses both partial releases and full denials that were in compliance with Federal regulations and guidelines. Proficient in a variety of software packages, analytical skills, multi-tasking, achieving organizational goals; and establishing liaison both internally and externally.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
CMS, OSORA, Freedom of Information Group
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244
Title: Government Information Specialist (GS-13/7)
From: 02/01/1991 to 11/01/2012
From: 09/02/2014 to 12/31/2022 (Promoted back)
Supervisor: Mr. Jay Olin 410-***-****
Recently retired from the Federal Government. Based on my expert knowledge of implementing the FOIA, developed various tactical policies using operational options that were in compliance with FOIA statutory laws and requirements to analyze and review voluminous responsive documents to many complex FOIA requests and appeals by determining the applicability of the FOIA & HIPPA laws and the type of records being requested that resulted in the closing of many FOIA requests in a timely manner. Specifically, I: electronically processed complex FOIA requests and appeals in the SWIFT system; updated the SWIFT system across DHHS, CMS organizational levels; electronically reviewed and analyzed FOIA requests--anticipated questions and provide necessary advice and guidance to peers and stakeholders; attended FOIA staff meetings with FOIA officials pertaining to the disclosure/denial of information and the analysis of operational policies and programs and to develop and make recommendations for changes and updates to organizational FOIA policies and guidelines to ensure that FOIA responses to technical inquiries from requesters, senior organization officials and stakeholders were in compliance with the current statutory procedures; communicated FOIA policies and procedures both in writing and orally to senior officials and stakeholders; electronically researched and accessed trends in operational policies and program operations in processing FOIA requests and composed final response letters and emails to inquiries and requests; advised peers and management officials on operational and instructional policies of these trends that resulted in the completion of hundreds of complex FOIA requests that dealt with hospital complaints and investigations of various facilities regarding Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries patients’ care incidences that resulted in legal actions against hospitals, nursing home and State facilities; identified as the subject matter expert by demonstrating the specialized ability to implement the FOIA (5 U.S.C. 552) statues pertaining to complex FOIA requests and appeals that deal with privacy and personal data ensuring protection by two or more provisions of the FOIA (Exemptions 6, 7(c), 7(d) and 7(e) and HIPPA and made recommendations on privacy issues; proven track record of accurately completing, managing, and coordination special projects under tight deadlines; researched and analyzed FOIA policies, government programs and legal issues that enabled me to review records pertaining to the implementation and impact of various FOIA trends and to complete hundreds of FOIA requests; because of my expertise, am consulted by co-workers and senior staff to assist them in assessing positive and negative trends in workflows that required a change in the decision making review process while ensuring that latest policy research findings were used to analyze the records or the operational issues(s); evaluated, reviewed and analyzed FOIA operational policies and programs for appropriateness and cost-effectiveness that resulted in the narrowing of the scope of the request and/or administratively closing of complex requests and appeals; reviewed, developed, made recommendations, and implemented quality improvements policies that helped reduce the FOIA backlog by the 10% reduction goal; researched FOIA provisions and made recommendations regarding the release and/or denial of voluminous documents (i.e., survey & certification data, contractor performance evaluations, public comments, contracts, law enforcement, spreadsheets, grants, & various Medicare agreements); attended meetings with directors, senior staff, peers, stakeholders, and congressional regarding regulations, exemptions, guidelines, & SWIFT system; negotiated with requesters & senior staff regarding the scope of requests, adequacy of records, alternate responses, explanation of fees for the purposes of sharing information & recommendations to improve the application of FOIA rules as they apply to implementation of the FOIA (5 U.S.C. 552) regulations, policies, and precedent court cases; composed responses to technical inquiries pertaining to complex FOIA request and responsve documents to FOIA officials and stakeholders that resulted in the closing of hundreds of requests; assured the completeness of records and their responsiveness to each items in the requests are in light of the FOIA exemptions and the Privacy Act; as specified in the law, DHHS, CMS regulations, policies and precedent cases; develop recommendations pertaining to controversial issues and organizational/operational FOIA guidelines both in writing and orally to senior officials, colleagues, and stakeholders; kept abreast of recent developments in the field of disclosure, including recent court and department decisions; was seen as a leader in FIG; provided technical guidance to both senior and junior analysts advising them of emerging trends in FOIA projects and workgroup assignments; provided technical advice and guidance to my peers in FIG and across CMS, explained the intent and the terms of the regulations/statute in question in order to assist them in the specifics of their program concerns; often called on by peers to provide technical assistance in matters involving DHHS, CMS’ FOIA litigations; have strong organizational, technical, and analytical skills and worked assiduously to DHHS, CMS’ backlog reduction efforts and goals; Kept senior staffers and stakeholders abreast of issues encountered that may effect the results of OSORA, CMS’ objectives and goals; excelled at problem-solving and effective management of daily tasks; proficient in a variety of software packages.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
CMS, OSORA, Division of Audit Liaison
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244
Title: Management Analyst
From: 11/02/2012 to 09/01/2014 (Reassignment)
Supervisor: Ms. Wynetha Walker 410-***-****
Highly motivated Management Analyst professional with many years of experience applying and developing analytical tactical techniques that monitor and assist in the evaluation and effectiveness of Medicare/Medicaid, CLIA, and CHIP’s Federal and State contractual program operational improvements. Successfully lead and coordinated programmatic OIG/GAO training/informational conferences (for up to 10 to 15 senior officials) that reviewed and monitored the efficiency of contractor management of health care programs and policies (i.e., QIOs, MACs, SNFs, HHA, CLIA, and hospitals) that resulted in proposed legislative or regulatory updates; developed evaluated and analyzed OIG start notices and GAO engagements and collaborated with other CMS management officials, OIG, GAO and outside stakeholders to ensure that contractor’s operations are in compliance with Federal laws; attended meeting with senior officials and provided input and developed recommendations that identified and promotes improvements and changes pertaining health care programs and deliveries; evaluated and analyzed OIG/GAO’s researched findings that are derived from various inpatient/outpatient data, questionnaires, surveys, Federal and State contracts, and that depicted the effectiveness of contractors’ performances/operational issuances; reviewed, evaluated, analyzed the associated program costs in all 50 States nationally that result in savings and recoupment of millions of dollars in Medicare/Medicaid & CHIP programs operational funding; developed responses to technical inquiries and provided project directions and advise to CMS management, stakeholders, regional offices, and other government agencies regarding regulations, policies and procedures; coordinated discussion/planning sessions on management program policy developments and ensure that comprehensive information was distributed to CMS staff for conferences; monitored analyzed and evaluated OIG/GAO’s objectives, findings, methodologies, and recommendations that identified and promoted changes pertaining to CMS organizational policies regarding health care programs and deliveries; composed, drafted, and revised written documents (i.e., talking points, technical comments, conference summaries, fact sheets, briefing documents, DOJ reports, position papers, memoranda, and CMS’ responses to OIG/GAO’s recommendations in their draft/final reports that are signed by CMS’ Administrator; prepared complex weekly reports that are circulated to CMS senior staff and OIG/GAO that reflex criteria pertaining to Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP program operational activities; ensured clarity, accurate, timeliness, and consistency with DHHS & CMS policies initiatives; creative persuasive and deadline driven to excel at problem-solving and effective management; coordinated CMS’ responses to GAO/OIG’s analytical studies directed at quality measurement improvements, performance management of contractors, issues related to survey and certification programs, nursing home residents, dialysis facilities’/residential databases; ESRD Networks and beneficiaries; applied analytical techniques to OIG/GAO draft and final reports that recommended CMS to: 1) monitor quality measures that govern nursing homes hospitalization rates and instruct State survey agencies to review the quality measure as part of the survey and certification process; 2) improve quality programs and lower costs; 3) evaluated new local coverage determinations; 4) MACs to jointly develop coverage policies; 5) discuss the relationship between CLIA and provider enrollment; 6) evaluated post-acute care adverse events in SNF; 7) seek legislation that would establish lower payment rates; and 8) ensure quality of care provided to Medicaid hospice beneficiaries; reviewed, analyzed, and coordinated CMS senior officials’ comments that responded to OIG/GAO recommendations pertaining to the improvement of Federal contracts and private health insurance programs; lead and coordinated analytical studies that involve multiple CMS components that resulted in millions of dollars in savings and repayments to Medicare/Medicaid programs and operations; coordinated and consolidated comments received from multiple CMS senior staffers applying the current research findings to my analytical techniques in developing and preparing final CMS’ responses to OIG/GAO recommendations that pertain to Medicare contractor operations; identified unclear and inconsistent policy language that discussed the accuracy and effectiveness of work processes in CMS’ responses and recommended alternative methods for presenting policies; analyzed health care legislative policies to ensure that major provisions and presented in CMS’ responses to OIG/GAO recommendations; worked in multiple OSORA divisions that required knowledge and use of laws, policies and legislation that promotes better health care quality to beneficiaries and the public at large; proficient in a variety of software packages, maintain and update the status of senior officials’ analytical reports in excel spreadsheet; developed drafts, and revised written document (i.e., talking points, technical comments, conference summary, fact sheets, briefing documents, position papers, various reports, memoranda) and CMS responses that respond to OIG/GAO’s recommendations in their draft/final reports that are signed by CMS’ Administrator; coordinated complex weekly reports that are circulated throughout CMS management that reflex criteria pertaining to CMS’ organizational policies for Medicare/Medicaid, SCHIP programs operations activities; ensured clarity, accuracy, timeliness, and consistent with DHHS & CMS policy initiatives.
EDUCATION/TRAINING
Stevenson University (formerly) Villa Julie College
Greenspring Valley Road
Stevenson, MD 21153
A.A. Degree – Business Administration
Towson Stratford School
7800 York Road
Towson, MD 21234
Legal Secretary Diploma
Eastern High School
3300 33rd Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
High School Diploma
Government Courses: Records Management; Annual Ethnic Training, HIPPA & Privacy Act, Strategies for Managing Your Career, Career Transition, Professional/Business Writing, FOIA Express, The Annual American Society of Access Professionals.
Accomplishments:
received Annual Outstanding Ratings (5.0) and monetary awards for the last 10 year;
Completed FOIA requests that were on the Secretary of DHHS’ high visibility leadership reports that required the review and analysis of 200 to 20,000 pages of records that were being requested by various media outlets and congressional offices which completions of these requests prevented CMS’ litigation, Appeals and potential public humiliation;
Successfully completed a FOIA request that released 30,000 plus pages;
Successfully participated in special projects (credit hours) that resulted in significant reductions of the FOIA backlog;
Developed tactical policies and operational options in compliance with statutory language that resulted in reductions to CMS’ 10 % backlog goals;
2017 received the Administrator’s Customer Service Group Award;
2015 received a Special Acts award.
REFERENCES: Will be made available upon request.
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