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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 00216351 |
Description Activated On: 12/3/2025 8:18:26 AM |
Position Purpose: Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively. The Bureau of Hearings and Appeals (BHA) is the Bureau within the Department of Human Services (DHS) with the responsibility designated by the Secretary of Human Services for the adjudication of administrative appeals for the Department of Human Services and the Department of Aging. The Bureau consists of a Harrisburg headquarters, three Regional offices (Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh) and two field offices (Erie and Reading). BHA provides administrative hearings for all appellants aggrieved by decisions made by DHS and for other selected Departments (pursuant to Interagency Agreements) under its jurisdiction. The incumbent of this position reports to the Regional Manager and is responsible for the hearing and adjudication of Formal appeals filed with DHS-BHA. These include, but are not limited to, Child Abuse Expunction; DHS Employee Act 534; Auditor General Reports relative to hospitals and county nursing homes; Licensure of Foster Care and Psychiatric Facilities; Personal Care Homes; Foster and Kinship Care; Adoption Subsidy; doctor, dentist, podiatrists, and chiropractor suspension appeals, Home Care Services of the Department of Aging; Nursing Home Reimbursement appeals; Mental Health/Intellectual Disability audits; and Elder Abuse appeals from the Department of Aging. The incumbent is also responsible for the hearing and adjudication of recipient appeals such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), cash assistance, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and medical assistance including the Affordable Care Act (ACA) appeals, as well as non-recipient appeals to include provider appeals. The incumbent in this position issues subpoenas, Orders and Rules to Show Cause; rules on Motions; and conducts pre-hearing conferences. The incumbent also provides direction and guidance to Legal Assistants and mentors Administrative Law Judge staff. |
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Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor. 1. Conducts quasi-judicial administrative hearings by administering oaths, examining witnesses, clarifying issues, limiting testimony to relevant issues, ruling on motions and evidence, clarifying cited regulations and receiving exhibits and briefs in, inter alia, pre-hearing conferences, intervention requests and timeliness hearings and formal appeal hearings as assigned. 2. Completes adjudications and/or Recommendations and Orders as a fact finder by objectively considering and evaluating evidentiary materials in, inter alia, pre-hearing conferences, intervention requests, timeliness hearings and formal appeal hearings, as assigned. Uses a personal computer to compose adjudications, correspondence, etc. Completes and processes the hearing record within the regulatory time frame. 3. Is responsible for the hearing and adjudication of Formal appeals, recipient appeals (e.g., SNAP, cash assistance, medical assistance, etc.), and non-recipient appeals to include provider appeals, which are filed with the Department of Human Services's BHA and the Department of Aging appeals. 4. Maintains and updates manuals and researches existing policies, Laws, regulations, and case law. Reads, files and utilizes manual policy clarifications, bulletins and directives. 5. Makes Findings of Facts. 6. Conducts competency hearings when necessary. 7. Carries a full caseload and must manage the assigned cases in a timely manner. 8. Issues orders and rules on motions regarding discovery and other pre-hearing procedural matters. 9. Provides advice and assistant on points of law and procedure to Administrative Law Judges and Legal Assistants. 10. Develops and recommends legal procedures for existing and new types of appeals. 11. Reviews all formal appeal requests for jurisdiction, timeliness and form, and issues orders and rules. 12. Conducts pre-hearing conferences. 13. Prepares responses to inquiries and other correspondence relating to formal appeals. 14. Prepares reports related to assigned cases. 15. Possession of a certification of current license and active admission in good standing to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. 16. Utilizes electronic case management software for assigned appeals, tracking assigned tasks, and creating reports. 17. Performs all other related duties as assigned. 18. Operates videoconferencing equipment, a personal computer, telephone, FAX machine, copier, calculator and digital recording device in the performance of their duties. 19. Travels to work sites in Wilkes-Barre and Reading to conduct administrative hearings. |
Decision Making: Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature. Prepares Formal recommendations and Final Administrative Action Orders and forwards to supervisor for review for approval and signature of Order. Decides which evidence and testimony will be admitted into the hearing record. Prepares non-recipient and recipient adjudications and forwards to supervisor for review and approval and to sign off on Adjudication. Decides pre-hearing motions, issues Rules to Show Cause and responses thereto and issues Interlocutory Orders. |
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Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License Experience: Licenses, registrations, or certifications: 1. Certificate of Admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania 2. N/A 3. N/A 4. 5. 6. |
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Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.
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