OPM approves hiring flexibilities for two agencies

The Office of Personnel Management this week approved flexible hiring practices to address critical staffing needs at the departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services.

OPM Director Kay Coles James approved an HHS request for direct-hiring authority at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Officials had requested the hiring flexibility to fill positions needed to implement the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.

The controversial Medicare legislation was signed into law by President Bush last December. The administration projected the program would cost more than $500 billion, but did not release those figures until after Congress passed the bill. To implement the program, HHS officials estimate they will need to hire 250 personnel in fiscal 2004 and 250 personnel in fiscal 2005.

"As the CMS department gears up to implement the Medicaid changes, we appreciate the quick review and approval for direct-hire authority from OPM," said Ed Sontag, assistant HHS secretary for administration and management and chief human capital officer.

Evelyn White, HHS principle deputy assistant secretary for administration and management, said the added flexibility will be focused primarily on hiring actuaries, economists and health insurance specialists. Under the new authority, HHS officials can make quick job offers to qualified applicants, particularly in situations such as job fairs.

"That, as you can imagine, cuts into a lot of the time that it can take," White said.

On Wednesday, OPM also announced the approval of a direct-hiring authority for the Department of Homeland Security. OPM officials green-lighted a DHS request for hiring flexibility on 490 positions in the Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Directorate and the Office of Security, including intelligence research and operations specialists, security personnel and telecommunications workers. Ron James, the agency's chief human capitol officer, said the move would allow DHS to hire critical personnel.

"Our nation's security is dependent on filling critical vacancies with highly qualified experts," James said. "My goal is to remove any obstacles in the hiring process. The direct-hire authority granted will better equip DHS and all agencies to acquire, develop, manage and retain the specialized, expert, high-performing workforce that is needed to keep our nation secure."

Federal personnel officials will continue to exercise oversight on direct hiring to make certain it is being used properly, OPM officials said.