Project Context:

Federal Sector/Organization: Medicare Administrative Contractor (CMS, HHS) | Novitas Solutions
Role: UX Designer & Usability Lead
Technologies: HTML, CSS, Section 508/WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance, Web Integration

Challenge

Medicare providers needed quick access to complex calculations for appeals deadlines, secondary liability determinations, and psychiatric service reductions. Manual calculations were time-consuming and error-prone, leading to missed deadlines and claim rejections.

Solution

Led interface design and usability oversight for three interactive calculator tools on the Novitas Solutions provider portal, collaborating with developers to ensure intuitive functionality, visual consistency across all screen types, and Section 508 accessibility compliance.

The Tools

Appeals Timeliness Calculator

Purpose: Automated calculation of filing deadlines for Medicare appeals across three levels (Redetermination, Reconsideration, ALJ)

View Live Tool

Secondary Liability Calculator

Purpose: Simplified determination of provider liability for secondary payer situations

View Live Tool

Psychiatric Services Calculator

Purpose: Accurate calculation of Medicare payment reductions for outpatient psychiatric services

View Live Tool

My Role: UX Design & Usability Leadership

Interface Design & Usability:

• Led interface design strategy to ensure calculator tools were intuitive and easy to use
• Ensured tools functioned well across all screen types (desktop, tablet, mobile)
• Designed clear visual hierarchy for form inputs, labels, calculation logic, and results
• Collaborated with stakeholders and developers to align user experience with provider workflows
• Conducted usability validation to confirm intuitive interaction patterns

Technical Oversight:

• Provided oversight of JavaScript implementation to ensure secure, accurate calculations
• Managed ongoing updates as CMS percentages and allowances changed over time
• Coordinated with development team to handle complex date-based calculations (holidays, non-work days)
• Ensured responsive layouts maintained usability across device breakpoints

Accessibility Implementation:

• Validated Section 508 compliance for all form inputs and interactive elements
• Ensured proper form labels for screen reader compatibility (JAWS)
• Verified keyboard navigation functionality and logical tab order
• Tested color contrast ratios for WCAG AA compliance

Accessibility Features

• Proper form field labels for all input fields (dates, dollar amounts, service codes)
• WCAG AA compliant color contrast for text and interactive elements
• Keyboard-accessible form controls and submit buttons
• Clear error messages for invalid inputs
• Logical tab order through form fields
• Screen reader-compatible result displays

Development Challenges

Challenge: Maintaining calculation accuracy as CMS backend data changed
Solution: Implemented systematic update process to modify JavaScript logic whenever CMS percentages or Medicare allowances were updated. Collaborated with development team to create maintainable code structure supporting ongoing policy changes.

Challenge: Complex date-based calculations for appeals deadlines
Solution: Designed logic to account for holidays, weekends, and non-business days in deadline calculations. Worked with developers to implement calendar-aware calculation functions ensuring accuracy for critical filing deadlines.

Challenge: Security of client-side JavaScript calculations
Solution: Provided oversight to ensure JavaScript implementation followed secure coding practices and validated user inputs to prevent errors or manipulation.

Results & Impact

• Reduced calculation errors for appeals deadlines and liability determinations
• Decreased provider call volume for routine calculation questions
• Improved compliance with Medicare appeals filing deadlines
• Enhanced provider satisfaction through automated, accessible tools
• Zero accessibility violations in federal compliance audits
• Tools remain in production serving thousands of Medicare providers

Tools & Technologies

HTML5, CSS3, Web integration, Section 508/WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards, NVDA screen reader testing, Cross-browser compatibility

Reflection

This project demonstrates my ability to lead UX design and provide usability oversight for complex functional tools serving a high-volume federal healthcare audience. By focusing on intuitive interface design, responsive usability across all screen types, and ongoing collaboration with development teams, I helped deliver automated calculation tools that improved provider efficiency, reduced manual errors, and maintained compliance with federal accessibility standards.