Behavioral Health Utilization Management Clinician I (RN)

The Level I Utilization Management Clinician performs utilization review for medical or behavioral health requests using utilization review criteria, technologies, and tools. Identifies, coordinates, and implements high quality, cost-effective alternatives when appropriate to the patient's condition. Supports physician decision-making, working collaboratively with all members of the health care team, the patient, the patient's family, co-workers, and internal and external customers to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

Ensures members have timely access to care and supports during transitions between levels of care. Understands and effectively communicates requirements and follows Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW) policies and procedures.

- Have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field or an equivalent combination of education and highly relevant experience.

- Have at least two years clinical experience in either a physical health or behavioral health setting.

- Have previous experience in Utilization Management and Managed Care, preferred.

- This role does require travel to local hospitals within Pierce and Thurston Counties.

- Conduct review of hospital notification or prior authorization care requests against established clinical guidelines and health plan policies.

- Collaborate with facilities to perform discharge planning.

- Provide coordination support to members transitioning between care settings or returning home from a hospitalization. Identifies member needs and provides support to ensure necessary services are available during the transition period.

- Collaborates with providers, office staff, and Care Coordination team to assure coordination of care in a timely manner according to contractual and regulatory timeframes.

- Identifies, coordinates, and ensures high quality care and appropriate care by focusing on supporting access to care and services across the continuum of care in accordance with the patient's medical needs.

- Identify potentially unnecessary services and/or delivery settings and recommends appropriate alternatives.

- Identifies and determines medical necessity of out of network (OON) requests for services.

- Assures referrals are complete and enrollment/eligibility benefits verified, prior to authorizing care.

- Delivers timely written notification to patient or family members and communicates with members of the health care team.

- Prepare cases that do not meet medical necessity or criteria for medical director review.

- Communicate effectively with medical director regarding identified variances within the case against criteria utilized for medical review.

- Regularly communicates with the UM Manager, Medical Director, physician advisor/reviewer and primary care physician for support, problem resolution and notification of decertification and appeals.

- Using established screening tools, identify candidates and recommend enrollment into care management and disease management programs.

- Identify quality of care issues and report for investigation per CHPW's policy.

- Participates as part of the care management team; works collaboratively with all department staff.

- Reporting to work on time and for all scheduled shifts is essential to this position.

- Ability to effectively manage and maintain quality standards for high volume of authorization.

- Effective written and verbal communication skills; able to communicate with and collaborate effectively with physicians and allied health care providers.

- Knowledge in criteria set, including MCG, InterQual, ASAM, and LOCUS preferred.

- Ability to multi-task and deal with complex assignments with competing priorities on a frequent basis.

- Effective analytical skills and the ability to interpret, evaluate and formulate action plans based upon data.

- Flexibility and willingness to work in a matrix-management environment.

- Demonstrated organizational, time management, and project management skills.

- Demonstrated proficiency and experience with Microsoft Office products.

- Willingness to be part of a collaborative and dynamic clinical development team.

- Collaborate with others in a respectful manner and ability to maintain confidentiality.

The position is FLSA Non-Exempt and is eligible for overtime and has a 10% annual incentive target based on company, department, and individual performance goals. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.

- Ability to learn and prioritize multiple tasks at a given time and have the capability of handling demanding situations. Analytical/problem solving/critical thinking ability.