Regional Utilization Review Coordinator - Oceans Healthcare : Job Details

The Regional Utilization Review Coordinator is responsible for management of all utilization review and/or case management activities at the assigned inpatient facilities. May include partial hospitalization, and/or outpatient programs. Conducts concurrent reviews of all medical records to ensure criteria for admission and continued stay are met and documented, and to ensure timely discharge planning. Coordinates information between third party payers and medical/clinical staff members. Interacts with members of the medical/clinical team to provide a flow of communication and a medical record which documents and supports level and intensity of service rendered. All duties to be done in accordance with Joint Commission, Federal and State regulations, Oceans' Mission, policies and procedures and Performance Improvement Standards.Essential Functions:

• Identifies and reports appropriate use, under-use, over-use and inefficient use of services and resources to ensure high quality patient care is provided in the least restrictive environment and in a cost-effective manner.
• Conducts review of all inpatient, IOP/partial hospitalization, and outpatient records as outlined in the Utilization Review/Case Management plan to (1) determine appropriateness and clinical necessity of admissions, continued stay, and or rehabilitation, and discharge; (2) determine timeliness of assessments and evaluations; i.e. H&Ps, psychiatric evaluation, CIA formulation, and discharge summaries; and (3) identify any under-, over-, and/or inefficient use of services or resources.
• Reports findings to appropriate disciplines and/or committees; notifies appropriate staff members of any deficiencies noted so corrective actions can be taken in a timely manner; submits monthly report to UM Director or PI Coordinator of findings and actions recommended to correct identified problems.
• Coordinates flow of communication between physicians/staff and third-party payers concerning reimbursement requisites
• Attends mini-treatment team and morning status meetings each weekday to obtain third-party payer pre-certification and ongoing certification requirements and to share with those attending any pertinent data from third-party payer contracts.
• Attends weekly treatment team.
• Conducts reviews via telephone, fax or through payer portals and follows through with documentation requests from third party payers.
• Maintains abstract with updates provided to third party payers.
• Notifies physicians/staff/patients of reimbursement issues.
• Initiates and completes appeals process for reimbursement denials; notifies inpatients of denials received.
• Reports monthly all Hospital Issued Notices of Non-coverage (HINN letter) to QIO.
• Conducts special retrospective studies/audits when need is determined by M&PS and /or other committee structure.
• Ensures all authorization and denied information is in HCS at the end of each business day.
• Performs other duties and projects as assigned.

RequirementsEducational / Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in social services or related field or licensed nurse.
• At least four (4) years utilization management experience in a psychiatric/chemical dependency acute inpatient setting.

Qualifications / Skills:

• Must have excellent assertive communication skills.
• Knowledge and in-depth understanding of psyh/CD treatment and discharge planning process.
• Must have excellent understanding of utilization practices required by MCO's and third party payers.
• Must have good writing and composition skills for daily UR reviews
• Must have working knowledge of the appeal process as it relates to all payers.
• Must have good understanding of regulatory and fiscal reimbursement and utilization review as a primary component of patient care.
• Must demonstrate strong patient advocacy skills.
• Must be able to organize and prioritize high volume workload.
• Must be able to analyze and utilize data and systems to provide individualized quality treatment in a cost-effective manner.
• Must have working knowledge of Outlook, Excel, Word and other Office platforms.
• Must be able to function with minimal supervision.
• Must have ability to maintain overall good work attitude and interact cooperatively and professionally with other staff members and third-party payers to achieve mutually beneficial outcome.
• Must possess basic competency in age, disability, and cultural diversity for needs of patients served and ability to relate to patients in a manner sensitive to those needs.
• Must successfully complete CPR certification and an Oceans approved behavioral health de-escalation program. Therapeutic Intervention de-escalation education required.

Work Environment:Subject to many interruptions. Occasional pressure due to multiple calls and inquiries. This position can be high paced and stressful; must be able to cope mentally and physically to atmosphere. Work requires remote position requiring confidential HIPAA compliant workspace. Required to have access to audio and camera capabilities via computer for meeting and other work duties as assigned. Some travel will be required to assigned facilities.