Senior Mental Health Counselor (Utilization Review and Intake Specialist)

SALARY RANGE

WORK ASSIGNMENT DETAILS

Waukesha County's Department of Health & Human Services is recruiting for a talented LTE Senior Mental Health Counselor. The Utilization Review and Intake Specialist is one of the first points of contact for patients at the Waukesha County Mental Health Center and Crisis Resource Center. This position will:

• Complete routine, frontline administrative work necessary- working with patients to complete all necessary forms, gathering demographic and insurance information, obtaining prior authorizations, entering information into the medical records system, and communicating with others to ensure patient insurance is set up appropriately in the electronic record and billing system
• Obtain prior authorizations and continued stay authorizations
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to support the patient and ensure high-quality, cost-effective care
• Use nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines to review appropriateness of admission and provision of care based on the patient's clinical condition(s)
• Communicate with insurance companies and/or payer to obtain admission authorization and continued stay certification or recertification in a professional and timely manner
• Document utilization reviews and payer contact communication outcomes
• Evaluate and facilitate concurrent and retrospective prior authorization denials, appeals, or payment issues until resolved to ensure proper reimbursement is received
• Provide recommendations to providers and works with the healthcare team to ensure proper documentation utilization of care and to support medical necessity for hospital stay in the electronic medical record in accordance with regulatory standards
• Serve as a resource to medical staff on issues related to admission qualifications, resource utilization, national and local coverage determinations, and documentation improvement opportunities
• Communicate payer issues and medical necessity concerns with healthcare team to ensure appropriate care is provided
• Identify and escalate trends with insurance companies, denials, documentation/order requirements, or medical necessity concerns. Identifies and escalates quality concerns related to clinical care to leadership as appropriate
• Actively contribute to and participates in utilization review and fiscal meetings or committees as assigned
• Assists patients with referrals to the Moraine Lakes Consortium, or to the appropriate staff for insurance coverage

This position requires the ability to change focus at a moment's notice as necessary, therefore patience, professionalism, empathy, and multi-tasking skills are required. Previous mental health, prior authorization, and utilization review management knowledge and experience is necessary.

This is an in-office position with scheduled hours of 8:00 am-4:30 pm.

Business casual work attire is allowed. In-office events are held throughout the year.

CLASSIFICATION SPECIFICATION

To view the full classification specification for Senior Mental Health Counselor click here.

Minimum Training & Experience Requirements
For work assignments in utilization review and benefit verification the following may be substituted:
1) Bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university with a major in sociology, social work, psychology, or a closely related field.
OR
1) Graduation from a recognized nursing program with active Registered Nurse licensure.
2) Two years of full-time experience in a health or human service field.

About Us:
Waukesha County prides itself on operating in a business-like manner and is recognized as a leader delivering high quality services with competence and skill. With our vision of "Leading the Way", we value teamwork and collaboration, ethics and diversity, communication, efficiency and cost savings, innovation, and the wellbeing of our staff and the citizens we serve. Employees are provided professional development opportunities and encouragement to learn and practice continuous improvement and LEAN principles as we regularly ask ourselves "Is there a better way?"

Location:
Located in the City of Waukesha, our campus offers an on-site cafe and fitness center, free parking, and easy access to interstate highway systems. Waukesha County offers a perfect blend of urban and rural living where one can enjoy the benefits of quiet rural lake communities or opt for nearby attractions that the greater Milwaukee area offers including vast beach and park systems, public markets, performing arts, music festivals, and sports including the Milwaukee Admirals, Brewers, Bucks, Wave, Marquette University Golden Eagles and the UW-Milwaukee Panthers Basketball programs.

EEO:

Waukesha County is committed to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in employment and adheres to all Federal, State and County Equal Employment Opportunity laws, policies, plans, rules, regulations and ordinances. The County recognizes and accepts its important leadership role in providing for equal employment/service opportunities. It is the express policy of Waukesha County to promote equal employment opportunity among all who are employed by Waukesha County and who seek employment with Waukesha County.

For further information visit:https://www.waukeshacounty.gov

The County does not sponsor applicants for work visas. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.