Behavioral Health Clinical Support Specialist

Essen Medical Associates; New York (NY); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Essen Health Care in New York City is seeking a Clinical Support Specialist to provide comprehensive clinical and administrative support to psychiatry teams. You will assist with patient intake, documentation, prior authorizations, and telehealth coordination to ensure smooth, HIPAA-compliant care delivery.

The role requires a Medical Assistant certification and 1–2 years in a healthcare setting; experience with EHR systems and prior authorizations is preferred.

Qualifications

• Medical Assistant certification (CMA, RMA, or equivalent) preferred.
• 1–2 years of experience in a healthcare clinical setting
• Experience with EHR systems required
• Experience with medical insurance prior authorization processes preferred
• Familiarity with telehealth platforms and virtual care delivery preferred
• HIPAA knowledge and patient privacy requirements
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Spanish speaking preferred

Responsibilities

• Clinical Support & Patient Care: assist with patient intake, vital signs, history, and screening questionnaires
• Prepare patients for evaluations and explain procedures; support telehealth and in-person appointments
• Document patient interactions and vitals in the EHR with accuracy
• Submit and track prior authorization requests for psychiatric medications
• Coordinate care transitions and maintain HIPAA compliance
• Serve as liaison between patients and behavioral health care team

Skills

HIPAA compliance

Attention to detail

Multitasking ability

Written and verbal communication

Spanish speaking

Education

Medical Assistant certification (CMA, RMA, or equivalent)

Tools

EHR systems

Telehealth platforms

Job description

Overview

Essen Health Care is the largest privately held, multispecialty medical group in New York, providing high-quality, compassionate care to some of the state’s most vulnerable and underserved residents.

Founded in 1999, we’ve grown from a single primary care office into a network of 50+ locations offering urgent care, primary care and specialty services, from women’s health to endocrinology and psychiatry. We also provide nursing home support, care management, and in-home care through our Essen House Calls program. Guided by a Population Health model, our team of 500+ providers deliver care in-person, at home, or via telehealth, ensuring patients get the support they need when and where they need it.

We’re looking for talented, motivated individuals to join our growing team. Whether you’re a medical provider, administrator, or operations professional, there’s a career here for you. Join us in making a real difference in the health of our community.

Job Summary

Position Title: Clinical Support Specialist

Job Summary: The Clinical Support Specialist provides comprehensive clinical and administrative support to psychiatry providers. This role is essential to the efficient delivery of behavioral health services, supporting psychiatrists and other behavioral health providers with patient care coordination, clinical documentation, prior authorizations, and administrative tasks. The incumbent will facilitate seamless patient experiences across Televisits, In-person intakes, screenings, and ongoing psychiatric and therapeutic care while maintaining strict HIPAA compliance and clinical documentation standards.

Responsibilities

• Clinical Support & Patient Care
• Assist with patient intake appointments, including vital signs collection, patient history documentation, and preliminary screening questionnaires
• Prepare patients for psychiatric evaluations and sessions, explaining procedures and setting appropriate expectationsSupport televised psychiatric appointments by ensuring proper technology setup, patient privacy, and clinical environment preparation
• Conduct standardized behavioral health screenings and assessments under provider direction (PHQ-9, GAD-7 etc.)
• Develop and maintain standardized training sessions, schedules, and curricula tailored to provider role for new providers
• Document patient interactions, clinical observations, and vital signs in the Electronic Health
• Record (EHR) system with accuracy and timeliness
• Assist with interventional Psychiatry procedures including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
• Coordinate care transitions
• Generate and maintain clinical correspondence including patient letters, referral documents, and clinical summaries
• Prepare and submit prior authorization requests for psychiatric medications and treatments to insurance carriers
• Track medication authorization status and communicate updates to providers and patients
• Manage form completion including consent forms, treatment planning documents, and clinical assessment templates
• Maintain HIPAA compliance in all patient interactions
• Maintain confidentiality of all patient information and protected health information (PHI)
• Serve as liaison between patients and behavioral health care team
• Facilitate care coordination with other behavioral health providers, primary care physicians, and community resources

Qualifications

• Education Medical Assistant certification (CMA, RMA, or equivalent) preferred
• Experience Minimum 1-2 years of experience in a healthcare clinical setting
• Experience in behavioral health, mental health, or psychiatry preferred
• Experience with electronic health record (EHR) systems required
• Experience with medical insurance prior authorization processes preferred
• Familiarity with telehealth platforms and virtual care delivery preferred
• Knowledge & Skills Strong understanding of HIPAA regulations and patient privacy requirements
• Proficiency with healthcare documentation standards and terminology
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with ability to multitask
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for patient and provider interaction
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced clinical environment
• Attention to detail, particularly with clinical documentation and prior authorizations
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
• Spanish speaking preferred

Equal Opportunity Employer

Essen Health care is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we seek candidates who desire to work in and serve an ethnically diverse population.