Behavioral Health Compliance Specialist

Essen Health Care; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Essen Health Care in New York City is seeking a Compliance Coordinator to support the behavioral health program by ensuring regulatory, accreditation, payer, and internal policy adherence. You will monitor documentation, assist with audits, and drive corrective actions to uphold high-quality, legally compliant care.

The role involves policy development, staff training on HIPAA and confidentiality, and regular collaboration with leadership and clinical teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in health administration, social work, psychology, public health, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 2+ years of experience in healthcare compliance, quality assurance, or a related setting.
• Working knowledge of HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and behavioral health documentation and billing standards for Article 28, 31, and 32 (OASAS).
• Strong attention to detail, analytical ability, and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain requirements clearly to clinical staff.
• Proficiency with electronic health records and Microsoft Office or similar tools.

Responsibilities

• Monitor compliance with federal, state, and local regulations governing behavioral health services, including HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, CMS requirements, and state licensing standards.
• Support readiness for accreditation and licensing surveys (DOH & OMH agency reviews).
• Track regulatory changes and communicate updates to leadership and program staff.
• Conduct department workflow audits for documentation completeness, treatment plan timeliness, consent and authorization, and billing accuracy.
• Perform internal monitoring of client rights and mandated reporting.
• Prepare audit reports with findings, trends, and recommendations.
• Develop, track, and follow up on corrective action plans and plans of correction.
• Coordinate review and documentation of incidents, grievances, and complaints, including timely reporting to external agencies as required.
• Assist with investigations and root cause analysis as directed.
• Draft, update, and maintain policies and procedures; manage version control and annual review schedules.
• Coordinate and deliver compliance training for new hires and ongoing staff, including HIPAA/privacy, confidentiality of substance use disorder records, documentation standards, and ethics.
• Track completion of required trainings, certifications, and licensure.
• Assist the Compliance Officer and Medical Records department with privacy incident review, breach assessment, and release-of-information processes.
• Verify credentialing, background checks, and exclusion list screenings.
• Maintain compliance dashboards and report metrics to leadership and the Compliance/Quality Committee.
• Serve as a resource for clinical and administrative staff on compliance questions.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and committees.

Skills

Healthcare compliance

Quality assurance

HIPAA knowledge

Documentation skills

Excellent communication

EHR proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in health administration/public health

Master's degree preferred

Tools

EHR systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Essen Health Care in New York City is seeking a Compliance Coordinator to support the behavioral health program by ensuring regulatory, accreditation, payer, and internal policy adherence. You will monitor documentation, assist with audits, and drive corrective actions to uphold high-quality, legally compliant care.

The role involves policy development, staff training on HIPAA and confidentiality, and regular collaboration with leadership and clinical teams.