Concurrent Nurse Reviewer - Facility Utilization Review Unit

hmsacareers; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

HMSA Careers in Hawaii seeks a Nurse Reviewer to apply medical necessity criteria and perform concurrent review determinations in alignment with UM policies and accrediting requirements. You will evaluate inpatient stays, coordinate with Medical Directors, and support case management to optimize care and costs.

The role requires an active Hawaii RN or LPN license, strong clinical judgment, and the ability to communicate with providers and internal teams to ensure appropriate levels of care and

Qualifications

• Associates Degree in Nursing.
• Two years clinical care experience or case management.
• Knowledge of the appropriate protocol to be followed for a given diagnosis and the normative values of medical tests and procedures.
• Typing speed of 40 wpm.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Good communication skills: verbal and written.
• Basic working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Hawaii RN or LPN license required; proof of licensure to be provided upon hire.

Responsibilities

• Applies medical necessity criteria from established policies to concurrent review determinations.
• Determines inpatient hospital stays as medically appropriate or refers to Medical Director for potential denial.
• Follow CMS, NCQA, HSAG requirements for inpatient admissions.
• Coordinate with case management staff, providers, and departments to improve quality of care and control costs.
• Identify cost savings and document all communications and interventions.
• Refer members to Case Management or QUEST Integration as appropriate.
• Identify and refer members with complex needs or potential fraud, waste, or abuse as needed.

Skills

Typing 40 wpm

Strong organizational skills

Good communication skills

Microsoft Office

Education

Associates Degree in Nursing

Job description

Responsibilities

1. Applies appropriate medical necessity criteria from established medical policies and clinical practice guidelines to apply concurrent review determinations as described in the Medical Management UM work plan.
   
   • This detailed clinical judgment includes determination of inpatient hospital stays as medically appropriate for the member's clinical condition or whether the stay requires referral to a Medical Director for potential denial.
   • The Nurse Reviewer must follow each line of business requirements and each accrediting body's (CMS, NCQA, HSAG) requirements for each inpatient admission.
   • Responsibilities include using effective relationship management, coordination of services, resource management, education, patient advocacy, and related interventions to:
     
     • Promote improved quality of care and/or life
     • Promote cost effective medical outcomes
     • Prevent hospitalization when possible and appropriate
     • Promote decreased lengths of hospital stays when appropriate
     • Ensure the quality-of-care member is receiving during hospital stay is appropriate
     • Ensure appropriate levels of care are received by patients
     • Consult with Medical Directors on potential quality issues encountered during review of medical records in situations when the complexity of the member's medical, surgical and/or pharmaceutical management is unclear and may require further review or intervention and follow up with attending physicians, hospitalists, or other facility staff
2. Provide appropriate consultation and referral to Case Management or QUEST Integration program as appropriate
3. Identify appropriate alternative and non-traditional resources and demonstrate creativity in managing each case to fully utilize all available inpatient and community resources.
4. Identifies cost savings and accurately records all communications and interventions.
5. Evaluates suspended claims against medical records to determine the medical necessity and appropriateness of medical services, identify irregularities such as over or under-utilization of services, potential up-coding, over billing, etc.
6. Communicates timely, accurate information either verbally or in writing using clinical judgment, knowledge of medical/reimbursement policies and plan benefits to internal MM staff, other internal departments (Claims Administration, Customer Relations, etc.), providers, members, and other authorized persons.
   
   • For denied services, ensures the denial, benefit and appeal language are accurate and consistent with department procedures, accreditation, and regulatory guidelines.
7. Identifies and refers members with specific medical and/or behavioral health needs or complex case management and collaborates with case management staff as needed. Also identifies and refers quality of care issues and suspected fraud, waste, or abuse to the appropriate departments.
8. Performs all other miscellaneous responsibilities and duties as assigned or directed.

Qualifications

1. Associates Degree in Nursing
2. Two years clinical care experience or case management; or related experience.
3. Knowledge of the appropriate protocol to be followed for a given diagnosis and the normative values of medical tests and procedures.
4. Good typing skills: Typing speed of 40 wpm
5. Strong organizational skills
6. Good communication skills: verbal and written
7. Basic working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications. Including but not limited to Word, Excel, and Outlook.
8. Currently licensed in Hawaii as an RN or LPN
   
   • (if applicable upon hire, proof of licensure to be provided by employee or confirmed by Human Resources)