Manager BH Utilization Management and ABA Peer Reviewer

Healthfirst; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 103,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision coverage

Life insurance

401k contributions

Job summary

Healthfirst seeks a Manager, Behavioral Health Utilization Management and ABA Peer Reviewer to provide clinical leadership and operational oversight across BH UM and ABA services. You will supervise reviews for medical necessity, ensuring timely, accurate decisions aligned with regulations and plan benefits.

You will lead a multidisciplinary team, coach staff, monitor performance, and drive quality initiatives to improve member outcomes while managing costs within a value-based care framework.

Qualifications

• New York State Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) or LCSW, LMSW, or LMHC with a BCBA Master’s degree from an ABAI-accredited program.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience in fast-paced environments with multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership and oversight for BH UM and ABA activities.
• Supervise pre-certification, concurrent, and retrospective reviews.
• Coach staff and monitor performance toward quality goals.
• Collaborate with providers and care teams for integrated planning.
• Ensure compliance with policies, guidelines, and regulatory requirements.
• Contribute to strategic initiatives and process improvements.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Supervision

Team coordination

Coaching and development

Decision-making

Communication skills

Education

LBA or LCSW/LMSW/LMHC with BCBA Master’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Job description

The Manager, Behavioral Health Utilization Management and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Peer Reviewer provides clinical leadership and operational oversight for Behavioral Health Utilization Management (BH UM) and ABA services. The Manager supervises and supports clinical review activities across the behavioral health continuum, including ABA, and ensures that medical necessity and utilization management determinations are timely, accurate, consistent, evidence-based, and compliant with Healthfirst policies, plan benefits, established clinical guidelines, contractual obligations, and applicable regulatory requirements. The role serves as a clinical resource and subject matter expert to multidisciplinary teams and contributes to strategic, quality, and process-improvement initiatives designed to improve member outcomes and effectively manage medical costs.

• Provides clinical leadership, supervision, and coordination of daily Behavioral Health UM and ABA activities to support departmental goals for quality, productivity, timeliness, accuracy, and consistency of clinical and medical necessity determinations
• Manages and supports a team performing clinical review, including pre-certification, concurrent, and retrospective review of requests for behavioral health treatments, ABA services, and rehabilitative and recovery-oriented services
• Develops and monitors team and individual performance goals; provides ongoing coaching, feedback, performance management, and professional development; and fosters a collaborative environment of accountability, open communication, sound clinical decision-making, ownership, and empowerment
• Provides clinical oversight and peer review for complex prior authorization, concurrent review, and retrospective cases related to Behavioral Health UM and ABA services; applying clinical expertise, evidence-based criteria, plan benefits, and applicable guidelines to support appropriate, consistent, and well-supported medical necessity and utilization management determinations
• Conducts peer-to-peer discussions with treating providers, as needed
• Renders and documents medical necessity and utilization management determinations, as needed, ensuring decisions and related activities are completed accurately and timely in accordance with departmental standards, regulatory requirements, and applicable appeal processes
• Provides clinical consultation and collaborates with providers and multidisciplinary care teams to support person-centered, integrated care planning, appropriate levels of care, and effective coordination and utilization of services and resources across the behavioral health continuum
• Actively contributes to Behavioral Health strategic planning and clinical operations initiatives, including the development, implementation, and evaluation of special projects, programs, and process-improvement efforts
• Monitors and evaluates operational and clinical performance metrics to identify trends, address performance opportunities, and support achievement of departmental goals
• Ensures Behavioral Health UM and ABA review activities comply with Healthfirst policies and procedures, applicable internal and external regulatory requirements, contractual obligations, documentation standards, and established clinical standards
• Performs additional duties and responsibilities as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• New York State Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) or LCSW, LMSW, or LMHC with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Master’s degree or higher from an ABAI-accredited or ABAI-recognized behavior analysis degree program
• Work experience demonstrating verbal and written communication skills
• Experience working independently in a fast-paced environment that requires problem solving skills and handling multiple priorities simultaneously
• Work experience utilizing Microsoft Office Suite applications including Excel, Word, Power Point and Outlook

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous relevant experience in utilization management and clinical practice
• Knowledge of Commercial, Medicaid, and New York Child Health Plus plans
• Knowledge of utilization management/quality management case philosophies and state and federal reporting requirements
• Knowledge of member satisfaction, incident management, and applicable regulations
• Knowledge of quality improvement methodologies
• Strong time management, critical thinking, communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills

Salary Range

• Greater New York City Area (NY, NJ, CT residents): $103,400 - $149,430
• All Other Locations (within approved locations): $88,700 - $131,920

As a candidate for this position, your salary and related elements of compensation will be contingent upon your work experience, education, licenses and certifications, and any other factors Healthfirst deems pertinent to the hiring decision.

In addition to your salary, Healthfirst offers employees a full range of benefits such as:

• medical, dental and vision coverage
• incentive and recognition programs
• life insurance
• 401k contributions

Healthfirst believes in providing a competitive compensation and benefits package wherever its employees work and live.

Healthfirst is New York’s largest not-for-profit health insurer offering it’s nearly 1.7 million members access to high-quality, affordable healthcare. As part of the community for nearly 30 years, Healthfirst’s unique advantage is rooted in its belief that good health doesn’t start in a doctor’s office. The company’s mission is to put its members first by working closely with care providers and community leaders to address broader issues that can impact health and well-being. This value-based care model is the foundation of the company’s sustained growth in one of the most dynamic markets in the country.

So, if you are passionate about what you do and want to work for a company that is focused on the future and dedicated to making a difference in people’s lives, then Healthfirst is for you.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. HF Management Services, LLC complies with all applicable laws and regulations. Applicants and employees are considered for positions and are evaluated without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, disability, genetic information, domestic violence victim status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, military status, veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, height and weight, familial status, marital status, or unemployment status, as well as any other legally protected basis. HF Management Services, LLC shall not discriminate against any disabled employee or applicant in regard to any position for which the employee or applicant is otherwise qualified. If you have a disability under the Americans with Disability Act or a similar law and want a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, please contact us by sending an email to [e-mail] or calling 212-519-1798. In your email please include a description of the accommodation you are requesting and a description of the position for which you are applying. Only reasonable accommodation requests related to applying for a position within HF Management Services, LLC will be reviewed at the e-mail address and phone number supplied. Thank you for considering a career with HF Management Services, LLC.