Medical Director - Behavioral Health - Virginia

MePA; Columbus (OH); Hybrid; USD 174,000 - 375,000; Full time

Job summary

CVS Health is seeking a licensed, board-certified psychiatrist for a remote-based position; candidate must reside in Virginia. Lead the utilization management team, oversee clinical quality, and guide behavioral health care across multiple state plans.

The role emphasizes medical leadership, policy interpretation, and collaboration with clinical staff to ensure high-quality care and efficient operations. Salary is competitive with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Board-certified psychiatrist.
• Current state medical license in Virginia without encumbrances.
• Ability to obtain additional state licenses to provide UM coverage across multiple plans.
• Minimum 5 years of clinical practice as a psychiatrist.
• Experience with managed care and utilization review.
• Child/Adolescent Board Certification (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and day-to-day physician oversight for the utilization management team, including high-risk cases and medical necessity decisions.
• Provide behavioral health care management to facilitate delivery of quality care and program efficiency.
• Participate in appeals process and investigate adverse events and quality concerns.
• Provide psychiatric leadership to an interdisciplinary UM team and training.
• Oversee day-to-day physician oversight across treatment levels and medical necessity decisions.
• Assist with development, monitoring and evaluation of the UM program and policy interpretation.
• Confer with behavioral health practitioners regarding care of patients with complex illnesses.
• Coordinate NCQA-compliant clinical quality improvement activities.
• Participate in triage and referral for care management.
• Provide weekend coverage every 6-7 weeks.

Education

MD (Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)

Job description

We're building a world of health around every individual - shaping a more connected, convenient and compassionate health experience. At CVS Health®, you'll be surrounded by passionate colleagues who care deeply, innovate with purpose, hold ourselves accountable and prioritize safety and quality in everything we do. Join us and be part of something bigger - helping to simplify health care one person, one family and one community at a time.

Position Summary

This is a remote-based (work from home) role. Candidates must reside in the state of Virginia.

Aetna, a CVS Health Company, is one of the oldest and largest national insurers. That experience gives us a unique opportunity to help transform health care. We believe that a better care system is more transparent and consumer-focused, and it recognizes physicians for their clinical quality and effective use of health care resources.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and day-to-day physician oversight for utilization management team, including the management of high-risk cases and medical necessity decisions
• Provide comprehensive behavioral health care management to facilitate delivery of appropriate quality care and improve program/operational efficiency involving clinical issues
• Participate in the appeals process, including the investigation of adverse events and quality of care concerns
• Provide psychiatric leadership to an interdisciplinary utilization management team, including medical/clinical oversight, consultation and training
• Provide day-to-day physician oversight including management of high-risk cases throughout treatment/levels of care and medical necessity decisions
• Assist with the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the utilization management program and action plan, ensuring quality and appropriateness of care
• Assist with the development, implementation and interpretation of medical policy including medical necessity criteria, clinical practice guidelines and new technology assessments
• Participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of clinical/medical programs
• Confer with behavioral health practitioners regarding the care of patients with severe, complex and/or treatment resistant illnesses
• Identify and address quality of care concerns with providers involved in a member's care
• Provide psychiatric leadership for NCQA-compliant clinical quality improvement activities in collaboration with clinical and quality improvement staff
• Participate in the triage and referral for care management
• Provide weekend coverage every 6-7 weeks.
• Perform other duties as deemed necessary.

Required Qualifications

• Board-certified Psychiatrist currently licensed in the State of Virginia.
• Active and current state medical license without encumbrances, in the state of Virginia.
• This role requires the ability to get additional state licensures and provide UM coverage across multiple different state health plans.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of clinical practice experience in the health care delivery field as a psychiatrist.
• Experience with managed care, as a provider and manager of care utilization review or physician advisor experience.
• Child/Adolescent Board Certification

Education

• MD (Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)

Pay Range

The typical pay range for this role is:

• $174,070.00 - $374,920.00

This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors. This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short-term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above. This position also includes an award target in the company's equity award program.

Our people fuel our future. Our teams reflect the customers, patients, members and communities we serve and we are committed to fostering a workplace where every colleague feels valued and that they belong.

Great benefits for great people

We take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families.

This full‑time position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, emotional, and financial well‑being of colleagues and their families. The benefits for this position include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, retirement savings options, wellness programs, and other resources, based on eligibility.

• Additional details about available benefits are provided during the application process and on Benefits Moments.

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on: 10/17/2026

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state and local laws.